AMSTERDAM and LAUSANNE [03.09.2025] – At a special industry session taking place at New York Climate Week, the ZDHC Foundation, a global multi-stakeholder sustainable chemical management initiative and Quantis, a BCG company and global sustainability consultancy, will unveil a landmark study that reveals how the proactive implementation of sustainable chemical management tools can significantly reduce pollution and nature-related impact. The “Protecting Supply Chains and Natural Capital: The Power of Safer Chemistry” report provides the first science-based quantification of how ZDHC’s frameworks can tangibly lessen the environmental footprint of the textile, leather and footwear industries.
“For the last decade, ZDHC has worked with our Signatory Community to build the frameworks for sustainable chemical management. This study provides the scientific proof that our collective efforts are having a positive impact on our planet” said Frank Michel, Chief Executive Officer of the ZDHC Foundation. “These findings affirm ZDHC’s 2030 Impact Strategy’s goal of protecting life, land, air and water. By addressing the data gaps highlighted, we can unlock even greater positive change and provide a credible, evidence-based pathway for the entire industry to follow.”
Here are three key insights from the report:
- Significant Impact Reduction is Possible: A decade of collaborative effort pays off. The study shows that adopting ZDHC’s Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL), Wastewater Guidelines and Air Emissions Guidelines can reduce nature-related impacts, such as human and freshwater toxicity, by up to 96%.
- A Blueprint for Other Industries: The success within the textile, apparel, leather and footwear sectors provides a proven model for other manufacturing industries. The report identifies clear opportunities to extend the ZDHC approach to other sectors, such as automotive, home furnishing or electronics, to accelerate cross-industry progress.
- Data Gaps Hinder Full Potential: The report identifies critical data gaps, including a lack of transparency in chemical formulations and inconsistent wastewater discharge data, as the most significant barrier to accelerating impact. Addressing these gaps through industry-wide collaboration is a key call to action to continue to drive impact reduction.
The “Protecting Supply Chains and Natural Capital: The Power of Safer Chemistry” report, conducted by Quantis, uses a robust, three-pronged approach that includes facility-specific case studies, wastewater discharge assessments, and air emissions modelling. The findings provide concrete evidence that validates ZDHC’s long-term vision and its 2030 Impact Strategy, which places a strategic emphasis on demonstrating and amplifying real-world impact.
“By adopting ZDHC’s proven approach, which is already transforming the textile and footwear sectors, we can drive sustainable manufacturing across global chemical value chains,” said Philipp Meister, Quantis’ Global Fashion & Sporting Goods Lead. “This report clearly shows impact reduction potential and the power of collective collaboration to close data gaps and increase transparency, enabling more targeted action. I’m confident that with a solid methodology and shared accountability, nature-related impacts like ecotoxicity and freshwater toxicity can be effectively addressed and minimised.”
The report issues a clear call for shared responsibility in continuing to drive meaningful impact reduction through chemical management. Achieving the full potential of this vision depends on the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, including industry plates, institutional bodies, investors and verification agencies, to further enhance data transparency, availability and quality to eliminate hazardous chemicals at the input stages of manufacturing. The full report is available for download on the ZDHC website:
About ZDHC The ZDHC Foundation (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) is a global multi-stakeholder initiative of nearly 380 signatories from across the textile, apparel, leather and footwear industries, including brands, suppliers, chemical suppliers and solution providers. ZDHC’s mission is to lead global value chains to achieve the best practices for sustainable chemical management, driving resource efficiency and circularity. Its vision is a world in which better chemistry leads to the protection of life, land, air and water.
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About Quantis Quantis, a BCG company, is a global sustainability consultancy pioneering approaches to solve critical environmental challenges. The group partners with leading organizations who are serious about reducing their environmental impacts to future-proof their businesses and prosper in a new planetary economy. Quantis’ unique approach combines deep environmental expertise, strategic business knowledge, and enterprise transformation skills to help organizations shape policies, practices and business models that align with the planet’s capacity while building resilience, unlocking innovation, and optimizing performance.
With offices in the US, France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy and clients around the world, Quantis is a key partner in inspiring sustainable change on a global scale.
