In 2013 Benetton Group joined the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Programme where brands and retailers from all over the world work together to achieve the common aim of eliminating hazardous chemicals from the textile industry.

The ZDHC’s holistic approach allowed to develop tools for an increasingly prudent management of chemical products, by defining new standards to control the production processes and the discharges into the environment as well as by promoting training activities and benchmarking the brands themselves.

Benetton is committed to reduce the environmental impact of wet processes on the supply chain.

To achieve this target Benetton aims at reducing, among others, the use of chemicals that are hazardous to health and the environment in the production processes. In particular, Benetton aims to ensure that all its wet process suppliers will be compliant with the specifications of the ZDHC MRSL by 2030.

ZDHC – MRSL Conformance

The ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC MRSL) is a list of chemical substances banned from intentional use in facilities that process textile materials and leather for apparel. By using formulation that comply with the ZDHC MRSL, suppliers guarantee that processes and products are not contaminated by dangerous substances. Benetton requires all its suppliers to use only products that comply with the ZDHC MRSL, which can also be verified through the specific module of the ZDHC Gateway.

ZDHC – Waste Water Guideline

The ZDHC Wastewater Guideline defines a standard for the wastewater analysis of production facilities. This guideline is not limited to the Conventional Parameters (pH, BOD, COD, etc.) usually required by local regulations, but it also extend the testing activities to additional harmful substances included in the ZDHC MRSL (Manufacturing Restricted Substances List). Benetton requires all its wet process suppliers to analyze wastewater according to the ZDHC Guideline and to disclose the results in the ZDHC Gateway.

ZDHC – Gateway

It is a portal that has been developed for the data disclosure and sharing. It is constituted by two modules:

  • ZDHC Gateway – Chemical Module, a database that allows (chemicals) formulators to share information about the ZDHC MRSL conformance level (i.e. level 0, 1, 2, 3) of their products. Upon registration, everybody can access to this module.

Benetton requires its suppliers to use only products that comply to levels 1, 2 and 3.

Benetton supports and invites its suppliers not only to refer to the Gateway as source of information and compliance verification, but also to actively participate to the implementation of products’ list published in it.

ZDHC – Academy

Benetton encourages its suppliers to join the ZDHC Academy, a platform that aims to increase knowledge for a sustainable management of chemicals. In addition to provide free supports (such as webinar), the Academy organizes, through accredited bodies, training courses that after final exam release a personal certificate.

Benetton constantly checks the participation of the personnel employed at the wet processes in training courses by asking for a copy of the certificate.

ZDHC – Signatory Brand Leader Programme

Born to define the brands’ growth path, this program will measure and provide guidance on the commitment of each brand of the ZDHC community.

The objective of the Leader Programme, in fact, is to help the global textile, leather and footwear industry to clearly understand ZDHC tools, how to effectively and consistently implement them and how to measure progress. It is expected that the Leader Programme will accelerate impact, drive tangible improvements and enable programme progress.