Climate impact

Harmful PFAS chemicals make fabric repel water and are often used in rain clothes.

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Toxic chemicals are often used in making the clothes you wear, like when they’re dyed or treated to be wrinkle-free. For instance, certain PFAS chemicals help clothes repel water, making them great for rainwear. While it’s known that exposure to PFAS can lead to serious health issues in humans, like cancer and fertility problems, scientists are now discovering that wildlife is also at risk. Animals exposed to PFAS can suffer from weakened immunity, liver damage, developmental and reproductive problems, and more. Moreover, 25 percent of industrial water pollution comes from dyeing and treating textiles. These processes not only overuse freshwater but also contaminate waterways with chemical runoff and non-biodegradable waste. Out of the 1,900 chemicals used in making clothes, the European Union has labelled 165 as harmful to health or the environment.

References: https://news.mongabay.com/2023/09/pfas-forever-chemicals-harming-wildlife-the-world-over-study/#:~:text=Researchers%20documented%20serious%20PFAS%2Dtriggered,to%20already%20beleaguered%20global%20wildlife

https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Industries/Retail/Our%20Insights/Biodiversity%20The%20
next%20frontier%20in%20sustainable%20fashion/Biodiversity-The-next-frontier-in-sustainable-fashion-v3.pdf

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150 000 GOAL

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Let’s not put the chemical crisis off to the next generation.

We call on policy makers in the EU to take action against toxic chemicals in our nature, air, water and bodies. We ask them to:

  • Fully implement the European Union’s promises on its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability to ensure a toxic-free Europe by 2030
  • A special focus must be to fix the outdated chemicals control law, REACH, to ensure the fast track banning of the most harmful chemicals in consumer products
  • Fully implement the European Union’s action plan to phase out PFAS, including support and facilitate the universal ban of PFAS as well as banning PFAS in sectoral legislations such as toys, cosmetics, packaging and food contact materials.
  • Aid communities affected by forever chemical pollution and ensure thorough monitoring, remediation, ground sanitation, health and other plans in response to their needs. Make polluting PFAS manufacturers and related companies accountable for these.

This petition is done together with several European environmental organisations.