The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC), an international environmental group for the textile industry, includes major brands such as Nike, Puma, M&S, and Burberry. Its mission is to achieve zero emissions of hazardous chemicals from the textile supply chain by 2020. ZDHC recently updated its Manufacturing Restricted Substance List (MRSL) to include leather in its hazardous substance restriction regulations. This updated MRSL version 1.1 will provide a more consistent direction for chemical substance management across the textile industry.
According to ZDHC, MRSL 1.1 not only regulates textile and footwear manufacturers but also includes chemical manufacturers and manufacturers of decorative parts for clothing and shoes. Restricted chemicals include solvents, detergents, adhesives, coatings, inks, washing agents, dyes, colorants, auxiliaries, surface coatings, and setting agents that may be used in raw material processing, wet processing, repair, wastewater treatment, sanitation, and pest control.
Frank Michel, Executive Director of ZDHC, stated that MRSL 1.1 provides a consistent chemical substance specification guideline to help brands communicate effectively with their supply chains and achieve the ultimate goal of zero chemical emissions, especially in the raw material acquisition and manufacturing stages.
By providing and requiring compliance with MRSL 1.1 to its supply chain manufacturers, brand owners can more effectively communicate that all components and processes of the final product are in accordance with the same chemical substance management standard, and assess whether their supply chain manufacturers' chemical substance management meets the requirements of a green supply chain.
To alleviate the burden on brands managing chemicals in their supply chains, the new MRSL (Made for Leather Supplies) not only includes leather manufacturing in its scope but also divides chemical restrictions into Group A and Group B. Group A primarily lists all chemicals that cannot be intentionally added to raw materials or during the finished product manufacturing process. Group B sets the maximum concentration limits for hazardous chemicals in the commercial formulations of chemical suppliers. These maximum concentration limits prohibit the intentional use of hazardous chemicals but allow for reasonable residues of impurities during the production process.
For detailed information on MRSL version 1.1, please refer to the attached file: MRSL_v1_1_FINAL.pdf
Sources:EcoTextile (2015-12-09) (Compiled by PIDC) Attachment file:MRSL_v1_1_FINAL.pdf
