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Paving the way for sustainable chemical management
within the fashion industry

Welcome to

The Roadmap to Zero Programme:

paving the way for cleaner and sustainable chemical management within the fashion industry

We are shifting the paradigm

to make manufacturing processes more sustainable

Introduction

ZDHC is a multi-stakeholder organisation comprising over 320 signatories from across the industry including Brands, Suppliers, Solution Providers and Chemical Suppliers.

The Roadmap to Zero Programme, by ZDHC, leads the fashion industry to eliminate harmful chemicals from its global supply chain by building the foundation for more sustainable manufacturing to protect workers, consumers and our planet’s ecosystems.

Our signatories are the vital, driving force behind our collective progress.

Driving effective implementation on the ground, at individual facility level

Driving effective implementation on the ground, at individual facilities

Creating critical guidelines, platforms and solutions

Aligning the industry to endorse the programme

How does it work?

We Navigate
Value Chains

The Roadmap to Zero Programme is organised into three focus areas which are interlinked to improve chemical management. Within each of the focus areas, it is our priority to develop and maintain the ZDHC Guidelines, Platforms and Solutions to enable and accelerate the implementation of the programme.

Input
Safer chemicals
Safer chemicals

Input

Laying the cornerstone of the Roadmap to Zero Programme, the focus area of Input develops and manages tools and guidelines for safer chemical management by restricting the use of harmful chemicals while consequently helping to avoid the removal from effluents. The parameters with which we guide the industry are listed on the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC MRSL). Tools include the ZDHC Gateway- Chemical Module, the ZDHC ChemCheck™ and the ZDHC InCheck™ Report which are available to our community. Visit our Input page to view the latest platforms

Process
Smarter Processes
Smarter Processes

Process

The focus area of Process enables good chemical management practices by creating harmonised guidelines and providing the tools to implement within the value chain. Tools are designed and maintained to help assess the implementation of ZDHC guidelines. Visit the Process page to view the latest platforms.

Output
Better Outputs
Better Outputs

Output

The Output Focus Area supports and verifies the work of the Input and Process Focus Areas. This includes the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines - for Textiles, Leather and MMCF, the ZDHC MMCF Air Emissions Guidelines and related platforms such as the ZDHC Gateway - Wastewater Module and the ZDHC ClearStream report. Please review the Output page for more details on the different guidelines and solutions. 

THE IMPACT

Our Milestones

Roadmap to Zero Programme is paving the way for cleaner and sustainable chemical management within the fashion industry

Our programme paved the way for cleaner and sustainable chemical management within the fashion industry

1

Paradigm Shift

98% of Suppliers who carried out wastewater testing in 2020 had no detections of restricted substances from the ZDHC MRSL parameters...

98% of Suppliers who carried out wastewater testing in 2020 had no detections of restricted substances from the ZDHC MRSL parameters for wastewater and sludge.
The launch of the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substance List (MRSL) challenged the industry to act beyond finished products. Our approach tackles the problem at the source by ensuring hazardous chemicals never enter the value chain in the first place.

2

Milestone 1
Global Coverage

Our movement continues to gather critical mass as we expand. Over 9000 verified wastewater test reports make the ZDHC Gateway the world’s largest database...

Our movement continues to gather critical mass as we expand. Over 9000 verified wastewater test reports make the ZDHC Gateway the world’s largest database of cleaner chemical products available to the fashion industry.
In just a decade, The Roadmap to Zero Programme has achieved significant scale within the fashion industry. In 2020, the number of active Suppliers on the ZDHC Gateway increased by 41%, from the previous year.

3

Milestone 1
Transparency

Our DETOX.Live map showcases Suppliers on the ZDHC Gateway with verified test results, giving Brands and Suppliers equal access to the data.

Our DETOX.Live map showcases Suppliers on the ZDHC Gateway with verified test results, giving Brands and Suppliers equal access to the data.
The real-time data is checked against the requirements set by the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines in the form of a simplified report that can be easily shared and checked by all.

98% of Suppliers who carried out wastewater testing in 2020 had no detections of restricted substances from the ZDHC MRSL parameters for wastewater and sludge.

The launch of the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substance List (MRSL) challenged the industry to act beyond finished products. Our approach tackles the problem at the source by ensuring hazardous chemicals never enter the value chain in the first place.

Our movement continues to gather critical mass as we expand. Over 9000 verified wastewater test reports make the ZDHC Gateway the world’s largest database of cleaner chemical products available to the fashion industry.

