What is the Roadmap to Zero Programme?

The Roadmap to Zero Programme is a collaborative, multi-stakeholder initiative that works with various stakeholders in the fashion industry to phase out hazardous chemicals from the global value chain of fashion.

Organised around three interlinked focus areas, Input, Process and, Output, it comprises in-depth guidelines, tools and educational modules and progressive leader programmes. Together, they facilitate and map the implementation of the programme and form a mutually supportive community. At present, our Committed Community ⓘ  numbers over 320 ZDHC Signatories ⓘ, and is devoted to our collective vision of creating a world in which better chemistry leads to the protection of life, land, air and water.

Our leader programmes are designed to accelerate the adoption of our Roadmap to Zero Programme for each type of stakeholder (Brands, Suppliers, and Chemical Formulators). Together, the structurally interlinked leader programmes foster ever increasing interaction between Brands, Suppliers and Chemical Formulators. Much like a flywheel, they create a dynamic and vital culture of change.

Who Do We Work With?

As a multi-stakeholder initiative, we engage with all parts of the global fashion industry’s value chain; including brands, suppliers, chemical formulators, solution providers, like-minded organisations, and many others. Aligning a diverse global industry like fashion is complex and requires a well-established engagement journey for each stakeholder group. Each of our stakeholder groups plays an integral role in our Roadmap to Zero Programme. Progress and success in our collective endeavour can only be achieved holistically. 
‍
As we move away from a growth strategy towards an impact strategy, we need to further define our programmes and parameters as we move towards our 2030 goal. In light of this, there are some areas where ZDHC’s terminology is changing for our stakeholder community including changes to the terminologies of our ZDHC Contributors, Friends of ZDHC, ZDHC Approved Solution Providers and Leaders to Zero community and categories. 
‍
For further information please see the ZDHC Terminology update section in Chapter 3.

Our Role

Our role is to help educate the companies and workers operating within the fashion value chain on how; to find substitutions for restricted, hazardous chemicals, handle chemicals safely, and then share what works well and what doesn’t with others.  Cultivating a proactive culture of positive change  that is being embraced by more and more businesses and will eventually, we aim, inform the entire industry. We are laser-focused on sustainable chemical management especially as it relates to: 

Air

(Quality and Emission)

Biodiversity

Carbon

(Neutral / Positive)

Climate Change

People

(Life)

Traceability

Circularity

Waste

Water

(Conservation and Emission)

What Do We Measure?

We measure two things:‍

Large amounts of water are needed to manufacture apparel, textile and footwear products. At the end of the production line, treated wastewater is released. However, if the wastewater is not properly treated, it may pose a threat to the environment by impacting local water and soil quality, biodiversity and human health.

Manufacturing facilities can demonstrate their conformance to the ZDHC MRSL and their progress in implementing sustainable chemical management through three solutions: InCheck, Supplier to Zero and ClearStream.

This is a bi-annual wastewater testing report that identifies, through testing of wastewater and sludge, any
non-conformances to the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines and motivates Suppliers to conduct root cause analysis and corrective actions for these non-conformities​​. 

Show more

This is a monthly chemical inventory report that identifies any non-conformances tothe ZDHC MRSL of intentional use of hazardous chemicals within the manufacturing process of a manufacturing facility. This report is published on the ZDHC Gateway, where suppliers can share with their customers (brands).

Show more

This programme supports suppliers to realise their potential by identifying areas of improvement in sustainable chemical management. Suppliers are supported in implementing and verifying best practices in accordance with the ZDHC Chemical Management System Framework (CMS).

