SAICM Pushes For Effective Life-Cycle Management Of Chemicals In Textiles

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The transparency of information about chemicals in global supply chains has been an emerging policy issue for the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) since 2009, leading to programmes such as the UNEP Chemicals in Products (CiP) Programme.

The CiP programme focuses specifically on the textiles, toys, electronics and building materials sectors.

Information exchange in the value chain is key in identifying and addressing any chemicals of concern1in products.

Moving forward, SAICM aims at strengthening collaboration between all actors in the value chain for a change in practices and business models, towards design and use of safer chemicals and sustainable products.

An enabling part of changing practices is related to information exchange. This information exchange is driven by four groups of people:

Supply Chain Manufacturers And Retailers are purchasing every day and can drive change of practices, including improved informa-tion flow. For example, retailers with a strong market power can demand safer and environmentally friendly products from their suppliers.

Consumer Behavior can lead to brands and retailers implementing environmental measures to create positive reputations and set them apart from other companies.

NGOs and other stakeholders influence brands and retailers to share reliable and transparent information on their supply chain practices, and to address environmental concerns.

Governments that promote changes in practice in the value chain encourage brands and retailers to meet their requirements. This can be achieved through different tools and by introducing systems for the sharing of information on chemicals in products.

Brands and retailers frequently lack crucial knowledge about the properties and risks of chemicals used to manufacture products or are direct ingredients of the products.

They are not fully aware of whether harmful chemicals are contained in the finished products they sell.

Beyond the supply chain, consumers are asking for more user-friendly, easily accessible and appropriate information on chemicals throughout the chemicals’ life-cycle.

To safely manage chemicals of concern, it is necessary to identify during which life-cycle stage (e.g., production, product use, disposal) hazardous chemicals in products can result in adverse human health and environmental impacts, and target solutions adopting a life-cycle approach.

In this policy brief, a contribution from the GEF-funded project on «Global Best Practices on emerging chemical policy issues of concern under SAICM», we discuss chemicals in products and what the project is doing to minimize the adverse effects of chemicals of concern.

One of the main components of the project, «life cycle management of chemicals present in products», is developing new tools and guidance to reduce the use of chemicals of concern in the textile, building materials, electronics and toys sectors.

It also provides training and support for government and value chain actors to trial and adopt new guidance and tools.

Textiles production (e.g. for clothing) has skyrocketed recently, increasing the reach of potential sources of hazardous chemicals such as stain resistance coatings, plastics, and pesticides from cotton production.

Some hazardous chemicals in textiles may persist in the environment, build up in the body, and affect immune and reproductive systems.

However, multiple sustainable alternatives exist to these chemicals.

Chemicals/Issues of concern in textiles include : Polyfluorenes for stain resistance- Pesticides from cottonPerchloroethylene ("perc")in dry-cleaning fluid - Plastic microfibres shed during the washing.