Tesco Pledges to Make Clothes Chemical-Free

Greenpeace said Tesco will immediately begin the process of eliminating 11 groups of hazardous substances from its F&F brand, including phthalates, brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, chlorinated solvents and heavy metals.

According to the environmental group, Tesco’s pledge went beyond chemicals already banned by EU regulations.

The supermarket giant was also making a precautionary move by eliminating substances thought to be harmful but not necessarily backed by evidence.

Tesco is the latest of around 80 retailers around the world – including Marks & Spencer, H&M, Aldi and Lidl – that have committed to the Greenpeace Detox Campaign.

The campaign urges retailers and fashion manufacturers to eliminate chemicals that may harm the environment, even if the type or magnitude of harm is not yet known, increase transparency about the suppliers they use and commit to eliminate all releases of toxic chemicals by 2020.

“Our Responsible Sourcing Team has been working with Greenpeace to align all our textile products with the Detox commitment, starting with clothing and footwear, and we’ve compiled a list of restricted substances to help guide our suppliers,” Tesco clothing technical director Alan Wragg said.