Detox Transparency
About the data
A credible, individual Detox plan is not possible without transparency on the use and discharge of all hazardous chemicals. Once the reality of hazardous chemical pollution is revealed to the public, the obligation is on those responsible to act rapidly and effectively to achieve zero use of hazardous chemicals. It is crucial that local communities, the general public and public interest organisations can regularly and easily access up to date and detailed information, for example via the IPE (Chinese Institute for Public and Environmental Affairs 13) global online platform. The IPE disclosure platform provides an existing, well-known, publicly accessible and independent online database where a company’s suppliers can disclose chemical discharge data.
For this version of the Detox Catwalk, brands have been asked to report on the number and percentage of global wet processing suppliers that have disclosed discharge data for the initial 11 priority hazardous chemical groups on the IPE platform (i.e. the percentage of units produced relative to total global "wet processing" production and the percentage per country). This information must also be published on the company’s website.
By publishing chemical discharge data via the IPE disclosure platform, a company’s suppliers ensure that the data is credible, that it includes the necessary details to identify the individual facility concerned and that it covers at least the 11 groups of priority hazardous chemicals. Because much of the world’s textiles production takes place in China, companies must ensure data from suppliers in China is disclosed, followed by other major suppliers in the Global South.
Methodology
Transparency – The public’s right to know which hazardous chemicals are being used and discharged into the environment and where precisely this is happening.