Show more

Water quality testing, whether it’s from a manufacturing plant or from a city’s water treatment facility, is traditionally measured according to a set of “conventional” limits, or parameters, that test temperature, pH, colour, total suspended solids, heavy metals, an excess of certain harmful bacteria, and the oxygenation level of the water. Analysis of this kind of testing helps us to understand whether the water treatment process in question is operating correctly.
‍
Manufacturing Suppliers in ZDHC’s Roadmap to Zero Programme are evaluated based on two distinct areas of wastewater testing: these are Conventional Parameters (water quality) and conformity to the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC MRSL).
‍
Conventional testing measures treated wastewater by an effluent treatment plant. These can be run by the city, municipality or regional government, or by manufacturers themselves. Manufacturers committed to the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme are expected to stay within local limits of water quality.
‍
Understanding whether manufacturing facilities are successfully implementing ZDHC’s Roadmap to Zero Programme requires raw effluent or untreated wastewater testing. Testing of untreated water typically provides a clear picture of what chemicals are actually being used in the manufacturing processes. ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines require tests to be conducted twice a year, but we advise factories to monitor in line with sustainable wastewater practices (often several times per day).

A Note On Our Data

Learn more about ZDHC's investments in data management, leading to improved data analysis.

Learn more

A Note On Our Data

ZDHC has access to large datasets which provide untapped potential for its digital platforms. To manage data more effectively, ZDHC needs greater visibility and better analysis of the data it collects. The organisation is now ready to determine what additional data to collect, however, the challenge is not only the amount of data but also its quality. 

For this reason, ZDHC has invested in team resources: a Programme and Solutions Quality Assurance Manager and a Data and Business Analyst started their journey with ZDHC in 2022. Their support has been instrumental in enhancing data quality and overall transparency for the organisation. 

In the latter half of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, ZDHC centralised most of its data and developed a comprehensive structure, which necessitated the internalisation of some information from platform service providers. During this process ZDHC identified inconsistencies in wording and data collection. To address these concerns, ZDHC has committed to improving its data quality going forward, including the interpretation of its data still to be refined.

ZDHC aims to improve its data further in 2023 and set a benchmark for future Impact Reports. To identify key focus areas for data extraction, the ZDHC Management Team and Advisory Groups were engaged in a hackathon format. With improved data quality and analysis, ZDHC's digital platforms can unlock their full potential and support the industry in achieving its sustainability goals.

The ZDHC Gateway: The Backbone of Our Work

The ZDHC Gateway, the world’s largest database of chemical products, offers safer alternatives to hazardous chemicals for the textile, apparel and footwear industry to use with the aim of phasing out hazardous chemicals from the global fashion value chain. 

Who benefits from the ZDHC Gateway?

Brands & retailers

Vendors

Suppliers

Chemical Formulators

To drive transparency and monitor Supplier performance, ZDHC mandates Suppliers on the ZDHC Gateway to publish their wastewater testing results, obtained as per the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines, on the platform on a regular basis. Today, the ZDHC Gateway is the most widely used platform in the industry for reporting water quality data. 
‍
Since 2019, manufacturing facilities involved in the Roadmap to Zero Programme have been required to conduct chemical inventories and report their findings on the ZDHC Gateway, through generating InCheck reports. This obligatory process serves to monitor the compliance of manufacturing facilities to  the ZDHC MRSL and highlights instances of non-conformity that can be then addressed.  It builds awareness of non-conformities against the ZDHC MRSL and enables Suppliers to formulate their roadmap to better chemistry. 
‍
Over the past four years we have observed a notable rise in the adoption of ZDHC's toolkit ⓘ (the various materials that ZDHC provides for Suppliers to help implement improvements) among Suppliers, accompanied by an enhancement in the quantity and quality of chemical inventory data collected. The number of Suppliers monitoring their chemical inventory has notably increased.

In the 2022 reporting period

It is important to note that we are continuously improving data quality and methodologies. We recently updated our account counting methodology and Suppliers that are still undergoing the registration and verification process are not yet counted as actively enrolled. 

The ZDHC MRSL: Safeguarding Our Future, Transforming Industries

How Does it Work?

