Archroma, a leader in specialty chemicals, has published its first formulation list of ‘ZDHC MRSL – compliant’ colorants and chemicals for textile and apparel.

The ZDHC Group released its first Manufacturers Restricted Substance List (MRSL) on 5 June this year, setting concentration limits for the chemical groups banned under the ZDHC Joint Roadmap.

Archroma is among the companies who have been investing in R&D for many years to develop product and process innovations that are safer for people and gentler for the environment, the manufacturer reports.

Raising global awareness

In early 2011, Greenpeace started its ‘Detox’ campaign to raise global awareness of the environmental issues of the textile supply chain, with its ‘Dirty Laundry’ report, highlighting the contribution of fashion and apparel in water pollution in Asia.

The ‘Dirty Laundry Reloaded’ report was then released in March 2012 informing consumers of the water pollution caused when washing our clothes. Other reports have followed since then.

In November 2011, a group of six major apparel and footwear brands and retailers decided to take up the challenge and issued the ‘Joint Roadmap Toward Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals’, a commitment and roadmap aiming to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry, based on a list of 11 priority chemical groups to be phased out by 2020.

Establishing limits

In June, The ZDHC Joint Roadmap group, which today includes 18 members, published the ‘Manufacturers Restricted Substance List (MRSL)’, a document that identifies the chemical substances banned from intentional use in facilities that process textile materials in apparel and footwear.

The MRSL establishes the acceptable concentration limits of these banned substances in chemical formulations used within manufacturing facilities.

As part of its support for customers following this initiative, Archroma offers a formulation list of ZDHC MRSL-compliant products and raw material monitoring and batch testing.

Formulation list

Archroma has compiled a list of globally marketed textile colorants and auxiliaries that are qualified to support the objective of the Joint Roadmap: Towards Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals. The company is committed to the highest standards of product safety and actively supporting the objective of removing hazardous chemicals from the textile and clothing supply chain.

“Archroma’s formulation list of ZDHC MRSL-compliant products is probably the most comprehensive one that is available to textile manufacturers, brands and retailers on the market at this stage,” commented Thomas Winkler, President Textile Specialties at Archroma.

“We offer a full range of colorants and chemicals for colours and functional effects, and process chemicals, covering our customers’ needs along the entire textile value chain, from fibre to finish.”

Testing

The company has established a global network of analytical labs which monitor incoming and outgoing product flow.

Archroma has a team of chemists in Archroma’s Product Stewardship departments, and an international network of specialised product safety labs in Switzerland, India, Pakistan and China.

www. archroma.com