14 DAY TRIAL // It was only yesterday when Greenpeace released a new report focusing on how several clothing brands impacted on the environment.
More precisely, this green-oriented organization wished to know which of the internationally acclaimed clothes manufacturers and marketers must be held responsible for significant amount of toxic chemical compounds being released into the environment by means of improperly treated fabrics.
After testing roughly 140 clothing items belonging to various major brands, Greenpeace found that all of the clothing manufacturers they targeted were selling clothes contaminated either with NPEs (a compound that breaks down into hormone disrupting chemicals when it hits the environment), or with carcinogenic amines.
Interestingly enough, Zara was found to be the only retailer whose clothes contained both traces of NPEs, and carcinogenic amines, Business Green explains.
Commenting on these findings, Martin Hojsik, presently working as detox campaign coordinator at Greenpeace International, argued as follows:
“Some of the Zara items tested came out positive for substances that break down to form cancer-causing or hormone-disrupting chemicals which is unacceptable for both consumers and the people living near the factories where these clothes are made.”
Given the fact that, for the time being at least, Zara is one of the world's most renowned clothing retailers, it need not come as a surprise that Greenpeace members demand that the company set the basis of a so-called “detox” program as soon as possible.
Inditex (i.e. Zara's owner) wished to reassure Greenpeace that, “We reiterate our willingness to take the necessary actions to reach, in the shortest time possible, the common goal of zero discharge of hazardous substances that may be in the textile world.”
Other clothing retailers found to sell clothing items contaminated with toxic chemical compounds are Calvin Klein, Levi's, Mango, Tommy Hilfiger, Vero Moda and Victoria's Secret.
“We demand brands eliminate releases of hazardous chemicals into the environment and products.”
“The best way to do this is to replace them with safer alternatives. And to show that they mean it, they must be transparent and disclose what each of their suppliers are releasing into our environment from their facilities,” reads Greenpeace's official website.