Tesco to detox its textile production for F&F fashion brand says Greenpeace

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jul 14, 2017

Tesco said Friday that it will immediately begin the process of eliminating hazardous chemicals from the supply chain of its fashion brand F&F, and will release a full list of its suppliers.

The news came in a release from Greenpeace which said that 80 international brands and suppliers have now committed to its Detox Campaign since it was launched 2011.

Those companies now represent 15% of worldwide textile production and include M&S, H&M, Benetton, Levi Strauss, Aldi, Lidl and Tchibo.

Greenpeace’s Kirsten Brodde said that in just six years, major companies have gone from ignoring the issue to supply chain transparency and the banning of all hazardous chemicals. “Tesco’s commitment shows the rest of the industry that using hazardous chemicals is not an option anymore,” she added.

The Detox Campaign commitment includes taking precautions so that if a substance could harm the environment but the type or level of harm is unclear, companies will still eliminate it.

It also takes in increased transparency about suppliers being used and their  performance in phasing out hazardous chemicals, plus making a commitment to eliminate all releases of toxic chemicals by 2020. And the commitment also includes recognition “that there are no environmentally safe levels for hazardous substances.”