Abercrombie & Fitch, Ralph Lauren, H&M Linked to Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals, Says Greenpeace (But let’s not forget FAKES!)
Abercrombie & Fitch is among 14 global brands Greenpeace is calling out for allegedly releasing hormone-disrupting chemicals—specifically nonylphenol ethoxylates—into the environment. Used as surfactants in textile production, NPEs subsequently break down to form toxic nonphenol, an endocrine disruptor that builds up in the food chain and is pretty nasty even at minute levels.
Since the release of the first report, Nike and Puma have pledged to work with their suppliers to eliminate the release of toxic effluent from their supply chains. But other brands remain in Greenpeace’s sights. “By failing to take action to eliminate these chemicals, global brands like Adidas are expecting customers to do their dirty laundry for them,” Li says. “Every time clothes containing these chemicals are washed, hazardous substances are released into waterways across the world.”
Manufacturers need to remove these chemicals from their products, Li says. The best way to do so? “Eliminate them from their production processes and to come clean about what chemicals their factories are using and discharging,” she adds. Until then, Shore fans, we suggest GTL’ing in something else.
Needless to say, Greenpeace deserve credit for their efforts to highlight the need for fashion brands to tied up their production methods. However, there is perhaps an even greater urgancy and risk being overlooked by the social campaigners and that is, COUNTERFEITS! It’s widely agreed fake clothing is produced in environments where there is no regard for the workers and even less for production methods. Most experts agree fake clothing is saturated in poisonous chemicals that have a disturbing consequence for ignorant consumers. This whole area warrants much greater investigation by Greenpeace!
