Bluesign & SCTI Donate SCI Methodology to ZDHC Foundation

The textile industry is taking a sustainable step forward as bluesign and SCTI donate the pioneering Sustainable Chemistry Index (SCI) Methodology to ZDHC.

The ZDHC Foundation prevents hazardous chemicals from being used in fashion production. 

It develops guidelines, platforms and solutions for brands, suppliers, and chemical formulators to become safer and more sustainable. 

The collaboration aims to revolutionise chemical management in the textile, leather and fashion industries, while addressing environmental impacts. 

Textile manufacturers face major sustainability challenges

The textile industry’s use of hazardous chemicals has been a major challenge; companies are faced with varying regulations, inconsistent data and a lack of common action which all hinder the sustainability process. 

Now, leading organisations in textile manufacturing are beginning to tackle these issues head-on.

Since its founding in 2020, Sustainable Chemistry for the Textile Industry (SCTI)- an alliance of leading chemical manufacturers- has empowered the industry to make sustainable, innovative changes. 

Its members include Archroma, KISCO and Tanatex Chemicals. In 2022, SCTI teamed up with bluesign to create the Sustainable Chemistry Index (SCI)- which enables stakeholders to assess the sustainability of the textile chemical manufacturing process. 

"We have been partnering with all stakeholders involved for some time and recognised that our market has been operating with multiple isolated approaches," says Wolfgang Schumann, Managing Director of RUDOLF, Chairman of SCTI and ZDHC board member. 

“Within SCI content, we are converging several approaches, while raising sustainable chemistry to the benefit of our community,” he continues. 

SCI: a cornerstone of sustainable manufacturing

The bluesign SYSTEM eliminates harmful substances from the start of the manufacturing process and sets the standard for environmentally friendly and safe production.

bluesign’s experience in ensuring safe and responsible chemical management in textile production made it the clear choice to leverage innovative technologies and assess the environmental impact of textiles.

By donating the SCI to ZDHC, SCTI and bluesign have opened the floor to industry-wide collaboration.  

The SCI has become the cornerstone of the Chemicals to Zero (CTZ-A) program, which represents the highest level of sustainable chemistry within ZDHC, and as such will undergo stakeholder engagement and consultation processes to enhance the Roadmap to Zero Program. 

The SCI content will be publicly available for free, enabling widespread access to sustainability solutions in the textile manufacturing industry.  

ZDHC’s CEO, Frank Michel, explains  “At ZDHC, our mission is to build a dynamic platform that highlights the transformative journey of sustainable chemistry in the fashion industry.” 

“By integrating the SCI as the cornerstone of Chemicals to Zero Aspirational Level and releasing it into our publicly available ZDHC Framework, we’re showcasing true thought leadership essential for driving positive change and engaging our wider community of stakeholders on our way forward,” Frank continues.

A clear sustainability framework

The SCI includes new parameters to assess ways chemical products can improve resource utilisation along the life cycle of each garment. 

It also outlines some key elements to achieving this sustainability goal.

This framework aims to make it easier for the manufacturing industry to evaluate the sustainability of their textile products. 

"Our initiative elevates collective action to new heights and enables the textile and fashion industries to make sustainable choices by taking full advantage of what solidarity can do to power change,” says Isabella Tonaco, the Executive Director of SCTI.

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