The objective of this study is to gain insights about the opportunities and challenges that private and public organisations face regarding the development of responsible procurement in a complex and uncertain issue. The paper focuses on chemicals in textiles, and uses a qualitative methodology with semi-structured interviews. Key elements of a pro-active, responsible procurement strategy are defined, including criteria such as using a preventive, systematic, responsive, integrative and reflective approach. The analysis includes the following topics: (1) priorities and knowledge; (2) communicative strategies; (3) policy instruments; (4) monitoring and trust in relation to suppliers. The results show a fairly modest level of organisational responsibility, although it is possible to observe an initial positive development.