ZURICH, Switzerland — The OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certification has been recognized as “Level 3” on the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) conformance indicator; known in short as the, Roadmap To Zero programme.
This from the ZDHC website: “The ZDHC Roadmap to Zero programme takes a holistic approach to tackling the issue of hazardous chemicals in the global textile, leather and footwear value chain.”
“Level 3 indicates that ECO PASSPORT-certified chemical substances meet the ZDHC’s guidelines for safer textile chemistries that are also verified as being responsibly manufactured,” OEKO-TEX® reports.
The ZDHC’s MRSL covers chemical substances that are limited or banned from intentional use in the production of apparel and footwear materials and trim in order to protect workers, consumers, and the environment.
“OEKO-TEX® has worked with the apparel and footwear industry for the past 25 years to eliminate harmful substances from the global supply chain,” says John Frazier, sr. technical director for OEKO-TEX® in North America.
“ECO PASSPORT is an important part of that work and proactively targets undesirable chemicals before they enter the supply chain,” Frazier adds.
It is designed to address the specific challenges chemical manufacturers face in their efforts to comply with sustainability initiatives while still protecting the confidentiality of their formulations, he points out.
Frazier relates: “Recognition as a Level 3 indicator permits ECO PASSPORT certified suppliers to adhere to the strictest ZDHC requirements while safeguarding their intellectual property.”
The program analyzes a broad set of chemicals including colorants, scouring agents, adhesives, inks, pigments, and auxiliaries in a confidential, three-step process that confirms that the formulations and individual ingredients (CAS level chemicals) meet specific criteria for sustainability, safety, and regulatory compliance, OEKO-TEX® notes.
“Sustainable apparel and footwear must begin with greener chemistries,” states Frazier. “We are excited that ECO PASSPORT certification is now acknowledged by ZDHC as an indicator of the responsible, comprehensive chemical product stewardship that is required to truly reduce the industry’s impact on workers, consumers, and the environment.”
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