Green America: Largest Kids’ Clothes Retailer Should Improve Transparency on Chemical Usage and Eliminate Toxins That Harm Workers and Consumers
Carter’s, the main store of infant and children’s garb inside the US is not obvious approximately the toxins and different chemical compounds used to manufacture its garb. In reaction, Green America has released a new campaign to urge Carter’s to adopt a strong and obvious chemical management coverage, starting via enforcing a public Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) and issuing public updates because the enterprise stages out the maximum dangerous chemicals.
Carter’s, the proprietor of OshKosh B’gosh and Skip Hop, currently offers very little statistics to its clients and the public regarding the chemical substances used to supply its apparel. Green America reached out to Carter’s in 2018 and 2019 to invite for details about its chemical management guidelines, however the employer declined. Common chemical substances used inside the industry can affect the fitness of people, employee groups, the surroundings and consumers. For example, azo dyes, banned within the EU, are still one of the maximum commonly used dyes offered in garb within the US, and might produce a recognized carcinogen.
In June, Green America will launch a comprehensive fabric enterprise report ranking primary US garb and fabric companies on toxin use and worker remedy. Carter’s has emerged as a clean hassle employer within the document.
“Parents need to recognize that the apparel they are searching for their infants and youngsters is unfastened from dangerous chemical substances,” said Green America’s Social Justice Campaign Manager, Caroline Chen. “Non-toxic garments should be effortlessly accessible to all, and now not simply available to individuals who can have the funds for to pay a premium.As the biggest store of infant clothes, Carter’s wishes to return easy approximately pollution in its deliver chain and its plans to lessen the ones pollution and shield employees, customers, and groups in the US and around the world.”
“The fashion enterprise’s use of toxic chemical compounds has, for too long, located workers, the surroundings, and customers health in serious risk,” said Alexandra McNair, CEO/Founder of Fashion FWD. “It is essential for Carter’s to adopt a obvious complete chemical management coverage so we can move ahead into a healthier and more secure destiny for every person.”
Carter’s has an inner confined chemical listing but does now not provide any data to its customers or the public approximately which chemical compounds are prohibited. Carter’s is less transparent than several different apparel groups, consisting of Gap and Target, approximately the factories it uses to manufacture its garb and the protections for employees at those factories.
Carter’s additionally has one Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) licensed natural line of apparel, which demonstrates the employer’s ability to fabricate clothing free of dangerous chemicals, however that is a drop inside the bucket in comparison to its universal apparel production, and the organization should extend those certified practices to all of its garb lines to better guard consumers and those impacted along the supply chain. Carter’s does not post a corporate social responsibility (CSR) document, which could help the company to degree and speak its overall performance on environmental, social, and governance measures.
The fabric industry is one of the most polluting industries on Earth, with over 8,000 chemical compounds in use. Many of these chemical substances are dangerous, ensuing in devastating results for workers and groups. Some of the maximum usually used dyes include known cancer agents and an predicted 20% of commercial water pollution is attributed to the fabric manufacturing industry. Leaders within the industry are adopting publicly to be had MRSLs and RSLs that restrict poisonous exposure on the manufacturing unit level and guard consumers.
