What is the implementation of sustainable chemistry in the textile processing industry?

Introduction

Fashion is a part of our lives. 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 the textile processing industry? We have a lot of questions ahead of us. Modern textile industries are general chemical processing industries where 1500 complex chemical formulas are used. 9.3 million tons of chemicals are used every year for the production of textiles worldwide. About 1/4 of the chemicals produced directly or indirectly worldwide are used for textile production. We don't know what effect this 80% substance has on human health...! Textile products today use> 800 substances that are known to be harmful to human health or the environment. More than 60% of the total export earnings of our economy come from textiles. We are seeing our fast-growing development. At the same time, we are seeing how we are suffering from rare diseases like cancer, birth defects, and infertility as well as how we are destroying our environments such as our climate, air pollution, soil pollution and life in water bodies. We are using different chemicals in almost every step of textile processing. Therefore, 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. Studies have shown that many of the chemicals used in textile processing are carcinogenic, mutagenic, constant, biological, 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 in the textile processing

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/ application	Harmful effect
AP/APEOs	Pretreatment, washing, and finishing.	Wetting, detergency,   emulsification	Endocrine disruptor, aquatic toxicity
Chlorophenols	Finishing	Preservatives, pesticides	CMR (Carcinogenic,   mutagenic, and toxic to reproduction)
Banned amines from azo dyes	Dyeing and printing	Disperse, 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 reproduction, carcinogenic
Organotins	Finishing	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 can 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 a safe environment for zero hazardous chemicals discharge. 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 it 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 be another major concern in Bangladesh in the very near future. 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 chemical certification based on the chemical list of various disciplines such as KREC, 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 the three main areas of input chemicals, processes, and outputs.

Chemical management team

Chemical management should not be the responsibility of a single person. There must be a team with people from product quality, production, collection, 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 policy

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

The country has many licenses / legal documents required to ensure environmental requirements for the management of the industry. 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.

MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)

MSDS/SDS is a very important part of chemical management. It helps to know about chemicals. Each chemical must have 1 name mandatory information such as chemical name, CAS number, hazardous information, PPE (personal safety equipment), accidental information, and MSDS along with emergency communication.

Chemical inventory

A chemical inventory facility/mirror of the overall chemical of the industry can help to know the total list of chemicals including chemical quantity, category and compliance level, expiration date, etc. The chemical inventory list can help to avoid counterfeit purchases of similar chemicals. It can also confirm the search for chemicals to analyze the root cause of any unresolved issues.

Chemical separation and segregation

Chemical separation and segregation are very important to avoid incidents through a chemical reaction between adjacent stored chemicals. Some chemicals can accelerate flames or create explosions if the chemicals are not properly separated or segregated.

Chemical storage and onsite management

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, the store must have standard firefighting, good ventilation, uninterrupted temperature, and humidity monitoring system, use of secondary condensate, emergency response system, etc.

Chemical management training

Training can ensure technical knowledge of chemistry. Training is the most essential tool for the proper application of chemical management systems. There should be a defined procedure for identifying training records with training requirements, training calendars, and assessment systems. Training must cover the hazardous effects of chemicals, MSDS, safe handling, PPE, etc.

PPE (personal protective equipment) selection

PPE selection is another technical part of the safe handling of chemicals. PPE can protect the user from danger through chemical exposure. Different types of PPE are required for different chemicals. Thus, PPE has to be selected according to the MSDS of the specific chemical.

Data analysis

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.

Global requirement

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

SGS, is a name for sustainable chemical

SGS is a trusted quality partner of any sustainable development around the world? Our slogan 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 of 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 to 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.