On July 5th, we had the privilege to attend the first stakeholder engagement event organized by ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme on "Accelerating Sustainable Chemical Management: The ZDHC Way". The event provided a valuable occasion for industry leaders, experts, and solution providers to come together and address the challenges and opportunities of sustainable chemical management in the textile, apparel, leather, and footwear manufacturing industry.
The opening address by Basrie Kamba highlighted the need for collective efforts to overcome the challenges in phasing out hazardous chemicals and to drive industry-wide transformation. It served as a powerful reminder that our commitment to sustainability extends beyond individual organizations.
We heard from two prominent brands H&M and adidas, who shared their perspectives, goals and expectations from suppliers and manufacturers. Astoundingly, H&M employs a wide range of 30,000 chemicals, and their achievement of already reaching 97% ZDHC MRSL compliance is a testament to their proactive approach.
#Adidas shed light on the additional challenges faced by the footwear industry, which deals with a higher volume of chemicals compared to the textile and apparel sector. Their direct collaboration with chemical manufacturers demonstrates their dedication to ensuring responsible practices and sustainable outcomes.
Both Mia Gunawan and Yudithia . shared their brand's ambitious targets to spearhead the industry into a more sustainable future. In this era, collaboration between brands (including with their competitors) and directly with chemical companies in the realm of sustainability has become pivotal, as we are collectively part of the #RoadmapToZero programme.
The event invited solution providers including TESTEX AG, Swiss Textile Testing Institute, JAY Chemical Industries Private Limited, and our valued partner Panta Rei Water Solutions to presented their technologies and innovations for implementations aligned with #ZDHCguidelines and standards.
Mary Rose Egloff presented #Testex 's #EcoPassport certification for chemicals which holds immense value for brands and manufacturers seeking to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and drive positive change within the industry.
#JayChemicals Mahesh Muralidhar shared their expertise in the field and presented a wide selection of products in line with sustainable chemical solutions.
We are particularly proud of our partner #PantaRei for their innovative #WasteWaterManagement technologies which Manuel Romero Fernández presented. Their solutions effectively manage wastewater and reduce chemical output - adhering to the ZDHC standards and playing a crucial role in our joint effort toward sustainability.
As the first fully integrated viscose rayon producer in Asia, Asia Pacific Rayon (APR) shared more about their 100% natural and biodegradable viscose-rayon production process. Their #APR2030 target includes becoming climate and nature positive, ensuring clean and closed loop manufacturing and accelerating circularity – and achieving the aspirational level of ZDHC.
A key take away of the event is that we must go beyond compliance level, and strive to achieve a progressive to an aspirational level of ZDHC. #Sustainability in textiles is not merely a buzzword; it represents a fundamental shift in our industry. As the value chain becomes increasingly more complex, our collective synergy toward sustainability becomes ever so critical.
