Chemicals

Waking up to the potential adverse health impacts associated with PFAS exposure, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has for the first time included per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) as a class of chemicals in its latest Restricted Substance List (RSL).

Some 3000 chemical and 300 textile industry plants in the EU will have to comply with new legal norms adopted under the EU Industrial Emissions Directive to reduce their environmental impact.

Version 3.0 of the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC MRSL) has been revised to further extend the list of harmful chemical substances to be restricted in their use, including PFAS treatments used for textiles, leather, and footwear.

Brands across spectrum are under fire. A research has now found that five popular tampon brands in the US — including two advertised as organic — have detectable levels of fluorine.

The Governments of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Viet Nam have joined forces to fight chemical pollution, launching a joint $43-million programme to manage and reduce hazardous chemicals in their textile industries.

Notable changes in the ZDHC MRSL Version 3.0, to be published this November, include restriction on all PFAS substances for textile, leather, and footwear finishing, a limit for aniline in dyestuffs and the inclusion of a number of organic solvents. texfash.com reports.

Scientists at the Northwestern University in the US have identified how to destroy "forever chemicals" in a low-cost way for the first time. They have linked exposure to the substances, known as PFAS, at certain levels to serious health risks, including cancer and birth defects. This has major implications for the fashion industry, which has been slow in eliminating PFAS.

The Amphitex project of Amphibio is the first 100% recyclable chemical-free waterproof breathable textile made for the outdoor and sportswear apparel industry. In April this year, Amphitex by  Amphibio was announced as one of four Terra Carta Design Lab winners. CEO & Founder Jun Kamei talks about ideas and how he sees things shaping up in the near future.

A first-of-its kind scorecard ranking PFAS policy commitments from a swathe of leading retail and apparel brands has put Levi Strauss & Co at the top for already eliminating PFAS from its supply chain. However, global brands like Macy’s, Nordstrom, Costco, and others received low or failing marks.

Sustainability insights platform Higg is partnering with Bluesign and ZDHC to reduce industry fragmentation and accelerate environmental performance in the supply chain through an advanced integration of data for their customers.