The governments of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Vietnam have joined forces to combat chemical pollution, launching a $43 million joint program to manage and reduce hazardous chemicals in their textile industries.
The textile industries of these four countries employ more than 10 million people and account for nearly 15% of global apparel exports. However, the industry’s economic benefits come at a cost, as the sector is one of the world’s major users of persistent organic pollutants and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, of which approximately 12, 000 synthetic chemicals that do not break down and accumulate in the environment, threatening human and ecosystem health.
Wet processing plants that process materials into fabrics through bleaching, printing, dyeing, finishing and washing usually use 0.58 kilograms of chemical raw materials for each kilogram of fabric produced. These compounds leak into the environment at all stages of the textile life cycle, from production to use, disposal and recycling.
Under the leadership of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), under the leadership of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions South-East Asia Regional Center and Nature Supported by the Resource Defense Council, the Textile Industry Reduction in Use and Release of Relevant Chemicals program will provide technical support and tools to small and medium-sized enterprises and manufacturers to improve their understanding and management of hazardous chemicals, and guide them to manage the risks faced by workers, and ultimately eliminate the most harmful chemicals from the production process. “The textile industry is a major user of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ that pollute local and global ecosystems,” said Eloise Touni, UNEP chemicals and waste program officer.
“While governments have agreed to a global ban on the most harmful chemicals through the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, thousands of harmful chemicals, such as PFAS, are still used in value chains. Environment The Agency is proud to work with governments and leading companies to promote best practice and phase out chemicals of concern across the sector.”
The five-year program will align the four countries’ textile sector public policies with international best practices, including supply chain transparency, investment in chemicals management and eco-innovation, and occupational health and safety , thereby creating an enabling environment for the phase-out of PFOS and other chemicals of concern.
Fauz Ul Azeem, general manager of corporate sustainability and chemicals management at Pakistani knitted textile manufacturer Interloop Limited, said processing plants often lack the awareness and technical expertise required to manage chemicals according to best practices. “Phasing out any chemical from existing stocks is a painful task for any production facility,” said Mr. Ul Azeem. “They need to recalibrate all operational processes after careful analysis of quality, regulatory and cost implications.”
“This project will help stakeholders understand the upcoming global mandatory requirements and a proactive approach How to help them avoid business impacts. This will help them understand that considering environmental impacts in decision-making can bring long-term benefits.” Syed Mujtaba Hussain, senior joint secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change, said the country is very clear The textile industry needs to be reformed to reduce its impact on the environment and meet Pakistan’s international obligations.
Hussain said: “Due to the extensive use of chemicals and fossil fuel-derived energy, the textile wet processing stage is an environmental ‘hotspot’ in terms of water pollution, ecosystems, human health and climate impacts.”
”We welcome this project, which will help this important industry reduce pollution while entering new markets and achieving continued growth.”
Keywords:
Chemical waste Textile producing countries
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