Intertek Announces Partnership with ZDHC Foundation to Provide Training Courses for Chemical Management Programme
14 Mar 2017
(Lowell, MA, USA) Intertek, a Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, announces today a partnership with the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Foundation to provide training and education on the elimination of hazardous chemicals across the textile and footwear value chain.
The ZDHC Foundation was founded with a goal to eliminate hazardous chemicals in the textile and footwear value chain to improve the environment and people's well-being. Since its inception in 2011, ZDHC has formed a coalition of 22 brands, 24 value-chain affiliates, and 10 associates aimed at eliminating the use of hazardous chemicals across the product lifecycle.
Intertek will provide training courses on behalf of ZDHC, to educate leading textile and footwear companies about methods for strengthening their standards for safer chemical management. Courses are designed for personnel responsible for dyeing, printing, chemical purchase, effluent treatment plant, environment, health & safety, quality assurance, and sustainability working at the wet processing facilities such as dye house, printing, laundries, and tanneries, or those working in the textile and footwear industry in a similar capacity.
ZDHC training courses are a tool for making the production of textiles and footwear a safer environment for all of those involved in the manufacture of these goods. The courses will build awareness of the ZDHC Manufactured Restricted Substances List, a collection of chemical substances banned from international use in textile and footwear facilities, as well as highlight alternatives to unsafe chemicals used in the manufacturing process. Other objectives of the courses include informing companies about improving chemical management systems and best practices for handling chemicals as well as understanding the environmental and health risks associated with using these chemicals.
“Intertek‘s status as an Approved Training Provider with ZDHC Academy is a natural addition to our Supplier Management services aimed at helping brands around the world commit to making their manufacturing processes safer, cleaner, and more sustainable for all,” says Christophe Liebon, Vice President of Supplier Management, Intertek Business Assurance. “We’re proud to be helping to spread awareness and education of ZDHC’s plan to eliminate hazardous chemicals from global supply chains.”
“Developing safer chemical management standards is one thing,” says ZDHC Training Co-lead, Carmen Chan, Senior Corporate Responsibility Manager, TESCO. “But to truly eliminate hazardous chemicals, the next step is to educate and support those working in mills, factories and even within brands, to understand how to implement these standards.”
Intertek is a leading service provider for the supply chain industry’s sustainable initiatives and audit programs, and also works with the world’s leading textile, apparel and footwear brands, retailers and manufacturers to support their quality and safety testing, inspection and certification needs. Training courses for the ZDHC program will be offered in local languages for contextual accuracy, and expert trainers will meet and exceed standards of qualification that include multiple years of knowledge of and experience with chemical management.
For further information, please contact:
For Market Inquiries:
Caitlin Connell
Global Marketing Manager, Business Assurance – Supplier Management
Tel: +1 978 614 0612
Email: caitlin.connell@intertek.com
For Programme Inquires:
Jia Liu
Global Environmental Programme Manager, Intertek
Tel: +31 (0) 629708834
Email: jia.liu@intertek.com
About Intertek
Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Through our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 42,000 people in more than 100 countries, the Group is re-defining the industry with our Total Quality Assurance proposition. We go beyond physical quality control to provide total peace of mind through our innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers’ operations and supply chains. Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, delivered consistently, with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.
Total Quality. Assured.
Visit www.intertek.com
About ZDHC
In 2011, the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Programme formed to drive positive change in the discharge of hazardous chemicals across the product life cycle. The ZDHC Programme aims to eliminate or substitute priority hazardous chemicals in products and their manufacture; apply a transparent screening process to promote and support safer chemistry; implement common tools, best practices and training that advance chemical stewardship; partner with stakeholders to promote chemical use and discharge transparency; promote scaling of best practices through engagement with key stakeholders. Find out more at www.roadmaptozero.com.