Investing in Safer Chemistry
In the next ten years, the textile and apparel industry will adopt new materials that deliver unprecedented performance and eliminate harmful chemicals from products and manufacturing processes, emerging as a circular and regenerative sector of the economy.
With support from Fashion for Good, we are releasing the “Safer Chemistry Innovation in the Textile and Apparel Industry” report in which we evaluate the role various harmful chemicals have in the production of textiles and apparel and identify five key Innovation Areas. We offer insights to accelerate the adoption of new safer technologies, and highlight the work of over a hundred young innovative companies.
Most of our products, from electronics to food, are made with, or packaged in, plastic. Most plastic materials are made from petroleum feedstocks, some are toxic, use toxic building blocks or additives, and almost all can escape into the natural world and become pollutants. However, plastics are light, strong, easy to manufacture, and cheap. Addressing the problem of plastics toxicity and pollution requires a nuanced approach.