20% of industrial pollution comes from the textile manufacturing process. Over 8,000 chemicals are used to turn raw materials into clothing. Workers come in direct contact with these chemicals—often without adequate safety protections—and are at risk of contracting deadly diseases.
No piece of clothing is worth risking the future of our planet or someone’s health. We need to radically transform the way clothing is made and the way garment workers are treated, and end fast fashion.
The chemicals used to manufacture our clothing put garment workers’ health at risk, pollute communities and taint local resources, AND risk consumers’ health. Exposure to these chemicals can harm reproductive systems, cause cancer, damage the nervous systems, damage the liver, and more.
When we first launched the Toxic Textiles campaign, we pushed Carter's, the largest US retailer of children’s clothing, to step up its chemical management and sustainability efforts. Thanks to Green Americans taking action with our campaign, Carter’s has
launched a website on its environmental, social, and governance impacts
43 million tons of chemicals are used to dye and treat our clothes every year AND there are 8,000 different chemicals used to manufacture clothing as noted in our 2019 Toxic Textiles report.
The fashion industry is the second largest polluter of water globally, produces more carbon emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined, and harms worker health with toxic chemicals.
Carter’s, the largest U.S. retailer of baby clothes, is taking important steps to limit toxic chemicals in its supply chain and use sustainable fabrics - thanks to pressure from Green America and its members!
Because of our Toxic Textiles campaign and thousands of consumers speaking up, Carter’s is adopting a…
What is the FABRIC Act?
The Fashioning Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change (FABRIC) Act, advocated by a powerful coalition of garment workers, NGOs, and businesses, was reintroduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.…
Since the pandemic, online retail sales have increased significantly. Fast, cheap, and trendy fashion has progressively become more popular too.
One online retailer has caught a lot of consumers' attention: Shein. A simple search…
At the end of July, Carter’s released its first sustainability report! This is a positive step for the company, which is the largest retailer of children’s clothing in the US. But we need to see bolder action on chemical management from Carter…