Bluesign, SCTI to Create Textile Sustainable Chemistry Index

Bluesign and the Sustainable Chemistry for the Textile Industry (SCTI) will work together to develop a sustainable chemistry index that will provide a standard communication guide for chemical suppliers, manufacturers, brands and NGOs

The index is intended to inspire change in the industry by making it easier for stakeholders to assess the sustainability of textile chemical products against the highest standards while safeguarding the intellectual property of participating chemical companies. Intellectual property protection is critical to ensuring ongoing investment in sustainable solutions.

SCTI is an alliance of leading chemical companies that strives to empower the textile and leather industries to apply sustainable, state-of-the-art chemistry solutions that protect factory workers, local communities, consumers and the environment.

Bluesign will implement and manage the sustainable chemistry index as an independent authority with a holistic approach to help companies throughout the textile supply chain improve their sustainability performance.

Chemical products, such as dyes and textile auxiliaries, are often characterized with the attribute of “free of a certain substance.” Rather than prioritizing ingredients only, the bluesign SYSTEM already goes beyond this. The chemicals and the production site where they were created must meet certain criteria regarding environmental performance, occupational health and safety, and product stewardship performance to be bluesign APPROVED.

The sustainable chemistry index will be reserved for substances that offer transparency on additional indicators including the chemical’s circularity viability, greenhouse gas emissions during production, and the source of the raw materials. The sustainable chemistry index will require the downstream use of the chemical is optimized, meaning, for example, that it promotes resource saving in textile finishing. Additionally, excellent corporate governance paired with well-defined environmental and social (ESG) goals will be a pre-condition.

The mission for the joint partnership and the sustainable chemistry index in particular, is to drive transformational change through sustainable chemical solutions. Providing textile and apparel industry players with a verified inventory of sustainable chemical products is a first step on this shared journey.