Bayer Material Science and Bluesign Technologies have joined forces to advance a sustainable textile industry globally. The two companies have agreed to enter into a strategic alliance to ensure safe production processes and working conditions along the entire value chain.
The Bluesign System defines criteria for chemicals use, including the responsible use of resources, effective hazardous materials management and the elimination of all dangerous substances.
In July Bayer advanced sustainable textile coating with the introduction of Insquin, an integrated package for the textile industry based on the water-borne polyurethane technology. The package encompasses all aspects of materials development, through to production by certified manufacturers.
Bayer has had the waterborne polyurethane dispersions in its Impranil line tested and certified under the Bluesign system. Textile manufacturers in search of chemicals with Bluesign certification can now find information on these products in the bluefinder database that currently has data on some 5,000 chemicals used in the industry.
The Bluesign system gives consideration to substance lists with restricted use and advises manufacturers on how to minimize hazards to people and the environment. By jointly using the system, participants can cut costs along the processing chain and meet new market demands more quickly, the company says. The “Bluesign approved” label is accepted by both brand owners and major wholesalers.
In June the Adidas Group, whose brands include Adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade, partnered with Bluesign Technologies and committed to being 90 per cent perfluorinated compound (PFC) free by June 15 and 99 per cent PFC-free by December 31, 2017.