At the heart of our work lies the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC MRSL) - a pioneering solution that has redefined how the textile, apparel, leather, and footwear industries manage and mitigate hazardous chemicals in manufacturing. Our ZDHC MRSL has created a paradigm shift in the industry by providing a comprehensible list that restricts the use of hazardous chemicals in manufacturing, thus preventing such chemicals from entering the global value chain in the first place.
‍
The ZDHC MRSL sets stringent requirements for sustainable chemical management, empowering businesses to transition seamlessly from hazardous substances to safer, more sustainable alternatives. By featuring ZDHC MRSL conformant chemical products on the ZDHC Gateway, we provide clear guidance for their adoption, fostering innovation and environmental stewardship across the industry.

Transparency and knowledge sharing are the drivers of the ZDHC MRSL. Its structure encourages brands, suppliers, and chemical formulators to collaborate on taking a precautionary approach to chemicals and drives harmonisation around the use and restriction of hazardous chemicals.

Keeping It Current: The ZDHC MRSL Candidate List

The ZDHC MRSL is a living document and is regularly updated. To learn more about this dynamic and inclusive process, click learn more.

Learn more

Keeping It Current: The ZDHC MRSL Candidate List

The ZDHC MRSL is a living document and is regularly updated. This dynamic and inclusive process includes gathering chemical ban proposals, which can be made by anyone, on an ongoing basis  through the ZDHC MRSL Submission Platform and expert assessments by the ZDHC MRSL Council. The Council is an independent group composed of technical experts from diverse segments of the textile, apparel, leather, and footwear industry, and other significant stakeholders with relevant industry knowledge and experience. They use an impartial, science-based approach to recommend inclusions to both the ZDHC MRSL and to the ZDHC MRSL Candidate List. 

The ZDHC MRSL Candidate List identifies substances with existing safer alternatives and signals to the industry that these substances will soon be included in the ZDHC MRSL. 

The Impact of the ZDHC MRSL V2.0

The ZDHC MRSL is designed to create impact by eliminating the MRSL chemical substances from manufacturing processes. This not only prevents hazardous chemicals from ending up in the final products but also prevents them from being found in the air, water, or waste discharged by a manufacturing facility. 
‍
Conformance to the ZDHC MRSL requirements supports suppliers in their efforts to achieve higher compliance levels of the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines’ MRSL parameters. 
‍
Conventional parameter testing is performed on treated wastewater and it evaluates the effectiveness of water treatment processes of an effluent treatment facility in a manufacturing plant. Successfully meeting these conventional parameters requires skilled and knowledgeable wastewater plant operators. 

Monitoring Progress of ZDHC MRSL Conformance

To accurately assess the yearly progress of Suppliers, ZDHC tracked and analysed a sample of its Suppliers. By 2022, the sample size decreased to 166 facilities for conventional parameters and 162 facilities for ZDHC MRSL parameters. The decrease in sample size resulted from the requirement that each Supplier had to have published wastewater test reports in April and October for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

The average ZDHC MRSL Conformance of the 166 facilities significantly improved across all eight cycles, rising from 77% in 2019 to approximately 85% in 2022. 

On top of that, the average conventional parameter conformance in the 162 facilities monitored through these 8 reporting cycles, is also stabilising at historically high percentages. 

In April 2019, only 36% of Suppliers met conventional parameters, but by October 2022, this figure increased to 53%, nearly doubling the number of compliant Suppliers.

Finally, when ZDHC reflects on all parameters, as per the 2022 reporting period, 98% of the parameters tested across all our Suppliers met the requirements established by the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines for the ZDHC MRSL parameters.
‍

Why not 100%?

Despite the efforts of our Suppliers, why are some ZDHC MRSL restricted substances still being detected in wastewater test results?

Learn more

Why not 100%?

Why, despite many Suppliers’ best efforts, are (ZDHC MRSL) restricted substances still showing up in test results?
‍
We can state with confidence that the vast majority of the ZDHC community is no longer intentionally using chemicals on the ZDHC MRSL. However the presence of unintentional contaminants is the primary reason that is preventing us, collectively, from phasing out hazardous chemicals by 100%. 

