The guide was developed as a solution for brand owners and textile companies, especially SMEs and start-ups, that struggle to manage the costs of the chemical expertise needed in order to manufacture toxic free products.

Chemicals in textiles

Textile manufacturers should pay greater attention to chemicals in their products in the modern market environment, as more and more customers are demanding to know what’s in the product, and chemical legislations are getting stricter.

There is a great market opportunity for companies willing to future-proof their production and meet the demands of the 21st century customer, according to ChemSec.

With the new Textile Guide users get access to a chemical management tool even more advanced than what most of the big multinational brands utilize, according to Jerker Ligthart, Chemical Engineer and Project Manager of the Textile Guide.

Textile Guide

The Textile Guide is an easy one-two-three step guide to show companies how they can identify problematic chemicals in their production and finished garments, and how to get rid of them. No registration is needed, there are no fees and all Textile Guide users will remain anonymous if they wish, according to ChemSec.

At the core of the Guide is a searchable database, a Google for chemicals, containing information on more than 6 500 chemicals. All chemical information is based on regional legislation (US & EU), as well as several Restricted Substances Lists (RSLs) of multinational brands and textile trade organizations.

The Textile Guide also holds many features for a solid chemical management and can help companies prioritize which chemicals and company specific risks they should act on. The guide is available at www.textileguide.chemsec.org .

ChemSec

ChemSec, the International Chemical Secretariat, is a non-profit organisation founded in 2002 by four environmental organisations. Its approach involves highlighting the health and environmental risks of hazardous substances and the urgent need to phase them out, making accurate, science-based information available and acting as a catalyst for open dialogue between business, authorities and NGOs.

The organisation also develops concrete tools for effective action and monitoring the progress of legislative processes. All ChemSec’s work aims to stimulate public debate and action on the necessary steps towards a world free of hazardous chemicals.

www.chemsec.org