The word “sustainability” has changed the whole pattern of the textile processing. The human priorities and requirements are varying on every new day. There was time when they were just focusing on themselves. They had least concern about the environment issues and its challenges. But today, the scenario has totally changed and both consumer and industry people have more curious about the environmental sustainable development. They are more focusing on this thing that how industry chemicals can affect their lives as well as the environment. And here we can’t ignore the contribution of NGO’s, Government body and the famous industry players behind this positive approach.
The sustainable development has becomes a big question mark for every buyer as well as for consumer. And everyone is emphasizing the importance of the same in different words/terms like Toxicology, Ecology etc. The main motive is just to implement the core rules and regulations of the said system into their daily processing/manufacturing.
Chemicals Sustainable Development:
Sustainability is a need of the current era and everybody in the industry has already realized this thing. So, all the big giants are already emphasizing on this and ask their vendors (suppliers) to get certificate which conform the sustainability requirements. There are different certification choices/steps available (like BLUESIGN, EU ECO LABEL,OEKO TEX, GOTS ,FAIR TRADE SA 8000 and water foot print , carbon footprint, energy footprint etc.) which conform the requirements of different major markets. Apart from brands and consumers, we cannot overlook the Government’s measures towards environment sustainable developments. The “China GB 18401-2010”, “Japan law 112”, “The consumer product safety Improvement Act”, “The toxic Substances control Act”, “Washington children’s Safe Products Act” and “California Proposition 65” are good examples of this thing.
On the other hand the chemical manufacturers are striving to produce such chemicals which are free from Azo Dyes, Solvents, Chlorinated Pesticides, Phenols, Heavy Metals, APEO/NPEO, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Phthalates, Organotin Compounds, Formaldehyde, Isocyanides etc. As the said carcinogenic ingredients are not only harmful for human health but also damage the ecosystems. The hazardous chemicals have directly cause the human skin (allergy), eyes problems (irritations), inhaling issues, nausea and respiratory issues. And if it doesn’t stop then it can cause some serious health hazards like cancer, fertility issues, mutagenic (changes the genetic material) and disorder of hormones. Moreover, the ocean life is also directly affect by these toxic chemicals and cause other major environmental issues like Deplation of DO, Eurtrophication, bio accumulative and increase of BOD/COD.
The main brands (M&S, Asos, Levi Strauss, Nike, Kering and H&M) are already striving to align their supplies from certified vendors. Each brand has already set their goal for sustainability and bound their vendors to improve their processing/manufacturing facilities accordingly (See our other article on Sustainability in fashion industry). The increasing numbers of GOTS, ZDHC, BLUE SIGN, DTOX, LWG (leather) certified units witness this thing that all the concern bodies are quite serious and aggressive on this productive cause.