Dirty Laundry 2: Hung Out to Dry

Unravelling the toxic trail from pipes to products

Publication - August 23, 2011

Research commissioned by Greenpeace International has revealed that
clothing and certain fabric-based shoes sold internationally
by major clothing brands are manufactured using nonylphenol ethoxylates
(NPEs). NPEs -- which are used as surfactants in textile
production -- subsequently break down to form toxic nonylphenol (NP).
Nonylphenol is a persistent chemical with hormone-disrupting
properties that builds up in the food chain, and is hazardous even at
very low levels. 

 Download the
report - PDF 3.8 MB (32 pages)
 Download Clothing and the global toxic cycle infographic 300dpi (pdf 2.12 MB)Download
Clothing and the global toxic cycle infographic - 72dpi (jpg 213
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   The investigation involved the analysis of 78 articles of sports and
recreational clothing and shoes bearing the logos of 15 leading clothing
brands.
Greenpeace is calling on the brands and suppliers identified in this
investigation, and our
previous Dirty Laundry report, to become champions for a
toxic-free
future – by eliminating all releases of hazardous chemicals from
their supply chains and their products.   Governments also have a crucial role to play. To this end, Greenpeace
is calling on governments to work towards the elimination of all
releases of hazardous chemicals by adopting a political commitment to 'zero

discharge' of all hazardous chemicals within one generation, based
on the precautionary principle and a preventative approach to chemicals
management.    Download Dirty Laundry 2: Hung Out to Dry >>    Head to greenpeace.org.uk/toxics to find out more about our toxics campaigns.