APPAREL &
FOOTWEAR
Catalyzing the measurement and adoption of safer chemistry across footwear and apparel supply chains.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
"Science is an ongoing dialogue between what we know and what we discover. Wisdom is choosing
not to ignore the discovery."
WHO
Nike, Lululemon, Patagonia, and Target partnered with the Safer Chemistry Impact Fund and ChemFORWARD, engaging in a year-long effort to uncover supply chain data and apply the Safer Chemistry Metrics Framework in the apparel and footwear sector.
WHAT
A demonstration project showing the value of safer chemistry metrics and shared hazard data in driving the adoption of safer chemistry.
Apparel & Footwear Working Group Goals
Use the Safer Chemistry Metrics Framework to establish an industry baseline
Share the baseline with industry stakeholders and publish a report summarizing the key insights
Create a roadmap for action to improve characterization and increase the adoption of safer chemistry
Partner with existing chemicals management programs and organizations to drive the safer chemistry transition
HOW
The Safer Chemistry Profile is ChemFORWARD’s approach to applying the Safer Chemistry Metrics Framework—developed by the Safer Chemistry Impact Fund—to assess what is known and still unknown about the hazards of chemical substances, quantify where safer chemicals are already in use, and identify where inherent hazards drive the need for further assessment and management.
Key Value Drivers with SCP:
Know the human and environmental impacts of the chemistry in your supply chain
Act early ahead of pending regulation
Minimize redesign and costly supply chain disruptions
Invest in safer solutions and strengthen supplier capability
Make safer chemistry a value driver, not just a compliance cost
BASELINE REPORT
The 2025 Apparel & Footwear Safer Chemistry Profile includes several important insights:
A small number of chemicals (about 310 substances) drive the majority of use (~80%), making targeted action feasible;
With nearly 60% of substances characterized, hazards are largely knowable when chemical identities are available, making chemical disclosures, not hazard science, a primary constraint;
In the analysis, 4800 entries on safety data sheets (SDSs) had incorrect CAS numbers or chemical names. Addressing these quality errors can lead to meaningful improvements in chemical transparency.
Collaboration and shared data significantly accelerate progress toward safer chemistry.
99.9% of identified substances had already been encountered in other sectors within the Chemical Hazard Data Trust managed by
ChemFORWARD. The Working Group Members collectively invest $45,000 to fill 3,2026 data gaps resulting in a cost of only $14.87 per data gap.
