ZARA, the world's largest clothing retailer, has finally become the eighth brand in the world to commit to detoxification in its production chain after nine days of global public attention and pressure, with more than 700 volunteers taking street actions and more than 310,000 people signing a petition calling for detoxification. ZARA has pledged to fully implement non-toxic production by 2020 and to prioritize the elimination of several toxic and hazardous substances such as PFCs (perfluorinated compounds) before 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zara's commitment is not only a boon to the environment, but also upholds the public's right to know what toxic and hazardous substances are discharged into the water. ZARA pointed out that by the end of 2013, at least 100 suppliers (including at least 40 in China) will disclose data on their emissions of toxic and hazardous substances. The data will be available for public review based on various chemical substances, factories and years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although ZARA's clothing is not manufactured in Taiwan, the Inditex Group has promised to ban the use of alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ethers and perfluorinated compounds that interfere with the hormone system in its production chain, and to further establish a short-term replacement list and timetable for toxic and hazardous substances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Greenpeace pollution prevention and control project director Lai Qianru stressed that companies must promise to shoulder their due responsibilities, and the government needs to speed up the revision of laws and regulations to effectively correct any production activities that use toxic and hazardous substances and achieve zero emissions of toxic and hazardous substances by 2020. She also pointed out that people have the right to know what toxic and harmful substances are used in the manufacturing process of the clothes they buy, and the information should be made public and transparent so that people can buy with peace of mind and wear happily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n