What is Brands to Zero

and why you should be part of it!

Participation in ZDHC's Brands to Zero Programme is mandatory for Brand Contributors in the Roadmap to Zero Programme. The intention of the programme is to streamline implementation of ZDHC guidelines, platforms and solutions by converging multiple individual brand approaches that cause supply chain confusion and duplicative efforts along the value chain.

From collaborative implementation to collaborative impact

Brands to Zero provides brands and retailers with a sustainable chemical management approach in a harmonised, clear pathway with the goal of transforming collaborative implementation to collective chemical and environmental impact.

Brands receive an annual individual evaluation report based on qualitative and quantitative data assessed by a third-party to evaluate the individual brand implementation effort.

The tailormade report is proof of implementation leadership and also identifies areas of individual brand improvement for the ongoing journey. The assessment is done by a third-party assessor (KPMG) to bring independent, reliable and neutral assurance into the process.

Key Benefits of the Brand to Zero Programme

Reducing duplicative efforts and supply chain complexity via a single common implementation approach.

Strengthening and enhancing the supplier engagement.

Supporting brands to communicate to their community, their individual share of the global impact on the journey to phase out hazardous chemistry. E.g. assessment results can be used as part of the brand’s external sustainability report.

Supporting brand implementation improvement by providing individual roadmap development plans using ZDHC Implementation HUB experts.

Driving joint implementation by leveraging ZDHC’s sustainable chemical management framework. This enables brands and retailers to concentrate their engagement on the development of their supply chain to advance towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals.

Third-party assessment (KPMG) on level of implementation conducted against defined and agreed KPIs and metrics.

Benchmarking and measuring rand implementation performance of ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme.

The Benefits of Brands to Zero

Providing implementation in a consistent way to enable brands and retailers to advance towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals.

Evaluation of the brands’ joint effort on the implementation of the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero.

Benchmarking and measuring the Brands implementation performance of ZDHC Roadmap to Zero.

Reduction of duplication and complexity of the supply chain. Strengthening and enhancing the supplier engagement.

Assessment results can be used as part of the brand’s external sustainability report. It is helpful for quick quantitative reporting to the brand’s top management.

About ZDHC

How can we clean up the fashion industry’s complex supply chain? Here’s what we’ve achieved so far and where we’re headed.

Making safer chemicals easier to source

Instead of trying to remove hazardous chemicals after making a product, it makes more sense to manage chemical inputs from the very start. The ZDHC MRSL helps to make that possible and it's the bedrock of our work.

Different chemical formulations are used in production practices. In turn, each of those formulations is made from a list of substances. The ZDHC MRSL looks in detail at those substances. It establishes acceptable limits for each one and outlines which ones to avoid, in particular those banned from intentional use.

The ZDHC MRSL helps chemical formulators by offering guidance on substances they can avoid using in their products.

Suppliers also benefit. To make materials, they must source various chemical products from formulators. The ZDHC MRSL makes that easier by proving the absence of hazardous substances in those products.

Available Electronically or as a PDF

The ZDHC MRSL is electronically available at http://mrsl.roadmaptozero.com/.

On this interactive, user-friendly platform, a user can easily search for chemical formulations that are restricted from intentional use, or download the ZDHC MRSL as a PDF file.‍

A living document

The ZDHC MRSL is a living document. It's frequently updated with new substances that should be phased out of the value chain. Version 1 was released in 2014, along with Chemical Guidance Sheets. This was updated in December 2015, when leather and coated fabrics were also added.

How we Started -

About ZDHC

What are the benefits of using it

In 2011, Greenpeace issued a wake-up call to the fashion industry, its stakeholders and consumers with the launch of its Detox campaign.

The campaign drew attention to the impact of hazardous chemicals in the manufacturing of clothing and footwear in production countries. Six brands individually signed public commitments with Greenpeace to commit to zero discharge of hazardous chemicals by 2020. This was the beginning of ZDHC’s Roadmap to Zero Programme.

In 2015, the ZDHC Foundation was established in Amsterdam with an updated vision of brands working collaboratively to implement sustainable chemistry, drive innovation and commit to best practices in the fashion industry to protect consumers, workers and the environment.

Who we are.

The ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme is a collaborative initiative of fashion brands, chemical suppliers, manufacturers and laboratories working to reduce the chemical footprint of apparel and footwear.

Together, we drive the global implementation of ZDHC’s sustainable chemical management framework and empower the global value chain to substitute or phase out hazardous chemicals in the production process and drive chemical and process innovation.

What we do.

We are advancing the apparel and footwear industry towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals by:

a) Creating aligned, industry-endorsed guidelines and tools for sustainable chemical management
b) Driving effective implementation of these standards on the ground
c) Engaging a network of relevant stakeholders to empower every point of the supply chain to manufacture safer products

Who we work with.

The ZDHC Programme is a collaboration of over 160 organisations that are active in the textile, apparel, leather and footwear industry. Our contributors are collaborating to develop and jointly implement ZDHC’s sustainable chemical management framework.

Where we’re going.

Over the past eight years, we have put the sustainable chemical management framework in place to help the apparel and footwear industry eliminate hazardous chemicals from their supply chain.

But our job isn’t done yet. Today, we are focused on accelerating the use of our solutions worldwide. We are committed to leveraging the power of the ZDHC community to continue the transformation of the industry. And, we are prepared to share our learnings with sectors beyond the apparel and footwear industry.

Third-Party Assessor

Fairness, reliability and neutrality.

For Brands to Zero we partner with KPMG who offers a professional, transparent and credible evaluation of brand' performance resulting in a neutral report.
‍
KPMG's international reputation and experiences enhances the Brands to Zero assessment and provides complementary expertise in the process.

Who we work with

Our signatory brands

The ZDHC Programme is a collaboration of organisations from the textile, apparel, leather and footwear industry. Brands that join ZDHC as Contributors are called Signatory Brands and gain exclusive access to the Brands to Zero Programme. Our Contributors are a step ahead of developments in chemical management, and together, they are driving change.

Our Impact -

Statistics

Our impact on the apparel and footwear supply chain

100%

of ZDHC Brands are committed to use the ZDHC MRSL

76%

of the Brands have implemented the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines.

testing labs around the world have been approved by ZDHC to conduct accurate wastewater testing.

Certification standards and testing labs around the world have been approved by ZDHC as ZDHC MRSL Conformance Indicators.

4000

In the last 18 months, the number of wastewater test reports published on ZDHC Gateway – Wastewater Module has increased from 100 to 4,000 reports.

The ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme

How it all connects

If you decide to become a ZDHC Signatory Brand, next to Brands to Zero, you can utilise all of ZDHC platforms, guidelines and solutions, and gain access to our broad network of top experts in the industry.

Input

Managing chemical inputs is key to safer products, cleaner water and fresher air. The Input Focus Area is the cornerstone of the work we do. More info.

Process

Good procedures and best practices are vital to reduce the environmental impact of production. This Focus Area helps organisations to put these elements in place. More info.

Output

Outputs prove the effectiveness of safer inputs and processes. It does so by measuring indicators like wastewater, sludge and air quality. More info.

ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List

Chemical Management System

ZDHC Wastewater
Guidelines

Chemical Module

Wastewater Module

CMS Framework

CMS Technical guidance

Collaboration

As ZDHC implementation partner, the Implementation HUB supports organisations all over the world, by offering the solutions, training and experts they need to put good chemical management in motion. More info.

The global, go-to training platform for sustainable chemical management. This established centre of academic and practical expertise educates the industry. More info.

Join us now

Would you and your Brand like to be part of Brands to Zero? Just fill out the form below and we will send you more information.

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