Textiles manufacturers faced with challenging new water discharge commitments have been handed a lifeline by quality assessment specialists Bureau Veritas. A new 'Zero Discharge' scheme from one of the world leaders in testing, inspection and certification services is designed to help the textiles industry clean up the world's waterways and achieve ambitious targets around environmental performance.
NGOs, environmental campaigners, national governments and international bodies are all putting pressure on companies to eliminate pollution of the world's waterways. Greenpeace has run a high-profile and successful campaign to stop industrial poisoning of waterways with hazardous, persistent and hormone-disrupting chemicals.
Retail companies know bad publicity around environmental risks can severely damage a brand, resulting in lower sales and profits. A raft of household name brands have signed up to a zero discharge commitment. Their suppliers, the majority based across Asia, must now also meet those commitments, or risk losing valuable contracts.
The pledge commits the brands and their suppliers to the public disclosure of discharge information and the elimination of hazardous chemicals including heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, chromium (VI)), APEO (Alkyl Phenol Ethoxylates), phthalates as well as brominated and chlorinated flame retardants. The commitment sets the ambitious target of 'Zero Discharge' of hazardous chemicals by 2020.
In response to industry needs, Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services, the leading provider of safety, compliance and quality assurance services, has launched a Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals solution. The service helps companies know where they stand with regards to water pollution through establishing policies, environmental auditing, taking samples for collection and testing with detailed and extensive reporting. The service also includes establishing measures for continuous improvement.
Dr. Samuel Wong , Senior Director, Technical Consultation Office, Greater China of Bureau Veritas said, "Our new zero discharge service has been designed to help manufacturers eliminate pollution of waterways and demonstrate their environmental credentials so they can meet the needs of clients and remain part of the textiles supply chain. Water testing is one of the pillars of the service, with 11 priority chemicals initially targeted. To implement the service, we are able to utilise our network of specialist labs across Asia, with more to follow in the Americas and Europe."
For many decades, Bureau Veritas has worked successfully with top manufacturers and retailers around the world to help them better manage risk and regulatory compliance. For more information on Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services and its Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals services.
