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Nike and Li Ning labelled greenwashers in Greenpeace East Asia’s ‘toxic catwalk’ report

Greenpeace campaign to pressure Adidas to clean its supply chain

Greenpeace campaign to pressure Adidas to clean its supply chain

Greenpeace East Asia has released a new report on the efforts made by global players in the fashion industry to reduce toxic waste from their supply chains in China, India, the Philippines and other major textile industry outsourcing centres.

In a study called ‘Toxic catwalk’, the environmental group has classified German sportswear brands Adidas and Puma as “detox leaders” for cleaning up their supply chains in China, but has labelled rival brands Nike and Li Ning as “greenwashers” for not fulfilling promises to do the same.

Greenpeace’s ‘Detox’ campaign launched four years ago, targeting 18 firms that make up 10 per cent of the estimated US$1.7 trillion apparel and footwear industry.

The updated report, released today, is based on a company’s actions to remove hazardous chemicals from their products and manufacturing processes, and the steps they are taking to ensure their suppliers’ publicly disclose information on pollution.

A seven-minute video features the companies deemed to be leaders in removing toxic waste from their manufacturing processes, and features highlights from Greenpeace’s campaign to clean up the fashion industry.

Yixiu Wu, detox campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia, said in a statement: “The fashion companies that have committed to detox over the past four years of campaigning represent approximately 10 per cent of the global apparel and footwear market. We believe this momentum is creating a new standard in sustainable fashion: opening up secretive supply chains and finally showing that beautiful clothes can be made without pollution.”

‘Detox leaders’

  • Adidas
  • Benetton
  • Burberry
  • C&A
  • Esprit
  • Fast Retailing (maker of Uniqlo)
  • G-Star
  • H&M
  • Inditex
  • Levi Strauss
  • Limited Brands
  • Mango
  • Puma
  • Valentino

‘Greenwashers’

  • Nike
  • Li Ning

Greenpeace is calling on fashion brands to commit to zero discharge of hazardous chemicals by 2020, and to disclose information on suppliers that are releasing toxic chemicals into water supplies.

The report points to studies that show that 64 per cent of underground drinking water reserves in major cities in China are seriously polluted, and the textile industry is responsible for one tenth of industrial water waste emissions. In the Philippines, the textile industry is responsible for 21 per cent of water pollution; 58 per cent of the archipelago’s ground water is contaminated.

For the full report, click here.

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