Switzerland's Bluesign revises BSSL, BSBL & RSL

The 2022 revision considers new scientific knowledge on the toxicological and ecological profile of substances, new legal classification of chemical substances, new legal consumer safety limits, revised risk assessments following the bluesign Criteria for chemical assessment, feedback from experts of the Chemical Experts Group as well as new analytical standards, Bluesign said.

A usage ban for enzymes in powder form is defined. Enzymes are used in textile auxiliaries for pretreatment and dyeing as well as in denim laundries. With the use of enzymes resource savings (water and energy) can be realised. For the reason that enzymes are strong inhalative sensitisers powder based types will no longer be bluesign Approved.

From July 2024 articles finished with PFAS/PFC chemistry – typically used for DWR finishing -  will be phased out from the bluesign Guide (the search engine for bluesign Approved textiles and trims). Only for very exceptional cases (so-called essential uses as for example very special personal protective equipment, defined in coming EU regulation on C6-chemistry) an approval of textiles finished with C6-chemistry can be granted after July 2024.

The bluesign System Black Limits (BSBL) specifies threshold limits for chemical substances in finished chemical products such as auxiliaries or dyes. The compilation of substances in the BSBL includes all substances for which a precautionary hazard-based threshold limit is defined. The BSBL is publicly available and updated yearly.

The bluesign System Substances List (BSSL) specifies limits for chemical substances in articles (consumer safety limits). Only input stream management and application of the appropriate processes in manufacturing can ensure BSSL compliance. The BSSL is publicly available and updated yearly.

The bluesign RSL is an extract of the BSSL and contains consumer safety limits and recommended testing methods for the most important and legally restricted substances in textile and leather articles and accessories. Brands and retailers can use this RSL as an orientation for the terms and conditions of purchase.

The Bluesign Chemical Expert Group (CEG) will overlook regulatory affairs and evaluate relevance for textile and related industries, discuss substance candidates for restriction / ban, define limits and testing methods, keep chemical assessment up-to-date and drive chemical change management.

Members of the CEG are all product stewardship experts from bluesign System Partners in the chemical industry. To support independent decision-making, interested parties from other system partners as well as organisations and associations are invited to the annual CEG meeting.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)