The FluoroCouncil has released a guidance document for the global apparel industry to provide an overview of Best Environmental Practices to help mills and finishers minimize waste and environmental releases, while also keeping desirable fluorinated product performance in the textile.
The FluoroCouncil represents the world’s leading FluoroTechnology companies. Both the industry and its clients, which include many leading technical outdoor apparel brands, have been under intense pressure from Greenpeace and other stakeholders seeking to eliminate toxins from the supply chain.
The document, “Guidance for Best Environmental Practices (BEP) for the Global Apparel Industry: Including Focus on Fluorinated Repellent Products,” outlines practical steps to implement Best Environmental Practices for fluorinated durable water repellent (DWR) products in the apparel industry.
“Members of the FluoroCouncil are committed to environmental stewardship and this guidance document is an example of that commitment,” said Jessica Bowman, executive director, FluoroCouncil.
This guidance document is a how-to guide for wet processing textile mills and finishers to achieve Best Environmental Practices operation. In addition, the guidance provides a list of questions for packagers, brands and retailers to ask their suppliers to ensure goods received are finished using Best Available Technology and Best Environmental Practices. The goal of the document is to encourage the implementation of Best Environmental Practices, therefore minimizing waste and environmental releases. Following such practices are good business and even better stewardship.
“For more than a decade, FluoroCouncil member companies have been investing in research and development to promote environmental responsibility among industries that rely on FluoroTechnology products to meet the dynamic needs of their customers while being mindful of the environment, human health and safety,” said Bowman.
FluoroTechnology products offer unique performance properties for the outdoor apparel industry, such as breathable membranes and long-lasting DWR finishes that provide water repellency, oil repellency, stain resistance and soil release with abrasion resistant finishes for apparel and equipment. Garments and equipment treated with FluoroTechnology have a longer useful life, therefore reducing material, energy and water needed to manufacture replacements. They also require less frequent laundering, lower wash temperature and shorter drying time, further reducing use of water and energy.
The FluoroCouncil and its members’ commitment to sustainability is underscored by the group’s work with regulatory authorities and other stakeholders worldwide to innovate and drive increasingly sustainable FluoroTechnology solutions, including newly developed short-chain products. A significant volume of data has been developed and rigorously evaluated by industry and regulators, supporting the conclusion that these short-chain products offer equivalent performance with improved environmental and human health profiles.
For more information, please visit www.FluoroCouncil.com or download the complete “Guidance for Best Environmental Practices (BEP) for the Global Apparel Industry: Including Focus on Fluorinated Repellent Products.”
