An investigation on clothing from 20 global fashion brands showed that 63 percent of the garments contained hazardous nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) and a number contained plasticizers or other cancer-causing compounds, Greenpeace said yesterday.
The non-governmental organization made the announcement during the release of its new global investigative report on hazardous chemicals used in the textiles of garments sold at 20 popular global brands, including Armani, Benetton, Calvin Klein, Diesel, Esprit, Gap, H&M, Levi’s, Mango, Tommy Hilfiger and Zara.
Rose Lai (賴倩如), Greenpeace’s pollution prevention campaign director in Taiwan, said a total of 141 garments were purchased from 29 countries and regions around the world in April, including two items bought from stores in Taiwan — a pair of children’s pants by Zara and a men’s T-shirt by Levi’s.
Photo: AFP
The investigation revealed that detectable levels of NPEs were found in 89 of the garments.
“NPEs are often used as detergents or surfactants in the manufacturing process of textiles and can be washed away with water, but NPEs break down into nonylphenols [NP] in the water” Lai said. “NPs are known to be persistent and bio-accumulative toxic substances, which act as hormone disruptors in the body and also accumulate in the tissues of fish and other organisms.”
In addition, the tests discovered detectable levels of plasticizers in 31 garments, including high levels of toxic phthalates in four of the garments, and cancer-causing amines from the use of certain azo dyes in two.
Among the two items bought in Taiwan, a detectable level of NPE was found on the pants by Zara and three types of plasticizer — diethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate — were found on the Levi’s T-shirt.
Although the levels of substances found in the clothes were not considered illegal in Taiwan, Lai said the major brands should bear social responsibility and eliminate the use of these chemicals.
In addition, the companies should “make public information about the use of the chemicals and wastewater discharges containing these substances, and also plan to phase out their use to achieve a goal of zero toxic discharges,” she said.
Lai said Greenpeace’s Detox campaign last year persuaded seven international sportswear brands to commit to finding solutions to cease using the toxic chemical substances in the manufacturing process by 2020, so the organization is also urging fashion brands to take responsibility for the public and the environment.
At present, regulations on the use of these toxic substances are very limited in Taiwan.
The Environmental Protection Administration only prohibits the use of NPE in the manufacture of household detergents and the Toxic Chemical Substances Control Act (毒性化學物質管理法) prohibits four kinds of plasticizers in the manufacture of items for children under 14 years old.
“The government should take a precautionary attitude and pay more attention to toxic pollution and enact stricter regulations for the full-scale management and control of these toxic substances,” Lai said.
LONG FLIGHT: The jets would be flown by US pilots, with Taiwanese copilots in the two-seat F-16D variant to help familiarize them with the aircraft, the source said The US is expected to fly 10 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70/72 jets to Taiwan over the coming months to fulfill a long-awaited order of 66 aircraft, a defense official said yesterday. Word that the first batch of the jets would be delivered soon was welcome news to Taiwan, which has become concerned about delays in the delivery of US arms amid rising military tensions with China. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the initial tranche of the nation’s F-16s are rolling off assembly lines in the US and would be flown under their own power to Taiwan by way
OBJECTS AT SEA: Satellites with synthetic-aperture radar could aid in the detection of small Chinese boats attempting to illegally enter Taiwan, the space agency head said Taiwan aims to send the nation’s first low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite into space in 2027, while the first Formosat-8 and Formosat-9 spacecraft are to be launched in October and 2028 respectively, the National Science and Technology Council said yesterday. The council laid out its space development plan in a report reviewed by members of the legislature’s Education and Culture Committee. Six LEO satellites would be produced in the initial phase, with the first one, the B5G-1A, scheduled to be launched in 2027, the council said in the report. Regarding the second satellite, the B5G-1B, the government plans to work with private contractors
MISSION: The Indo-Pacific region is ‘the priority theater,’ where the task of deterrence extends across the entire region, including Taiwan, the US Pacific Fleet commander said The US Navy’s “mission of deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific theater applies to Taiwan, Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler told the South China Sea Conference on Tuesday. The conference, organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is an international platform for senior officials and experts from countries with security interests in the region. “The Pacific Fleet’s mission is to deter aggression across the Western Pacific, together with our allies and partners, and to prevail in combat if necessary, Koehler said in the event’s keynote speech. “That mission of deterrence applies regionwide — including the South China Sea and Taiwan,” he
‘NARWHAL’: The indigenous submarine completed its harbor acceptance test recently and is now under heavy guard as it undergoes tests in open waters, a source said The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first indigenous defense submarine, yesterday began sea trials, sailing out of the Port of Kaohsiung, a military source said. Also known as the “Narwhal,” the vessel departed from CSBC Corp, Taiwan’s (台灣國際造船) shipyard at about 8am, where it had been docked. More than 10 technicians and military personnel were on deck, with several others standing atop the sail. After recently completing its harbor acceptance test, the vessel has started a series of sea-based trials, including tests of its propulsion and navigational systems, while partially surfaced, the source said. The Hai Kun underwent tests in the port from
RSS