Unintentional contamination: Risks

Unintentional contamination is when a substance has not been intentionally added in the formulation for application on the substrate, however is present at low levels within the end product or waste output. This contamination could be from an earlier synthesis or manufacturing process or from other sources. For example, chlorobenzenes, phthalates, p-chloroaniline, etc. 

Commodity Chemicals: Risk

Commodity chemicals that are recycled from other industries may contain trace levels of ZDHC MRS substances. Although these ZDHC MRSL impurities in recycled commodity chemicals are at very low levels, the sheer volume of the commodity chemicals used in production processes and the fact that 100% of these commodity chemicals go into the wastewater stream, can impact the detection of ZDHC MRSL substances in the wastewater.

Conventional parameters, which determine water quality, were also analysed in more detail from last year. The percentage of Suppliers who met the conventional parameters in the April 2022 timeline, is shown in the graph below. ZDHC conventional parameters are split into anions, conventional parameters (BOD, COD, TSS etc) and metals. 

This graph demonstrates that after treatment, the elimination of parameters that affect quality is at 70.3% and 62.4% for anions and conventional parameters respectively.* This is lower than in 2021 and it means that water quality needs to improve. 

*The analysis suggests that a wider set of Suppliers is being assessed as new Suppliers have joined the RtZ Programme. As expected, the results for newcomers are less performant than the global results. (see later in the report under Performance of Newcomers section)

It is important to note that the analysis only looks at all the wastewater reports and does not check if other Suppliers have consistently reported through the years. Therefore, it is difficult to draw clear conclusions on causes or progress. Technical or market variables may exist. Year-over-Year analysis was done to reinforce the gains from using the wastewater tools. (see later in the report) 

Numbers Speak Louder Than Words

Dive into some of the key numbers from our 2022 Impact Thesis (our annual scientific analysis of ZDHC data conducted to inform our annual Impact Report) that showcase the most significant metrics and achievements in our journey towards progress.

In the 2022 reporting period:

ZDHC Committed Community: Amplifying Our Reach

The ZDHC Committed Community is a powerful collective dedicated to amplifying our impact and reach in advancing sustainable chemical management best practices across the entire fashion value chain and it is growing exceptionally fast every year. 

In 2022: 

Leaders to Zero: Paradigm Shift Toward Better Chemistry

By combining market forces with ethical and sustainable guidelines, the impact of ZDHC's work is spreading throughout the industry like a ripple effect. brands, suppliers, and chemical formulators are improving their processes, even before formally joining ZDHC’s Roadmap to Zero Programme. This is leading to a genuine industry-wide shift towards sustainable chemical management, and anyone can be a part of it.
‍
Upon joining the Roadmap to Zero Programme, our ZDHC Committed Community organisations become a part of our ZDHC Leaders to Zero programmes ⓘ, which are tailor-made for the challenges of each stakeholder group: Brands, Suppliers, and Chemical Formulators. Through these programmes, the companies participating in the Roadmap to Zero Programme enter into a commitment of phasing out the intentional discharge of hazardous chemicals from their processes, as well as to provide progress updates to ensure accountability and transparency. 
‍
Together, these programmes reduce duplication of effort and improve transparency across the industry. But it's not just about the programmes - joining the ZDHC Leaders to Zero ⓘ means becoming part of a self-sustaining, virtual cycle of change that accelerates the industry’s collaborative impact, like a flywheel.

Brands to Zero Programme

The Brands to Zero Programme is a game-changing initiative that provides brands and retailers with a clear and harmonised path towards sustainable chemical management. By integrating ZDHC Guidelines, Platforms and Solutions, it streamlines implementation efforts and eliminates supply chain complexity, leading to enhanced supplier engagement and improved implementation performance.

This programme offers a unique opportunity for brands and retailers to take leadership in the industry by benchmarking themselves against their peers. Through an annual quantitative assessment (that is kept confidential from ZDHC), brands and retailers receive individual roadmap development plans that help drive and improve their sustainable chemical management practices. Each Brand receives a report produced by a third-party assessor (KPMG since 2019), based on defined KPIs and metrics, that highlights their level of implementation and progress towards phasing out the discharge of hazardous chemicals.

