By now, many people are aware that the production of clothing is a very resource-intensive process. Numerous chemicals are used along the supply chain: to fertilise the cotton fields, to release the cellulose fibres from the wood and produce viscose/modal (alternatively, the environmentally friendly EcoVero variant), or to weave and dye the clothes.
Highly toxic, hormone-altering and carcinogenic chemicals and pesticides are used every day. These are not only harmful for the employees along the supply chain, but also for the environment and thus also for us consumers. Even in the finished clothing, residues of chemicals can still be detected. But which chemicals do we need to pay special attention to and what can we do about them?
Greenpeace has defined several particularly hazardous substances as part of the "Detox my Fashion" campaign. We have taken a closer look at five substances that are still used at various points in the supply chain.
1. Azodyes
The degradation products of azo dyes are suspected of being carcinogenic when they come into contact with the skin. Even though it is considered less of a concern for consumers in the final product - due to the lower dose - it is dangerous for the employees of the dyeing factories due to the direct contact and the amount of dye used.
In the EU, most azo dyes are on the black list and may therefore no longer be used for dyeing textiles. However, since many fabrics are dyed outside the EU for cost reasons, these legal provisions do not apply there.
2. Organotin compounds
These are used in sportswear, socks, shoes and many other products. As anti-mould agents, they prevent odours and have an antibacterial effect. The use of some compounds has been strictly banned in the EU since 2012.
3. Perfluorinated chemicals (PFC)
With the help of fluorinated polymers, textiles are provided with a water-, grease- or dirt-repellent coating. This also includes the membranes of multifunctional textiles used for outdoor clothing. The use of PFCs is still strongly criticised today and is considered to be harmful to human health.
4. Chlorinated solvents
After the textiles have been treated with a variety of chemicals, chemicals are again used to clean the fabrics. The best known are chlorinated solvents. It is suspected that some substances of this large group damage the ozone layer (for example trichloroethane) and can be deposited in the environment as well as in the human body and water bodies due to their very limited degradability.
5. Heavy Metals
It is hard to imagine, but heavy metals are contained in dyes! These include metals such as cadmium, lead or copper. Since these substances are similar to chlorinated solvents, they too can accumulate in the body and damage the nervous system.
This is only an overview of the substances used and potentially hazardous. However, it illustrates that hazardous chemicals are used throughout the entire supply chain. This makes it all the more important for us to work exclusively with GOTS-certified dyeing companies and to dye all our products in a pollutant-free and environmentally friendly way with a clear conscience.
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