Photo Timo Assmuth

Risks connected with chemicals in textiles and possibilities to reduce these risks have been assessed by the Finnish Environment Institute. The researchers noted that actions on national and EU levels are insufficient when attempting to reduce risks of chemicals imported from farther away, but global action can be initiated in Finland. It is likewise important to combine actions in different sectors.

Chemicals in consumer products and articles cause problems that are poorly known, and solutions to these problems are under-developed. Within a project on chemicals in products that was initiated by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment textiles were studied in particular. Textiles comprise a group of products that pose important risks partly as plenty of chemicals are used in their production and subsequent treatment and as textiles are part of everyday life.

A new report investigates chemicals used in textiles and assesses their risks and environmental impacts. Within risk management and governance, present legal and voluntary means, their flaws and development and different strategies are examined. The focus is on Finnish conditions and activities that are put in global contexts.

Chemicals in textiles throughout their life cycles cause multi-faceted impacts and risks to ecosystems as well as to human health and safety. Even when humans are not directly endangered other organisms can suffer. Risks are influenced by the properties of textiles, such as fiber materials and handling, and by the properties of chemicals such as breakdown, accumulation and toxicity.

Risks and benefits need to be balanced

Chemicals in textiles are useful as they improve safety (e.g., flame retardants), durability (control of microbes) and technical properties (moisture resistance). It is therefore essential to balance risks and benefits of different alternatives as well as interests of different actors.

Many legal and voluntary means can be combined to manage risks. Regulations exist and are being developed for chemicals, production processes, import, wastes and product safety. Regulations often include monitoring, for instance of textile ingredients or emissions. Within the private sector lists have been proposed of chemicals to be avoided. Industry, trade, government and non-governmental organizations steer demand and thus supply also through environmental and consumer labeling. There are still uncertainties and flaws regarding the efficiency of means.

The key to better risk management is a broader view of risks and more efficient use of available means while new ones are being developed. Regulations need to be combined with eco-design, steering of product chains and consumer activities. Management of information and communication among actors are crucial in traditional product and chemical control as well as in product choices.

Additional information

Finnish Environment Institute

• Senior Researcher Timo Assmuth, tel. 050 5907712,
  firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi
• Planner Piia Häkkinen, tel. 040 7273508,
  pmhakkinen@gmail.com

Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency

• Senior Inspector Susan Londesborough,
  tel. 010 605 2056, firstname.lastname@tukes.fi

Risk management and governance of chemicals in articles (link to report)

• FE16/2011 Risk management and governance of chemicals in articles