As per the 20223 annual assessment of the Brands to Zero Programme, the following brands achieved Aspirational Level: 

The Brands to Zero Programme is a powerful tool for brands and retailers, that not only empowers them to take a leadership role in the industry but also communicates their commitment to their stakeholders. 

To download the full Brands to Zero report, please visit our website.

Update: 
Detox Fashion Radar

In 2022, ZDHC launched its Detox Fashion Radar to spotlight brands that are working hard to make the fashion industry safer and cleaner. To find out how it works, and which brands make the cut, click learn more.

Learn more

Detox Fashion Radar

In 2022, in an effort to hold the industry accountable to its commitments and to further promote transparency, ZDHC launched its Detox Fashion Radar to shine a light on brands that are taking active steps towards eliminating hazardous chemicals from their supply chains and are promoting responsible manufacturing practices. By spotlighting these specific success stories,  our radar  increases the visibility of sustainable chemical management activities within the global textile, leather and footwear industry, where there is currently an awareness deficit.
‍
Our Detox Fashion Radar serves as a comprehensive tool that tracks brands' implementation performance in eliminating hazardous chemicals from their value chains and plots them on the radar based on their implementation level without a ranking. It enables brands to publicly showcase their commitment to implementing sustainable chemical management as it tracks their progress within the Roadmap to Zero Programme. By doing this, the radar provides its audience with a single point of reference to trace sustainable chemical management practices in fashion. 

ZDHC will update the radar in phases, over time. Currently, the radar features Brands that meet the merits for the first and second ring of the radar, ZDHC Leaders ⓘ to Zero and ZDHC Contributor Brands ⓘ, respectively. In addition to updating the second ring of the radar and introducing an additional feature, the Path History function. Allowing users to see the history of the brand’s progress on the radar over the years.
‍
ZDHC will update the radar in phases, over time. Currently, the radar features Brands that meet the merits for the first and second ring of the radar,  respectively. In addition to updating the second ring of the radar and introducing an additional feature, the Path History function. Allowing users to see the history of the brand’s progress on the radar over the years.

To discover brands that are promoting sustainable chemical manufacturing practices and to learn more about our Detox Fashion Radar, click here.

Show more information

Show less information

Supplier to Zero Programme

Launched in 2020, the Supplier to Zero Programme is designed to align and accelerate the implementation of the ZDHC Guidelines, Platforms and Solutions across the entire supply chain at manufacturing level, extending ZDHC’s reach and ability to affect long-term change. 

The Supplier to Zero Programme empowers supply chain partners to implement the industry's leading sustainable chemical management system by supporting the identification of improvement areas. It equips suppliers with guidelines and best practices to implement better chemical management. As a brand or chemical manufacturer, you can invite suppliers at all levels to join the programme.

The programme's Foundational Level ⓘ provides Suppliers an entry-level introduction to the ZDHC Chemical Management System where Suppliers can learn how to implement ZDHC Guidelines, Platforms and Solutions. Through the programme’s integration with the ZDHC Gateway, it enables Brands to monitor suppliers’ progress with ease. 

Advanced Suppliers demonstrate their performance and leadership by attaining Progressive Level on the programme, as verified by independent third parties.

In 2022, the number of both Foundational Level Suppliers and Progressive Level Suppliers in the programme, doubled. Overall, 94% of Suppliers have now been awarded Foundational Level certificates, while the remaining 6% of Suppliers have been awarded Progressive Level certificates. Significantly Supplier to Zero is being used by an increasing number of suppliers, a clear sign of its success and utility for suppliers in implementing sustainable chemistry practices.
‍
It is important to note that though the Supplier to Zero Programme was launched in 2020, the full rollout of the Foundational Level only took place in 2021 and the Progressive Level followed in 2022. There has since been a significant increase in the uptake of this programme and further growth is expected for 2023 in line with our new 2030 Impact Strategy. In light of that, in 2023 ZDHC will be launching the ‘Aspirational Level’ of the programme under the following new terminologies: 
‍
• Impact Champion for Signatory Suppliers 
• Supplier to Zero Level 3 for non-signatory Suppliers

For more information about the new terminologies, please see the ZDHC Terminology update section in Chapter 3.

