Breakthrough for EU consumers as toxic chemical banned in textile imports | WPN World People News

In a landmark decision, EU member states unanimously agreed to ban a toxic chemical from its clothing imports, closing a trade loophole that previously put the health of its citizens and environment at risk.

“This is a clear message from EU policymakers and millions of consumers that hazardous chemicals do not belong in our clothing,” said Yixiu Wu, Global Detox Campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia. “For manufacturing countries such as China, whose largest trade partner has been Europe for more than a decade, textile production relies heavily on exporting to the EU market, the clock is ticking to phase out NPE. China’s textile industry needs to be more progressive in identifying and banning harmful chemicals from their products otherwise they will lose a key market.”

The ban follows grassroots campaigns throughout Europe and Greenpeace demands to restrict nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE), which are used as surfactants in textile production and subsequently breakdown to form toxic nonylphenol (NP). Nonylphenol is a persistent chemical with hormone-disrupting properties that builds up in the food chain and is hazardous even at very low levels.

The wide use of NPE in the textile industry was brought to light by a Greenpeace International report, Dirty Laundry 2: Hung Out to Dry. Released in 2011, the report initially drew huge media attention, as it pointed out a loophole in the EU’s REACH chemical regulations. While NPE was banned in textile products within the EU, it did not ban the use of NPE in imported textile products.

“Hundreds of thousands of supporters have called on high street brands such as Gap, Nike, and Diesel to clean up their supply chain,” Wu added. “This is a huge win for a cleaner, toxic free future. Greenpeace is calling on the brands and suppliers to become champions for a toxic free future, by eliminating all releases of hazardous chemicals from their supply chains and their products.”

The European Commission is expected to approve the ban in the upcoming weeks and will take effect within five years, allowing the fashion industry ample time to remove NPE from its supply chain.

Source: Greenpeace International