Define Sustainable chemistry? Describe sustainable chemistry for textile with inventory system.

Introduction

Fashion is part of our life. Fashion is not complete without color. Color means the use of chemicals for color. Do we know how many chemicals are used in textile processing to ensure our fashion? Are all chemicals safe for human health and the environment? What are the potential dangers of chemicals used in textile processing industries? There are lots of questions in front of us. Modern textile industries are typical chemical processing industries where 1,500 complex chemical formula is used. 9.3 million tons per year of chemicals are used for global textile production. About 1/4 of the chemicals produced directly or indirectly worldwide are used for textile production. We do not know the impact on human health for 80% of these substances…...! There are > 800 substances used today in textile products that are known to be harmful to human health or the environment. More than 80% of the total export earnings of our economy come from textiles. We can see our fast-growing development. At the same time, we can see how we are suffering from rare diseases like cancer, birth defects, and the inability to reproduce as well as how we are destroying our environments like water pollution, air pollution, soil pollution, and life in water bodies. Thus, it is very important to identify what chemicals are being used at different stages of textile processing and what are the dangerous risks for it. The research found that many chemicals used in textile processing are carcinogenic, mutagenic, persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to reproduction.

Definition of Sustainable Chemistry

Sustainable chemistry is a scientific concept that seeks to improve the efficiency of natural resources used to meet human needs for chemical products and services. Sustainable chemistry involves the design, manufacture, and use of efficient, effective, safe, and more environmentally friendly chemical products and processes.

Sustainable chemistry is a process that stimulates innovation across all sectors to design and discover new chemical, manufacturing processes, and product stewardship practices that will provide enhanced performance and enhanced quality in order to protect and enhance human health and the environment.

Sustainable chemistry for Textile

Sustainable chemistry in textile processing must have an assurance of safe human health and the environment with the reduction of water consumption, chemical consumption, energy consumption, and air/water/soil pollution.

Chemical group	Major area of use	Purpose of use	Harmful effect
AP/APEOs	Pretreatment process, washing,   and finishing the process.	For wetting, detergency, emulsification	Endocrine disruptor, aquatic toxicity
Chlorophenols	Finishing Process.	For preservatives and pesticides	Carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxic to reproduction.
Banned amines from azo dyes	In the dyeing and printing process.	For dispersing, direct, acid, basic, and reactive dyes.	Bladder cancer
Dyes carcinogenic	Dyeing and printing	Direct, basic, disperse dyes	Cancer
Disperse dyes -sensitizing	Dyeing and printing	Disperse dyes	Skin sensitization/ allergy
Heavy metals	Plastic processing, dyeing, and printing/ coating	Dyes and pigments, caustic	Toxic to the reproduction, carcinogenic
Organotins	In the finishing process.	PVC, PU coatings	Mutagenic
PAHs	Printing, heat stabilizer, etc.	Pigment Black, dispersing agents	CMR
PFCs	Finishing	Anti-dart, oil and water repellants	vPvB, thyroid,
Phthalates	Printing, soft plastic processing.	Plasticizers, leveling agents	CMR, endocrine disruptors

Sustainable chemistry can play an important role in sustainable development in textile processing by avoiding hazardous chemicals. A good chemical management system may ensure sustainable chemistry in the textile processing industries. So far, the ZDHC Foundation (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) has a holistic solution to promote the industry running with a safe chemical that can ensure safe products as well as discharge zero hazardous chemicals to a safe environment. The current modern ETP (effluent treatment plant) can also ensure zero hazardous chemical discharge but it will be way more expensive than any other alternative. Thus, the most effective way of sustainable chemistry in the textile industry is to focus on input chemicals. If we can detect non-compliant chemicals, we can easily replace them with a safer alternative if we do not use the hazardous substance intentionally. Studies have shown that current safe alternative chemicals require fewer amounts to meet the same purpose of textile processing which will reduce the chemical burden on ETP. The low chemical load on the ETP will be effective for running the ETP effectively which can help the industry move towards ZLD (Zero Liquid Discharge). Now our main concern is risky chemicals, but the lack of groundwater will soon be another major concern in Bangladesh. We need chemicals with effectively high-performance ingredients so that the rest of the chemicals are less to wash off. The first step is producing a list of restricted substances or MRSL-safe chemicals. First, we need to have a broad MRSL to select safe chemicals. MRSL-compliant chemicals do not mean the intentional use of hazardous substances at the level of chemical composition. Hazardous Chemicals MRSL compliance chemicals can be identified through MSDS review, testing, and certification based on a chemical list of various regulations such as RACH, POP, CPSIA, CA65, GB, etc. There are many organizations that can provide an MRSL Compliance Certificate, but the ZDHC Foundation has some qualified guidelines and approval processes in place to become an organization for chemical testing and certification. The ZDHC Foundation has designed a chemical gateway where the industry can find the necessary MRSL-compliant chemicals. They can easily download authentic MRSL compliance certificates with various grading of chemicals. A chemical management system is a prerequisite for ensuring sustainable chemistry in the textile industry. A good chemical management system must focus on three main areas input chemicals, processes, and outputs.

