Greenpeace activists displayed a banner with the message “Detox” at the main entrance of both the world’s largest Adidas store and a nearby Nike store yesterday in Beijing, calling on the sportswear giants to remove toxic chemicals from their supply chains and from their products. The demand comes as the result of a year-long Greenpeace investigation into toxic water pollution in China.
The Greenpeace International “Dirty Laundry” report, launched on the 13th of July at press conferences in Beijing and Hong Kong, found hazardous chemicals in samples of wastewater discharges taken at two textile processing facilities, Youngor Textile City Complex and the Well Dyeing Factory Limited by the Yangtze and Pearl river deltas, both with links to a number of major international and national clothing brands (1) including Adidas, Nike and the Chinese Li Ning. The findings follow the earlier publication of “Hidden Consequences”, which highlighted the impacts of industrial pollution on rivers around the world (2).
“Greenpeace is challenging the clothing brands named in this report to eliminate releases of hazardous chemicals from their supply chain and products, and we are calling on trendsetting brands that have a major influence on their supply chains, such as Adidas and Nike, to take the lead”, said Yifang Li, Greenpeace East Asia Toxic Campaigner.
The chemicals found in the sampling carried out by Greenpeace include persistent and bioaccumulative hormone disruptors that pose long-term threats to the environment and to human health (3)(4).
“Our findings give a snapshot of the kind of toxic chemicals that are being released by the textile industry into waterways all over the world and are indicative of a much wider problem that is having serious, long-term and far-reaching consequences for people and wildlife,” said Martin Hojsik, Coordinator of the Toxics Water campaign at Greenpeace International.
“At the moment, none of the brands highlighted in the report have a complete overview of the chemicals being used and released in making their products. The solution to this problem is the adoption of comprehensive chemicals management policies, which will enable these companies to systematically monitor, reduce and eliminate hazardous chemicals throughout their supply chain”, added Hojsik.
Greenpeace is also calling on governments to take action and work towards the elimination of hazardous chemical discharges within one generation. “Policy makers have a choice. They can continue exposing their citizens and the environment to the risks created by the release of these toxic substances or they can set stringent regulations that systematically reduce and eliminate hazardous chemicals while supporting sustainable innovations,” concluded Hojsik.
Greenpeace is asking supporters and consumers to challenge major brands to “Detox” their supply chain and products and to champion a toxic free future.
For more information visit the campaign website DETOX
To get the latest news on which companies are being linked to sweatshop use, or child labour you can visit Clean Clothes and Labor Rights or if you want to learn more about the dangers of sandblasting in the denim industry check out Killer Jeans.
