New study finds toxic monsters lurking in children’s clothing

By GREENPEACE
January 14, 2014

MANILA – Hazardous chemicals have been found in children’s clothes and shoes made by major brands including Disney, Burberry and adidas, according to a new investigation released today by Greenpeace East Asia.

Testing has been completed on products sold by 12 brands across the industry, including American Apparel, GAP, Primark and Nike for the report “A Little Story About the Monsters in Your Closet”. The findings showed little distinction between the levels of hazardous chemicals in clothing made for children – a group particularly vulnerable to the effects of these chemicals when released into the environment – and adults when compared to previous studies. The samples tested included products sold in the Philippines.

“This is a nightmare for parents everywhere who want their children to wear clothes that don't contain hazardous chemicals,” said Abigail Aguilar, Toxics Campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia. “These chemical ‘little monsters’ can be found in everything – from exclusive luxury designs to budget fashion. They are polluting waterways around the world. There are alternatives available. For the sake of current and future generations brands should stop using these monsters.”

Every brand tested was found to have products containing hazardous chemicals. Among the results, one adidas swimsuit contained higher levels of PFOAs than permitted in their own Restricted Substance List, a Primark children’s t-shirt contained 11% phthalates. Meanwhile, high levels of NPEs were found in products made by Disney, American Apparel and Burberry.

The study provides a further snapshot – across a diverse range of brands and of countries of manufacture and sale – of what appears to be a more generic problem, one that is not restricted to any particular country, product type or brand, and one that deserves further investigation including from a regulatory perspective.

The issue is urgent and needs addressing. It is not just the adults who are vulnerable to toxic pollution in clothes – be it budget or luxury. Infants and children are at risk because of a number of factors such as their size, body weight, metabolism and behaviour. They have reduced and slower metabolic capacities making them more vulnerable to chemicals and unable to eliminate certain toxins in their livers and kidneys.

Greenpeace’s Detox campaign calls for major clothing brands to commit to zero discharge of all hazardous chemicals by 2020.Thanks to public pressure, 18 major brands have already made landmark Detox commitments and many are making significant progress towards their goals of supply chain transparency and chemical elimination.

The Philippines is a significant textile producer and chemicals consumer. Greenpeace is calling on governments to help stop the use of hazardous chemicals in the textile industry. It is critical they publish a chemical blacklist to be acted upon immediately and that they urge factories to disclose chemical information, in order to facilitate chemical elimination and supply chain transparency.