Zara’s commitment comes just nine days after Greenpeace launched its report “Toxic Threads: The Big Fashion Stitch-Up”.
“Greenpeace welcomes Zara’s commitment to toxic-free fashion. If the world’s biggest fashion retailer can do it, there’s no excuse for other brands not to clean up their supply chains and make fashion without pollution,” said Martin Hojsik, Detox Campaign Coordinator at Greenpeace International.
The group tested 141 clothing items from major brands for nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) and carcinogenic amines from certain dyes.
NPes can break down into hormone-disrupting chemicals when released into the environment and water supplies – as a result, some countries have restricted the industrial use of NPEs for almost 20 years.
Greenpeace said all of the brands had several items containing NPEs, while Zara was the only retailer selling items contaminated with both NPEs and toxic amines.
"Some of the Zara items tested came out positive for substances that break down to form cancer-causing or hormone-disrupting chemicals which is unacceptable for both consumers and the people living near the factories where these clothes are made," said Hojsik
Zara will now require at least 20 suppliers to start releasing pollution discharge data by the end of March 2013, and at least 100 suppliers by the end of 2013. The supply chain disclosure project will include azo dyes that give rise to cancer causing amines.
“People around the world have spoken out against toxic fashion and it’s now time for other brands such as Esprit, Gap and Victoria’s Secret to listen to their customers and urgently Detox.”
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