Show more information

Show less information

Formulators to Zero Programme

The Formulators to Zero Programme is currently being developed by ZDHC to empower Chemical Formulators to implement better sustainable chemistry. The programme is a work-in-progress and will be based on the Chemicals to Zero Programme which is a journey for chemical formulations to move beyond the ZDHC MRSL.

Chemicals to Zero is one section of Formulators to Zero. The Chemicals to Zero Programme for formulators will deliver performance and sustainable chemistry attributes of each chemical formulation. These chemical formulations will be classified as follows:

Foundational Level formulations: conform to the ZDHC MRSL Conformance Levels 1, 2, 3. 

Progressive Level formulations: conform to the ZDHC MRSL V3.0 Level 2 and are expected to respect the AFIRM RSL, when applied as per the instructions of the chemical formulator.

Aspirational Level formulations: details for this higher conformance level are currently being developed. This level will build upon the previous levels to amplify additional sustainability requirements. 

We will have more to share on this topic later this year so to stay updated, please  follow us closely on LinkedIn and our website (set your alerts!). 

Show more information

Show less information

Collaboration for Greater Impact

At ZDHC, we believe in the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change. Our goal is to work with like-minded organisations across the textile, apparel, leather and footwear industry, cultivating beneficial partnerships and securing funding for impactful, collaborative projects. Together we can drive business growth for all and advance our mission to create a world where sustainable practices are the norm.
‍
Here are the highlights of our collaborations over the last year.

amfori

Fashion Conveners (FC)

apparel alliance

French Development Agency (AFD)

GIZ (German Development Agency)

Global Fashion Agenda (GFA)

IOMC

Leather Working Group (LWG)

UNEP

The Microfibre Consortium

UNIDO

amfori

Fashion Conveners (FC)

apparel alliance

French Development Agency (AFD)

GIZ (German Development Agency)

Global Fashion Agenda (GFA)

IOMC

Leather Working Group (LWG)

UNEP

The Microfibre Consortium

UNIDO

amfori

In December 2022, ZDHC and amfori signed a new collaboration agreement to improve environmental performance in the textile, apparel, and footwear supply chain. The agreement focuses on sustainable chemical management and includes implementing the ZDHC Supplier to Zero Programme, joint monitoring of high-level results, raising awareness, joint training, capacity building, and fundraising for mutual projects. The collaboration aims to continuously improve environmental performance in the industry.

Fashion Conveners (FC) 

ZDHC, a key member of Fashion Conveners (FC), is playing a vital role in strengthening the vision and action plan to reduce duplication and create a collective impact in the fashion industry. In 2022, FC agreed on collaboration principles and focus areas on education, tools, data, policy and consumer awareness. Five working groups were created to work on these areas with defined teams from individual FC members.

apparel alliance

In 2020, the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), Textile Exchange and ZDHC formed the apparel alliance to accelerate industry impact improvement by aligning their goals, solutions, tools, reporting, events and training. Together, we aim to achieve a minimum goal of 45% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 and have created a sustainability framework across four resource areas. 

An outcome for 2022 is that the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines is seen as the industry standard. The outcome is that for FEM 4.0, ClearStream is seen as a leading practice in terms of wastewater management.

French Development Agency (AFD) 

AFD & ZDHC are exploring a joint project to create a financing vehicle supporting production facilities in developing countries implementing the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme. The loan criteria are dedicated to reducing chemical footprints and preventing water pollution. In 2022, ZDHC and AFD conducted a market research and feasibility study in India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam to evaluate the market size, pollution levels, and interest in project participation. AFD also conducted a separate feasibility study to evaluate the financial infrastructure to support the textile, apparel, and leather industry in these countries. Vietnam and Bangladesh were selected as priority countries to set up the financial mechanism via national and local bank partners following the 2022 feasibility study. AFD will request grants from EU partners for managing the project and build up a credit line from AFD for loans to facilities in Bangladesh and Vietnam in 2023 and onward. This collaboration has the potential to scale up ZDHC Guidelines and Solutions to prevent water pollution in the textile, apparel and leather industry.