Chemical management

It should not be the responsibility of one single person. There must be a team with people from product quality, production, procurement, ETP, and EHS. EHS will oversee the total performance of the chemical management team. The product quality manager will select the required MRSL-compliant chemical, and the collection team will confirm the purchase of the selected chemical with the relevant consent certificate. The production manager will ensure the use of the right chemicals for the selected product.

Internal purchasing system

There must be a well-defined procurement policy for any organization with a qualified purchasing team. The procurement policy should also include a declaration on the purchase of safe chemicals that will not adversely affect human health and the environment. The purchasing team will purchase MRSL-loyal chemicals that are selected by the chemical management team. The purchasing team will ensure the proper selection of chemical suppliers. They will ensure the MRSL compliance certificate as well as a written agreement for chemical products as well as any non-compliance activities after production.

Documentation permits and verification

There are many licenses / legal documents in the country that need to ensure environmental requirements for environmental management. So there should be a responsible person/team to follow the various rules as well as legal documents for running an industry. They will follow updates on legal requirements and regulations. They will inform the team about the need to update the regulations for necessary steps and ensure the implementation of the update requirements.

Material Safety Data Sheet

It is a very important part of chemical management. It helps to know about chemicals. Every chemical must have MSDS with 16 mandatory information like chemical name, CAS number, hazardous information, PPE (personal protective equipment), accidental information emergency contact, etc.

Inventory system

Chemical inventory is the mirror of the total chemicals in the facilities/industry. It can help to know the total list of chemicals with quantities, using department and compliance level and expiry date, etc. The chemical inventory list can help avoid counterfeit purchases of similar chemicals. It can also ensure the traceability of chemicals for any root cause analysis of any noncompliance.

Separation and segregation of chemical

Chemical separation and segregation are very important to avoid incidents through the chemical reaction between adjacent stored chemicals. Some chemicals may accelerate flame or create an explosion if chemicals are not properly separated or segregated.

Chemical Storage System

Chemical storage must follow chemical separation and segregation according to the chemical compatibility chart. The Chemical Compatibility Chart will provide a guide on how to store chemicals with any type of chemical. MSDS must be available to users of the chemical. In addition to the availability of MSDS, a standard chemical store must have a fire extinguishing system, good ventilation, constant temperature, and humidity monitoring, secondary maintenance, emergency response, etc.

Chemical management training

Training can ensure the technical know-how of chemicals. It is the most essential tool to implement the chemical management system properly. There must be a defined procedure to identify training needs, training calendars, and training records with the evaluation system. Training must cover the hazardous effects of chemicals, MSDS, safe handling, PPE, etc.

Selection of personal protective equipment

PPE selection is another technical part of the safe handling of the chemical. PPE can protect the user from hazards through chemical exposure. Different chemicals require different types of PPE. So, PPE must be selected according to the MSDS of specific chemicals.

Data analysis of the test report

Chemical test reports related to the final product and wastewater give an overall picture of the input chemicals. It helps to analyze the root cause for corrective and preventive actions as non-compliance. Data Historical data also provides information on a variety of environmental issues related to product rejection/withdrawal from the market, local government law violations, and chemical hazards. According to historical data, the cost of different events can give information about the overall cost of using different hazardous/inconsistent chemicals. The overall cost of product rejection, government fines, and reputation loss can help secure the decision to purchase safe/accessory chemicals.

Worldwide requirement

Nowadays global requirements are also becoming more stringent to protect human health and the environment, The textile industry cannot get any order soon without the risk of hazardous chemicals or ZDHC. If we want to grow our textile industry seamlessly with a safe environment for future generations, we have no alternative to sustainable chemistry. Sustainable chemistry is the main requirement in textile processing.

Sustainable chemical quality partner

Trusted Quality Partnership (SGS) for any sustainable development around the world. Our vision is ‘when you need to be sure’ and our goals and vision are building the confidence of our clients. It has more than 9,000 employees, including scientists, engineers, doctors, chemists, auditors, and laboratories in 2,600 offices around the world. From the geographical location of Bangladesh, SGS has been supporting the testing, inspection, verification, and certification of products to government and non-government organizations since 1950. SGS Bangladesh Limited is also playing an important role in the application of sustainable chemicals in the textile processing industry. They are taking chemical management training for people in the industry with regulatory requirements so that the industry can become technically well-informed about hazardous chemicals as well as safe alternatives. SGS is helping the industry to ensure the use of MRSL compliance for textile processing chemicals and raw materials through testing and certification. SGS is assisting the industry to ensure zero product compliance with hazardous chemicals as well as ensure product compliance with various regulations through the final product and discharge wastewater and sludge testing. SGS conducts chemical management audits and helps the industry analyze the root causes of any compaction. SGS can help the industry to implement the best practices of chemical management in their facilities. SGS Bangladesh has always stood by the industry to ensure the sustainable application of chemicals in the textile processing industry.