In just a decade, The Roadmap to Zero Programme has achieved significant scale within the fashion industry. In 2020, the number of active Suppliers on the ZDHC Gateway increased by 41%, from the previous year.

Our DETOX.Live map showcases Suppliers on the ZDHC Gateway with verified test results, giving Brands and Suppliers equal access to the data

The real-time data is checked against the requirements set by the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines in the form of a simplified report that can be easily shared and checked by all.

supportive standards

Find Out More

supportive Tool

ZDHC Guidelines

ZDHC publishes its guidelines publicly on the Roadmap to Zero website. These set of guidelines establish a framework for the industry to drive effective development and implementation of chemical management systems and processes. 


supportive Tool

ZDHC Platforms

ZDHC develops and operates its platforms based on its own Information Technology platforms that support the implementation of ZDHC Guidelines and other ZDHC processes for management of the Roadmap to Zero Programme. 


supportive Tool

ZDHC Solutions

ZDHC develops solutions to support the implementation of ZDHC Guidelines and provide evidence thereof, derived from and based on the use of information and data feedback from the ZDHC Platforms. 


The committed community

Our Signatories

ZDHC is a multi-stakeholder organisation comprising over 320 signatories from across the industry including Brands, Suppliers, Solution Providers and Chemical Suppliers. Our signatories are vital in driving collective progress

See more
supportive standards

Our Impact

9000+

Two words title

verified wastewater test reports make the ZDHC Gateway the world's largest database of cleaner chemical products available to the fashion industry

98%

Two words title

of Suppliers who carried out wastewater testing in 2020 had no detections of restricted substances from the ZDHC MRSL parameters for wastewater and sludge

95+

Two words title

testing labs across 4 continents have been approved by ZDHC to conduct accurate wastewater testing

Start Your Journey

Join the Roadmap to Zero Programme to commit to a sustainable future for fashion

Step 3/3

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Brands and Retailers > ZDHC guidelines, platforms and trainings

The freely available ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC MRSL) is a single list of chemical substances banned from intentional use during manufacturing processes. To support the implementation of this list we provide the industry with a set of supporting guidelines, a ZDHC Chemical Management System and the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines to ensure a holistic input, process and output management.

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Brands and Retailers > Access to the ZDHC Gateway

The ZDHC Gateway is available for the ZDHC Community and their supply chain.

Become a Friend
Be part of the ZDHC Community, not as a Contributor, but a Friend. You will get benefits like access to the Gateway and more. 

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Brands and Retailers > Become a Friend

Friends of ZDHC are organisations who align with ZDHC’s mission, vision and purpose. They can also access ZDHC Solutions and Platforms, which helps them to fast-track their own sustainability programmes.

Friends of ZDHC - General Eligibility Requirements

To apply to becoming a Friend of ZDHC, please confirm that your company confirms to the following requirements:

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

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Brands and Retailers > Become a Contributor

ZDHC works with and receives support from different stakeholders in the industry. They are divided into five categories, as defined below: Textile/Apparel/Leather/Footwear Industry, Chemical Industry, Signatory Brands, Solution Providers, and Associates. All categories must meet some general requirements in order to become a ZDHC Contributor. Some specific categories must also meet additional requirements.

Requirements for all categories

To apply to becoming a ZDHC Contributor, please confirm that your company confirms to the following requirements:

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

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Chemical Industry > ZDHC Gateway

Expand details

With the ZDHC Gateway Chemical formulators can prove ZDHC MRSL conformance for their products which helps to position as a leader in reducing hazardous chemical use. ZDHC InCheck is an easy-to-read chemical inventory report. It provides an overall score of ZDHC MRSL conformance for all products in the inventory and shows where improvements can be made.

Request Gateway access

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

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Chemical Industry > Become a Contributor

Expand details

ZDHC works with and receives support from different stakeholders in the industry. They are divided into five categories, as defined below: Textile/Apparel/Leather/Footwear Industry, Chemical Industry, Signatory Brands, Solution Providers, and Associates.
All categories must meet some general requirements in order to become a ZDHC Contributor. Some specific categories must also meet additional requirements.

Requirements for all categories

To apply to becoming a ZDHC Contributor, please confirm that your company confirms to the following requirements:

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

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Manufacturers

ZDHC provides guidance and tools for manufacturing facilities on how to meet ZDHC Signatory Brand requirements and provides the Textile, Apparel, Leather or Footwear Industry with a central library of chemical formulations that conform to the ZDHC MRSL.

