A Global Community Driving Sustainable Chemical Management
Reaching 400 Signatories is an important milestone for ZDHC and the organisations that have shaped this journey. It reflects the power of collaboration, shared commitment and collective action to advance sustainable chemical management.
More than a decade ago, a handful of organisations recognised that sustainable chemical management was too complex for any one company to solve alone. Different requirements, different expectations and fragmented approaches created unnecessary complexity across global supply chains. Rather than creating individual solutions, they recognised that meaningful progress would require a common approach.
It was this shared commitment that led to the creation of ZDHC.
Today, that vision has grown into a global community of 400 Signatories, bringing together brands, suppliers, chemical formulators, solution providers, textile machinery manufacturers and other organisations across the fashion, footwear, textile and leather value chain.
As more organisations joined the journey, ZDHC evolved alongside them. The programme expanded in response to industry needs, but its purpose remained unchanged: bringing organisations together around a common approach to sustainable chemical management.
"Reaching 400 Signatories is an important milestone, but what inspires me most is what this number represents. It reflects a growing community of organisations that recognise sustainable chemical management is a shared responsibility. Every new Signatory brings fresh experience, expertise and commitment, strengthening our collective effort. Together, we have built strong foundations, but there is still much more to achieve. By continuing to work together, we can help create lasting, positive change across the global value chain."
- Frank Michel, Chief Executive Officer, ZDHC
While the programme has evolved significantly, the thinking behind it has remained remarkably consistent.
Few people have experienced that journey as closely as Stefan Seidel. As part of the team at PUMA, he helped establish ZDHC and shape its collaborative approach. Today, as Senior Director, Climate & Environmental Impact at ZDHC, he continues to help guide the programme's evolution, giving him a unique perspective on how the organisation has developed over more than a decade.
"When we first came together, we weren't thinking about milestones or how many organisations might one day join us. We were focused on solving a shared challenge and recognised that no single company could do it alone. We believed collaboration would always be more powerful than working independently. Looking back today, it's incredible to see that vision grow into a global community of 400 Signatories. The programme has evolved, but the spirit that brought everyone together remains exactly the same."
- Stefan Seidel, Senior Director, Climate & Environmental Impact, ZDHC
One of ZDHC's founding Signatories reflects on why the organisation joined the journey from the very beginning and why that commitment remains as relevant today as it was more than a decade ago.
" "400 signatories” to me, this represents not just a milestone, but 400 commitments to building a better future. Over the years, I have witnessed ZDHC grow from an ambitious vision into a global force for positive change.
What makes this achievement truly remarkable is not the number itself, but the shared belief that underpins it: by working together, we can redefine what good looks like for our industry. Every organization that joins this journey brings another voice, another innovation, and another step toward a future where responsible chemical management and sustainable production become the practice rather than the exception.
As we celebrate this achievement, we also look to the future. The next chapter of ZDHC will not be written by any single company, but by the collective action of hundreds of partners across sectors, united in their commitment to transforming our industry and creating a healthier environment for generations to come."
- Sheila Shek, Director, Sourcing Sustainability, adidas
More than a decade later, organisations continue to join ZDHC, recognising the value of a common approach to sustainable chemical management and the importance of working together to address shared challenges.
“As a global manufacturer in the fashion industry, we recognize our responsibility for the responsible management of chemicals across our supply chain. Joining ZDHC reinforces our commitment to reducing hazardous chemicals; for environmental protection, worker safety, and sound business. This reflects our company philosophy, CYCLE OF GOODNESS®, "No one prospers without rendering benefit to others.”
- João Matias, Sr. Sustainability Specialist, YKK
Reaching 400 Signatories marks an important chapter in ZDHC's journey, but it is not the destination.
The challenges facing the fashion, footwear, textile and leather industries continue to evolve. As expectations around transparency, implementation and measurable progress continue to grow, so too does the need for practical solutions and stronger collaboration across the value chain.
The ambition that brought a handful of organisations together more than a decade ago remains unchanged today. What has changed is the scale of the community working together to make it a reality.
As new organisations continue to join the Signatory Community, ZDHC will continue working with industry to evolve the Roadmap to Zero Programme and advance sustainable chemical management for the benefit of the entire value chain.
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