Toxic Chemicals in Clothing: What You Need to Know

In the current textile and apparel industry, the difficulty in controlling diverse health or environment-related chemical hazards lies not only in the vast volume of chemicals used in the manufacturing process, but is also due to the complexity and multi-tiered textile supply chain which involves diverse suppliers worldwide.

Some manufacturers coat their products with various chemicals at several stages of production to enhance their appearance and/or functionality, which can potentially harm consumers and the environment. 

Some commonly found chemicals include:

Individuals who are sensitive to chemicals or who are prone to fabric allergies may have reactions to these garments. Many of the substances that people use to treat the garments are often linked to, financial risks. 

Accompanying the faster pace of the industry, more and more stringent laws and regulations on chemicals are being issued by governmental authorities globally.  Some common regulations include:

Many companies globally had developed their own Restricted Substances Lists (RSLs) to provide their suppliers with guidelines limiting the amount of chemicals that can be present in finished products and have made public commitments to improve their chemical management, aiming to eliminate the use and discharge of hazardous chemicals in their supply chains.

Chemical compliance is vital in controlling health or environmental related hazards including the sustainable use of chemicals in the manufacturing process and understanding the multitiered textile supply chain.

SGS offers Training and Chemical Screening services such as PRS 500 & Green mark – HSA to ensure the quality, safety, and sustainability of these products, and their mode of distribution, to satisfy regulatory requirements as well as the demands of the market.

Please subscribe and contact us sl.ticmall@sgs.com in TIC Mall for more detail. 

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