International clothing brands and retailers including C&A, Carrefour, Esprit, H&M, Inditex and Levi Strauss have collectively imposed a voluntary ban on sandblasting in their global supply chains — and are calling on other companies to join them.
Their action was agreed earlier this week at a meeting hosted by the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF), the global union representing workers in the industry.
Firms who have signed the voluntary ban have agreed to end the practice of sandblasting throughout their supply chains, including the use of aluminium oxide, aluminium silicate, silicon carbide, copper slag and garnet for abrasive blasting.
They have also pledged to work with their suppliers to make the transition to alternative methods, and say they will take the necessary steps to ensure the ban is effectively applied.
Apparel sandblasting involves projecting fine sand with compressed air to create a worn look on denim and other garments. Sandblasting can be extremely damaging to the health of workers if proper safeguards are not followed, and can lead to a disabling and potentially fatal lung disease called silicosis.
Soon after the impact of sandblasting on workers’ health came under scrutiny in Turkey last July, Levi Strauss & Co and Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) became the first to implement a global ban on the process.
They have since been followed by a number of other leading brands and retailers — such as Bestseller, C&A, Carrefour, and Esprit — who have also said they would eliminate sandblasting in their supply chains.
ITGLWF general secretary Patrick Itschert says that in the absence of effective government regulation a total industry-wide ban is the only way forward.
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