SCTI and Bluesign hope to foster industry-wide collaboration by donating the SCI methodology to ZDHC.
It is described as the cornerstone of its new Chemicals to Zero Aspirational (CTZ-A) programme and represents the highest level of sustainable chemistry within the foundation.
The Sustainable Chemistry Index will undergo the ZDHC stakeholder consultation process this year to enhance the Roadmap to Zero Programme by addressing sustainability and circularity with plans to make the SCI content publicly available.
“By integrating the SCI as the cornerstone of Chemicals to Zero Aspirational Level and releasing it into our publicly available ZDHC Framework, we’re showcasing true thought leadership essential for driving positive change and engaging our wider community of stakeholders on our way forward,” said Frank Michel, ZDHC CEO.
Developed in 2022, the Sustainable Chemistry Index (SCI), Bluesign and SCTI wanted to fill a critical gap by introducing a comprehensive, one-stop assessment tool for evaluating the environmental impact of textile chemicals.
Isabella Tonaco, SCTI executive director added: "Our initiative elevates collective action to new heights and enables the textile and fashion industries to make sustainable choices by taking full advantage of what solidarity can do to power change."
The SCI is a transparent framework for assessing how chemical products impact resource use throughout a garment's lifecycle.
Key factors include:
- Supply chain transparency
- Responsible sourcing
- Reducing fossil dependence
- Product carbon footprint
- Resource consumption
- Textile production efficiency
- End-use impact and end-of-life considerations.
The widespread use of hazardous chemicals in clothing production has posed a major challenge. Despite various industry efforts, overlapping standards, and voluntary schemes, the textile, leather and fashion industries have grappled with inconsistent regulations, insufficient data transparency, and a lack of coordinated action.
"We have been partnering with all stakeholders involved for some time and recognised that our market has been operating with multiple isolated approaches,” explained Wolfgang Schumann, managing director of Rudolf, chairman of SCTI, and ZDHC board member. “Within SCI content, we are converging several approaches, while raising sustainable chemistry to the benefit of our community.”
Bluesign CEO Daniel Rüfenacht added: "As a contributor in the development of the Sustainable Chemistry Index, we are glad to continue the journey we have started in 2022 with this initiative, and look forward to working with our partners to further move sustainability forward in our industry."
