Explore every episode of the podcast Building a world without toxins - Real life stories

In this episode of the HEJSupport podcast, we speak with Karolina Brabcová from the NGO Arnika in the Czech Republic, a leading expert on toxic chemicals in consumer products and EU chemicals legislation. Karolina shares insights from her extensive work on product testing across Europe. The conversation focuses on recent findings of bisphenols in women’s underwear and what they reveal about manufacturing practices, regulatory gaps, and the potential health implications of long-term dermal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in everyday textiles.

Transparency and traceability of chemicals is a prerequisite for a safe textile circular economy. How this can work in practice is researched in the ECHT (Enable Digital Product Passports with Chemicals areTraceability for a Circular Economy) project, led by Dr. Jonas Rehn-Groenendijk of the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences.

Together with Dr Julian Schenten (ClientEarth) we discuss the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and what it means for chemicals in products.

Together with Gohar Khojayan, communication specialist at Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (AWHHE) we discuss the impact of EDCs on women`s health and how to communicate the topic best.

Semia Gharbi, Chairperson of Tunisia`s Association of Environmental Education for Future Generations, discusses the import of textiles to Tunisia and the related challenges faced by the country.

Dr. Shahriar Hossain from the Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO) in Bangladesh reports on environmental and health challenges and pollutants from the textile manufacturing industry in Bangladesh.

It is estimated that, in 2019, more than 65 million tons of second-hand clothing were shipped to developing countries, and about 40% could not be sold due to their poor quality, ending up in landfills where they are dumped or burned. Gilbert Kuepouo, Executive Director of the Centre of Research and Education for Development based in Cameroon, tells us more about the problem of textile waste in Africa.

Priti Mahesh from Toxics Link, India, tells us more about their report highlighting the presence of toxic chemicals, primarily Phthalates and VOCs, in organic and inorganic sanitary pads sold in the Indian market. The report generated discussions worldwide, including about the importance of having reusable sanitary pads made of textiles.

Siddika Sultana, co-founder and Executive Director of the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) in Bangladesh, speaks about challenges faced by women working in the textile industry in Bangladesh.   

Textile waste is a significant environmental issue that is growing every year. Research has found that the fashion industry is responsible for around 10% of greenhouse gas emissions and is considered one of the largest industrial water polluters. Textile waste is a substantial portion of this pollution, as the fashion industry produces vast quantities of clothing and textiles that are quickly discarded. Some countries try to resolve the issue of textile waste by shipping their waste abroad, for example, to Indonesia.

Textiles can contain PFAS, a group of hazardous chemicals. They are called "forever" chemicals because once they are in the environment, they stay there forever. On top of that, they are very harmful to human health. David Lennett from NRDC explains what can be done about this problem.

Recently, in 2022, the European Commission launched a new Sustainable Textiles Strategy. It aims at sustainability, circularity, industrial competitiveness and innovation to boost the EU market for sustainable and circular textiles, including the market for textile reuse. And it also addresses fast fashion and intends to drive new business models. Emily Macintosh from EEB will tell us more about it.