The goal of the wastewater guidance is to eliminate the discharge of hazardous chemicals in the textile, apparel and footwear industries. Having one, single expectation makes it easier for suppliers to implement guidance and therefore accomplish this goal. An aligned set of metrics eliminates the need to meet overlapping individual brand requirements, thereby reducing the need to carry out multiple, different tests. It also becomes easier for brands to gather information from suppliers on testing already completed. By following the three-level Foundational, Progressive, Aspirational limits approach, brands will also be able to track their suppliers’ continuous improvements over time.

The goal of the wastewater guidance is to eliminate the discharge of hazardous chemicals in the textile, apparel, leather and footwear industries. Having one, single expectation makes it easier for suppliers to implement guidance and therefore accomplish this goal. An aligned set of metrics eliminates the need to meet overlapping individual brand requirements, thereby reducing the need to carry out multiple, different tests. Following the three-level Foundational, Progressive, Aspirational limits approach, suppliers will also be able to demonstrate their continuous improvements over time.

Having a single expectation for wastewater quality for the supply chain makes it easier for chemical suppliers to both understand their customer’s needs and meet the requirements of the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines.