In the last weeks the question about our sustainability statement - and how we handle it - popped up again. And we think given the current situation it's about time to get back to this topic…
So if it comes to the question "How in depth is the research of the jury going to be? How can we guarantee that the products are judged fairly and equally?“ To be honest - we can not guarantee. We neither have a lab at hand, nor the standards to test each and every product.
That means if you as a company can honestly say : "We did our very best to track, trace and eliminate ALL use of PFAS on our product. We are certain it is already able to stand up to the new standards and regulations that are obviously coming our way“, that is enough.
There is one exception though: We are aware that it has been incredibly hard to get your hands on the new materials and membranes. Especially given the supply chain issues at hand.
If your sample does still contain materials that do not stand up to this criteria, but that very material will be replaced BEFORE the product enters retail stage, you are welcome to send it in.
In the latter case please attach all informations about the current state and the changes that will be applied.
There is currently a global movement restricting the use of PFAS, including the uses in textiles and apparel, both from a policy and legal perspective, but also within widely used and accepted industry standards, labels and certifications. The national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have already submitted a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) under REACH, the European Union’s (EU) chemicals regulation. ECHA will publish the detailed proposal, one of the broadest in the EU’s history, on 7 February 2023.
In the light of these developments, and the scientific consensus of the environmental and health risk associated with chemicals of the PFAS family, the WOMEN'S GEAR AWARD jury members have in depth discussed the role of PFAS in outdoor products. In unison, the jury has decided as follows:
In the last weeks the question about our sustainability statement - and how we handle it - popped up again. And we think given the current situation it's about time to get back to this topic…
So if it comes to the question "How in depth is the research of the jury going to be? How can we guarantee that the products are judged fairly and equally?“ To be honest - we can not guarantee. We neither have a lab at hand, nor the standards to test each and every product.
That means if you as a company can honestly say : "We did our very best to track, trace and eliminate ALL use of PFAS on our product. We are certain it is already able to stand up to the new standards and regulations that are obviously coming our way“, that is enough.
There is one exception though: We are aware that it has been incredibly hard to get your hands on the new materials and membranes. Especially given the supply chain issues at hand.
If your sample does still contain materials that do not stand up to this criteria, but that very material will be replaced BEFORE the product enters retail stage, you are welcome to send it in.
In the latter case please attach all informations about the current state and the changes that will be applied.
There is currently a global movement restricting the use of PFAS, including the uses in textiles and apparel, both from a policy and legal perspective, but also within widely used and accepted industry standards, labels and certifications. The national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have already submitted a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) under REACH, the European Union’s (EU) chemicals regulation. ECHA will publish the detailed proposal, one of the broadest in the EU’s history, on 7 February 2023.
In the light of these developments, and the scientific consensus of the environmental and health risk associated with chemicals of the PFAS family, the WOMEN'S GEAR AWARD jury members have in depth discussed the role of PFAS in outdoor products. In unison, the jury has decided as follows:
In the last weeks the question about our sustainability statement - and how we handle it - popped up again. And we think given the current situation it's about time to get back to this topic…
So if it comes to the question "How in depth is the research of the jury going to be? How can we guarantee that the products are judged fairly and equally?“ To be honest - we can not guarantee. We neither have a lab at hand, nor the standards to test each and every product.
That means if you as a company can honestly say : "We did our very best to track, trace and eliminate ALL use of PFAS on our product. We are certain it is already able to stand up to the new standards and regulations that are obviously coming our way“, that is enough.
There is one exception though: We are aware that it has been incredibly hard to get your hands on the new materials and membranes. Especially given the supply chain issues at hand.
If your sample does still contain materials that do not stand up to this criteria, but that very material will be replaced BEFORE the product enters retail stage, you are welcome to send it in.
In the latter case please attach all informations about the current state and the changes that will be applied.
There is currently a global movement restricting the use of PFAS, including the uses in textiles and apparel, both from a policy and legal perspective, but also within widely used and accepted industry standards, labels and certifications. The national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have already submitted a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) under REACH, the European Union’s (EU) chemicals regulation. ECHA will publish the detailed proposal, one of the broadest in the EU’s history, on 7 February 2023.
In the light of these developments, and the scientific consensus of the environmental and health risk associated with chemicals of the PFAS family, the WOMEN'S GEAR AWARD jury members have in depth discussed the role of PFAS in outdoor products. In unison, the jury has decided as follows:
