Chemicals

Many consumers assume that natural fibres are automatically kinder to the environment than synthetic alternatives. A new systematic review of textile chemistry complicates this rule of thumb, showing that the environmental cost of a garment depends less on fibre origin than on the dyes, finishes and performance treatments applied throughout production, wear, disposal and recycling stages.

A new benchmarking project will test alternatives to persistent chemicals used in water- and oil-repellent finishes, comparing the performance, environmental impact and cost of nine chemistries. Fashion for Good has convened leading brands, manufacturers and technology providers to generate reliable, comparable data that will support informed sourcing decisions and the assessment of emerging chemistries.

Forever chemical levels in textiles have fallen sharply since California and New York banned intentionally added PFAS in apparel and household products, new product testing reveals. NRDC tested 115 products and found most well below legal thresholds, though tablecloths, pet accessories, and reusable diapers show continued non-compliance with state law.

The textile industry has spent years producing pilot-scale sustainability successes that rarely translate into supply chain-wide adoption. The constraint is purchasing behaviour, not available technology. Eva Baumann, Chief Executive Officer of CHT Group, draws on CHT's foundation-owned structure and portfolio depth to make a case that is less about ambition than about where industrial reality and procurement logic continue to diverge.

Water pollution, resource consumption and regulatory scrutiny are converging on one of textile manufacturing's most established processes. Dyeing remains essential to fabric production, yet significant quantities of water, energy and chemicals are consumed in managing unfixed colourants. As compliance requirements tighten globally, manufacturers are reassessing how efficiency, wastewater management and competitiveness intersect.

Electrochemical treatment of textile dye wastewater generates toxic disinfection byproducts, including chloroform and bromoform, at concentrations far exceeding US drinking water safety limits. Sodium chloride, routinely added to boost treatment efficiency, has been identified as the primary driver of byproduct formation, raising serious concerns for factory workers and downstream environmental health.

The fashion industry’s demand for distressed denim often clashes with reliance on potassium permanganate, heavy bleaching, and water-intensive laundering. Pressure to modernise these approaches keeps growing. Providing momentum is Archroma, which developed the Denim Halo system to engineer predictable surface dyeing upstream, enabling strong contrasts with markedly reduced resource use and operational complexity.

A revised proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been submitted to ECHA by authorities in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. It follows extensive consultation and now undergoes detailed scientific scrutiny. The revised background document will guide ECHA’s committees in evaluating health, environmental and socio-economic implications before they prepare opinions for the European Commission.

Researchers at North Carolina State University have unveiled a potential alternative to formaldehyde and PFAS in cotton finishing, using epoxidised cottonseed oil. Presented at the American Chemical Society’s Fall 2025 meeting, the work highlights a promising green process to create wrinkle-resistant, water-repellent fabrics without harmful chemicals, potentially transforming cotton finishing and reducing environmental and health risks associated with traditional treatments.

China's pioneering ionic liquid cellulose fibre facility represents a manufacturing revolution in sustainable textiles. Developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this commercial-scale plant eliminates hazardous solvents while achieving zero-waste production, setting new global standards for environmentally responsible textile manufacturing and advancing China's carbon neutrality objectives.