To ensure the health and wellbeing of consumers and the environment, Governments are introducing more and wider restrictions on substances that can be found in textile and footwear products.
After all, that’s key to delivering safer and sustainable fashion!
Importantly, apparel exporters – especially those from third-world countries which have some prominent apparel manufacturing hubs – need to understand how relevant it is to introduce wide restrictions on restricted substances found on textile products.
In fact, some of the restricted substances that can be found on textile and footwear products include azo amines and arylamine salts; cadmium; chromium (VI); chloroparaffins; forbidden and disperse dyes; lead; nickel; organotin; phthalates; quinoline; alkylphenol and alkylphenol ethoxylates; chlorinated organic carriers; chlorinated phenols; flame retardants; formaldehyde; PFOS, PFOA and its related substances, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), SVHC and more.
Notably, azo dye colourants are frequently used to dye leathers and textiles. However, a small subset of azo dyes can break down to form aromatic amines, which are classified as carcinogens, thereby altering the genetic structure of human cells, and leading to cancer.
Owing to this, these amines are restricted to a maximum of 30 mg/kg in dyed textiles and leathers which come into contact with the wearer’s skin.
Similarly, nonylphenol ethoxylates are also severely toxic to aquatic life and cannot be easily broken down, therefore posing a significant long-term risk. Cadmium too, like many other substances, is toxic to humans and is classified as a carcinogen.
Consequently, testing of ingredients is an important process in any textile and footwear manufacturer’s quality control procedures to ensure they are delivering a compliant final product.
It’s here SGS, which is world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification firm, offers a wide range of services to the softlines industry, at every stage of the value chain, helping to ensure the quality, safety and sustainability of these products.
With more than 89,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.
To share all the update on implementation of the aforementioned regulations, SGS will be conducting a webinar, wherein its technical experts will answer questions on footwear and apparel industry’s mind, including details of new restrictions, what action is being taken by the sector to ensure restricted substances are controlled in products, as well as sharing product recall cases.
The webinar will include topics like restriction of chemicals, latest global regulatory updates, impacts and obligations as well as the SGS testing approach.
To know more, attend the SGS webinar on ‘Developments in the Control of Restricted Substances in Softlines Products’ on 26 May 2021.
Interested participants can attend by registering at https://www.sgs.com/en/events/2021/05/developments-in-the-control-of-restricted-substances-in-softlines-products
