Toxic Free Supply Chain for Textiles and Clothing

The existing structure of supply chain of textile industry is complex at every level that it leads for inter-dependencies across a network starting from raw material to manufacturing, clothes reaching customers. Complexity contributes to variability and uncertainty where a change in one element can have an effect on other elements. To feature such cumulative and combinatorial effect throughout the supply chain, good practice in labour standards leading to a legal minimal wage and realistic living wage, working hours, safety and integrated infrastructure have to be monitored by government bodies. The intention of this article is to serve idea on risk reduction measures for hazardous substances at every level through supply chain by identifying the toxic substances and its hazardous properties. For example, substantial shares of silver, triclosan, triclocarbon are released after the biocide treatment of textile from laundering. To avoid such human risk, the REACH registration is a source of limited knowledge on risk assessment of many substances used in textiles. Indian Garment Industry finds that inventory management, visibility, lead time, collaboration with private and government sector, technology as risk factors all over the supply chain. Based on target customer groups and scale size on production, most of the private companies are facing appropriate supply chain strategy for product offerings. The use of safer chemicals in the entire life cycle and production in apparel brings a substitution plan for hazardous chemicals. The aim of this chapter is to assure the use of safer chemicals and their substitution in acceptable range in the whole production procedures of textile products. That should meet customers demand for a cleaner production with no or less pollution in order to protect environment, new or modified environmental policies and regulations in order to protect workers and consumers health. Other regulative measures to aware customers by labeling toxic free clothes and suitable method for the pre-determination of toxicity in research laboratories must be taken into consideration by textile manufacturers.