ZDHC Brands Converge their Screened Chemistry Programmes

ZDHC Signatory Brands to Converge their Screened Chemistry Programmes

01/11/2019

ZDHC’s Roadmap to Zero Programme announces the convergence of Levi Strauss & Co., NIKE, Inc., H&M and C&A approaches to screened chemistry (Screened Chemistry).

Screened Chemistry is the concept of identifying safer alternatives whilst eliminating hazardous chemicals.  A Screened Chemistry approach is critical for ensuring that human health and environmental impacts are fully evaluated before adopting alternative chemistries and in doing so avoiding regrettable substitutions.

In the true spirit of moving from competitive advantage to collaborative impact these ZDHC Signatory Brands each with Screened Chemistry approaches have agreed to share and align their Screened Chemistry tools to support a single unified approach and platform and to hand the future development of Screened Chemistry to the ZDHC Foundation. This accelerates ZDHC’s long-term strategy to implement a transparent process that promotes better chemistry with a focus on evaluating safer alternatives and driving innovation.

Although the efforts of Levi Strauss & Co., Nike, H&M and C&A were not initiated together, the core elements of their different Screened Chemistry methodologies are remarkably similar – both in their approach and ultimate goals. To further develop and scale Screened Chemistry, ZDHC has established a dedicated Roadmap to Zero Programme Task Team for Safer / Screened Chemistry, which now starts the work of convergence with the existing elements of the ZDHC Programme. Whilst being aligned with the ZDHC MRSL (ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List) approach, Screened Chemistry aims to go much further by recognising that the elimination of hazardous chemicals requires a clear process for identifying and evaluating alternatives to make sure they are less harmful. It also requires collaboration across stakeholder groups as some chemicals will require innovation to enable elimination. Converging these initiatives and doing so within the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme facilitates a significantly broader engagement and provides a clearer business case to drive innovation.

In recognition of their work so far, the four brands will form the core of the new ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme Task Team and will invite Contributors from other brands and partners to continue to drive this fundamental and important initiative.

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