PFAS-FREE APPAREL PLEDGE
COrporate or Organizational pledge
Retailers, Brands and Manufacturers: Pledge to Stop the Manufacturing and use of PFAS-Containing Apparel Products
As PFAS use in the apparel industry and other consumer products comes under increased scrutiny from lawmakers, U.S. apparel brands and retailers should act immediately to protect their customers and the planet from PFAS pollution from clothing, footwear, and accessories. Without waiting for the law to catch up to the proliferation of toxic PFAS, apparel manufacturers and retailers can get out in front of the regulatory curve and immediately adopt policies to end the use of PFAS in their products. Indeed, some already have.
A coalition of environmental, public health and labor organizations calls on manufacturers and retailers of all types of apparel products to sign the pledge to be PFAS-free.
My company recognizes:
PFAS can both release toxins into local waterways and surrounding communities.
When PFAS-treated clothing is disposed of, and ultimately ends up in a landfill, PFAS can leach into soil, and nearby groundwater and waterways; if incinerated, PFAS can pollute the air, eventually settling on the ground where it can also make its way into groundwater and international waterways.
The use of PFAS exposes humans and the environment globally and is linked to cancer, liver and kidney harm and damage to the immune system.
PFAS can be shed from clothing, and enter our bodies from air and dust when we breathe. They can also be ingested by touching contaminated surfaces. The chemicals can then accumulate and take years to leave the body.
Therefore my company, being concerned with the health and well-being of the community, environment and customers it serves, pledges to work towards:
A public commitment to a time-bound phase out of added PFAS in our apparel supply chains. These commitments should encompass the entire class of PFAS, including PTFE, and include a strong implementation plan that requires testing of products during the manufacturing process to ensure compliance. Companies should establish quantifiable metrics they can use to measure progress toward this goal and regularly publicly report their results.
Ensure that any PFAS alternatives adopted are safe for consumers, communities, workers, and the environment. To avoid the problem of a ‘regrettable substitution’ that exposes consumers and the environment to other dangerous chemicals once PFAS are phased out, companies should evaluate any PFAS alternatives they seek to adopt through screening mechanisms that evaluate chemicals for hazards. Such tools include GreenScreen, ToxServices, and Scivera.
Until a phase out is achieved, apparel companies should label products that contain PFAS as such. Consumers should be provided with the tools to protect themselves and the planet from toxic chemicals. Brands and retailers should provide consumers with up-to-date information on which products in their store, especially those marketed as water and stain resistant, contain PFAS and those that do not. Stores should provide this information on product stickers, hang tags and online through ‘Contains PFAS,’ and ‘PFAS-Free’ labels.