Bridging the Chemical Pollution Gap in Nature Strategies

Groundbreaking study assessing how ZDHC’s Guidelines can reduce impact on nature

From Tracking Progress to Measuring Impact

The ZDHC Foundation commissioned a pioneering study, conducted by Quantis, to explore the science-based potential of the ZDHC Foundation to deliver measurable reductions in nature-related impacts.

In today’ s Nature assessment frameworks, the lack of methodologies to assess the impact of chemical pollution beyond nitrogen- and phosphorous-containing substances severely hampers the ability of companies to evaluate and mitigate other broader chemical pollution.

The ”Nature Impact Report” builds on the demonstrated success of the Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) in the textile, leather, and footwear sectors.

The analyses quantify how ZDHC MRSL adoption can reduce pollution across air, water, and soil, and is a must-read for all companies committed to strengthening corporate Nature strategies and enhancing business resilience in tandem.

Tools for Impact

Delivering Impact Beyond Climate Change
The study illustrates how the long-standing efforts of ZDHC and its tools, the MRSL, Wastewater Guidelines and Air Emissions Guidelines, can enable real-world Implementation of solutions, leading to measurable reduction of environmental impacts.

Targeting Action at Facility-Level
Mills and tanneries play a central role in the adoption of safer chemistry. Strengthening ZDHC implementation at these nodes offers direct and scalable method to reduce chemical-induced environmental pressures.

A Powerful and Actionable tool
Proactive upstream chemical management through the ZDHC’s tools can lead to substantial reductions of up to 80-96% in nature-related impacts, and supports compliance with emerging frameworks.

A New Direction for Action
Extending ZDHC’ s tools adoption to other manufacturing sectors could drive harmonised, global progress toward eliminating hazardous chemicals from the input stage of the manufacturing process.

Improving data quality and transparency enables more accurate nature impact assessments and helps companies target high-impact sustainability actions. By aligning stakeholders and clarifying roles, ZDHC and partners can scale MRSL adoption, reduce chemical pollution, and protect health and ecosystems. To maximize these benefits, the industry should focus on filling the following key data gaps:

More comprehensive formulation data (for example, comprehensive ingredient lists, % concentrations, co-formulants)

Key challenge: greater disclosure is blocked by an absence of harmonized and confidential reporting format

More comprehensive substance-level environmental and toxicity data (for example, GHG footprints, water footprints, toxicity profiles, environmental fate pathways)

Key challenge: currently limited data collection and trackingin real industrial settings

More standardized product testing and RSL data to verify phase-out of hazardous substances

Key challenge: datasets can serve as practical downstream indicators that substances have been eliminated but are rarely aggregated, standardized, or shared across brands and suppliers

More reliable and standardized wastewater emissions data at facility level

Key challenge: many sites lack continuous or high-frequency monitoring and existing data is often inconsistently reported

Bridging the Chemical Pollution Gap in Nature Strategies

From Tracking Progress to Measuring Impact

Tools for Impact

Download full Quantis & ZDHC study

Thank you for your interest!

Bridging the Chemical Pollution Gap in Nature Strategies

From Tracking Progress to Measuring Impact

Tools for Impact

Addressing data gaps to accelerate impact

Download full Quantis & ZDHC study

Thank you for your interest!