GIZ (German Development Agency) 

Our three-year project for ‘Sustainable Chemical Management Implementation’ in Ethiopia, funded by DOW Europe GmbH and GIZ (German Development Agency), was successfully concluded last year. This project intended to elevate the knowledge and know-how of chemical management systems within the textile industry of Ethiopia.

Global Fashion Agenda (GFA)

GFA has launched a new addition to the Fashion CEO agenda for 2021, aiming to create a thriving fashion industry that works within planetary boundaries. One of its pillars is the efficient use of resources. ZDHC supports the agenda by defining criteria and action plans. The GFA Monitor Report for 2022 includes key actions like phasing out hazardous chemicals from the design stage and using ZDHC solutions like InCheck and ClearStream for sustainable chemical management. The report was launched during the Global Fashion Summit, where ZDHC was invited as one of the Principal Stakeholders. GFA will share industry progress in the coming years.

IOMC

The Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) proposed a concept paper to strengthen integrated chemical and waste management in the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) process. ZDHC's Sustainable Chemical Management Framework has been recognised as a frontrunner in the textile sector, and IOMC has invited ZDHC to showcase its approach to other sectors. ZDHC has been invited as a key panellist in various sessions of a multi-stakeholder workshop organised by IOMC in January 2023 to support the intersessional process for the Strategic Approach and sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020.

Leather Working Group (LWG)

Leather Working Group (LWG) is a global multi-stakeholder community committed to drive best practices and positive social and environmental change for responsible leather production.  
LWG has recognised and adopted the ZDHC MRSL as the minimum standard for limits that apply to substances in commercially available formulations used in the production of leather.  This is supported through the use of the ZDHC Gateway which is made available to leather manufacturers audited against the LWG audit standards.

UNEP

UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch has received funding for a five-year project to reduce the use, release, and exposure to chemicals of concern (CoCs) in the textiles industry in selected Asian countries, with ZDHC as one of the technical service providers. The project will target 500 textile companies to restrict the use, release, and exposure to priority CoCs, including Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), and develop a plan for scalability. The ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme will be utilised for input chemical management, Supplier to Zero assessment, and monitoring of wastewater using ClearStream reports for output chemical management, alongside other market solutions and programmes.

The Microfibre Consortium 

In June 2022, The Microfibre Consortium (TMC) and ZDHC announced a collaboration to address microfibres in textile manufacturing wastewater by combining TMC's knowledge of fibre fragmentation with ZDHC's expertise with the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines. The collaboration aims to measure and manage microfibre loss in wastewater between production facilities to ultimately avoid it. The work will be conducted in two phases, and a dedicated task team will focus on defining a test methodology, establishing a baseline, and identifying a harmonised infrastructure for measuring, reporting and controlling microfibres from manufacturing facilities.

UNIDO

UNIDO has received UNEP GEF funding for a five-year project to promote the circular economy in the textile and garment sector through the sustainable management of chemicals and waste in Lesotho, Madagascar, South Africa, and Ethiopia. ZDHC is partnering with UNIDO to support sustainable chemical management in these African countries. A work plan has been finalised to define the key performance indicators for cooperation on this project, which will offer opportunities for ZDHC to implement its guidelines and solutions in new geographical areas, aiding various brands in enhancing the performance of their supply chain.

Expanding our Academic Stakeholder Engagement

Our ZDHC Academy team has been tireless in its exploration and creation of new opportunities for our academic programme. In a notable success, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education last year. Additionally we had the honour of delivering multiple guest lectures at a number of prestigious universities across the world, giving us incredible opportunities to connect with diverse audiences and share our knowledge and insights, globally.