INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PAGES lion by 2022, that’s an increase of USD 281 billion, or 58%, from last year. In the United States alone, online apparel sales account for more than one-third of all apparel sales. Digitalisation creates boundless oppor- tunities, but it can also bring unintended consequences. For example, the digitalisation of the supply chain man- agement may reduce lead times and shift production from one site to an- other more quickly. In this environ- ment, more vigilant and systematic efforts to promote responsible pur- chasing practices are critical. Similarly, as consumers move online, compa- nies will have to consider how to rec- oncile consumption patterns while try- ing to build circular economies. While some aspects of supply chains are changing, others are not changing fast enough. Just two months ago, a fire in a Delhi-based factory killed over 40 people. In a study of factory work- ers in Cambodia, 22 percent reported being harassed. And while we have seen progress on responsible purchas- ing practices, we are still not paying enough for our clothes and workers are still not being paid enough to make them. Key priorities going forward Looking ahead, there are several pri- ority actions that can be taken to tackle these challenges. Let me highlight some which you will be discussing over the next two days. First, we need to reconcile due dili- gence with trade tensions and supply chain disruptions to ensure that com- panies can continue producing and sourcing responsibly. As tensions in global trade encourage companies to seek new markets, it is imperative to understand the impact that increased production has on the environment, on outsourcing and on the use of contract workers. Here, OECD guidance on re- sponsible purchasing practices have never been more relevant. Second, we need to re-think business models in the garment and footwearsector to ensure that it contributes to the circular economy. Companies are increasingly realising that if they do not take steps towards a circular economy, they will be left behind. In the garment and footwear sectors youth are in- creasingly concerned about the carbon footprint of the products they buy and wear. This is also a strategic move. Innovation in production processes can create value by helping to find alterna- tives to conventional chemical use, and reduce energy and water use, as well as waste. Third, we need to continue strength- ening the role of governments in driv- ing sustainable and responsible sup- ply chains and creating an enabling NCM-MARCH 2020 42environment for RBC. Yesterday policymakers from across key econo- mies in the garment and footwear sec- tor met during the second Roundtable for Policy Makers to discuss policy options for promoting vibrant and re- sponsible supply chains. Tomorrow’s plenary will consider gov- ernments’ role in driving supply chain due diligence, with a focus on manda- tory due diligence. You will be hearing from the government of Viet Nam how they are working with the OECD to in- tegrate responsible business conduct considerations into industrial policy. We also believe in regional approaches and are happy to be collaborating with the EU and the ILO on promoting respon-