The Roadmap to Zero Programme
Find out more about the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme and its Focus Areas. Looking for guidelines like the ZDHC MRSL or the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines? This is the place to look.

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InCheck Report
ZDHC InCheck is an easy-to-read chemical inventory report. InCheck helps suppliers to assess and improve their chemical inventory. Comprehensive overviews of their chemical inventory are provided, alongside its overall conformance to the ZDHC MRSL. Suppliers can actively track and improve their performance. They can distinguish their organisation from others and build customer loyalty by showing brands their proactive efforts.

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ClearStream Report
ClearStream is a visual, easy-to-read report of a supplier's wastewater performance, as tested against the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines. A ClearStream report supports suppliers to easily understand their wastewater performance towards the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines. Suppliers also get guidance on opportunities to improve, so they can target their actions and resources.

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Use our free material
For suppliers and manufacturers, ZDHC offers guidelines, solutions and platforms for free.

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Supplier to Zero
Supplier to Zero empowers supply chain partners. As a brand or a leading manufacturer you can invite your suppliers at all levels. Supplier to Zero will bring them up to speed on implementation of the industry’s leading chemical management system.

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Participate in the Programme
Do you not only want to use our guidelines, platforms and solutions but also be part of the creation? Find out more here!

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Manufacturers > Learn more about the ZDHC Programme

The ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme guides value chains towards a sustainable use of safer chemistry.Safer chemical inputs make a big difference, as long as they are used the right way and when good procedures and best practice are in place, outputs become cleaner, and process works. Measuring indicators such as, wastewater, sludge and air quality validates the work that is being done with chemical inputs and processes. It helps to determine if the output water and air is safer. Our solutions help the industry to transform their value chains.

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Manufacturers -  Become a Contributor

ZDHC works with and receives support from different stakeholders in the industry. They are divided into five categories, as defined below: Textile/Apparel/Leather/Footwear Industry, Chemical Industry, Signatory Brands, Solution Providers, and Associates. All categories must meet some general requirements in order to become a ZDHC Contributor. Some specific categories must also meet additional requirements.

Requirements for all categories

To apply to becoming a ZDHC Contributor, please confirm that your company confirms to the following requirements:

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

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Solution Provider - Solution Provider

Our Approved Solution Providers are linked to the ZDHC data infrastructure via an API and seamlessly connect to the unique ZDHC platforms. As a solution provider you gain access to ZDHC Gateway infrastructure, an exclusive implementation expert network and access to the brand customer base.

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Solution Provider - Be an Implementation Partner

To maximise impact, we scale our efforts with Implementation Partners who have the know-how - based on years of expertise and ZDHC knowledge - to fast-track chemical management programmes.
As an Implementation Partner of ZDHC you can seamlessly integrate your services with ZDHC's implementation tools and guidance. By this you can accelerate your business and gain new customers.

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Solution Provider - Become an Implementation Partner

Scale up your expertise and solutions by being an Implementation Partner and seamlessly integrate your services with ZDHC's implementation tools and guidance. 

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Solution Provider - Become a ZDHC Accepted Certification Body or Testing Lab

Certified standards can indicate a chemical product's conformance to the ZDHC MRSL. Acceptance is awarded at four different levels. Boost the impact of your certified standard. Apply, then follow the steps to earn ZDHC Accepted status.
ZDHC MRSL Conformance Indicatorsreceive exclusive access to the ZDHC Gateway Chemical Module and gain the ability to certify against the ZDHC MRSL.

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Solution Provider - Become a ZDHC Accepted Testing Laboratory

ZDHC Accepted Wastewater Laboratories deliver and verify wastewater and sludge testing data. Make your lab part of this global effort to drive transparency in the industry.
ZDHC Wastewater Testing Laboratories receive exclusive access to the ZDHC Gateway: Wastewater Module to upload any test against the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines.

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Solution Provider - Become a ZDHC Contributor

Currently not possible as this category is on hold.

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Associate

Want to participate in the ZDHC Programme and help to develop guidelines, solutions and platforms.

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Associate - Become a Contributor

ZDHC works with and receives support from different stakeholders in the industry. They are divided into five categories, as defined below: Textile/Apparel/Leather/Footwear Industry, Chemical Industry, Signatory Brands, Solution Providers, and Associates. All categories must meet some general requirements in order to become a ZDHC Contributor. Some specific categories must also meet additional requirements.

Requirements for all categories

To apply to becoming a ZDHC Contributor, please confirm that your company confirms to the following requirements:

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.