1 - Chemical management system in textiles

Abstract

To ensure circularity of valuable material resources, information exchange between supply chain actors (from raw material and chemical production, through production processes and the use phase, to waste treatment and where possible resource recovery) is important. For textiles, different types of information need to be captured to fulfill goals of a circular economy. In total, a study by the Swedish Chemical Agency estimated that approximately 10% of the total amount of over 2400 different chemicals that can be used in textiles have particularly hazardous properties. Thus to identify chemical use and content in the final garment has been recognized as crucial to meet customer and legal demands. Textile supply chains are in general long, global, and complex with many actors involved; communication is regarding chemical substances in supply chains is often difficult since retailers seldom have direct communication with more than their first-tier supplier. One obstacle is low competence regarding chemicals and their properties in parts of the value chain hindering proper information sharing and impeding good chemical management. For long-term improvement of chemicals handling and phase-out actions of hazardous chemicals, it is therefore necessary to raise the awareness level for both suppliers and retailers.