Adidas calls for Amsterdam forum on zero discharge
31/08/2011
Greenpeace published a report in July saying tests it had carried out showed that harmful substances were present in rivers in China. It traced the substances, including nonylphenol, to outsource manufacturers of sports apparel who supply a number of prominent European and North American brands.
From that list the NGO picked out Nike, adidas and Puma, blaming them for the presence of the toxic substances in the sports apparel supply chain and calling on them to “detox”, to take action to stop the discharges. Puma said at the end of July that it was committed to removing all hazardous chemical discharges from its supply chain by 2020. In mid-August, Nike made a similar commitment, leaving Greenpeace to focus all its wrath on adidas.
Adidas has had a comprehensive restrictive substances policy in place for product materials since 1998. It has said it is committed to sustainable business practices in its own operations and those of its global supply base, and that it supports in principle Greenpeace’s aspiration for a world that is free of hazardous chemicals. In a statement in July, the company added: “However, while we are committed to being part of the solution, we have to acknowledge that the management of chemicals in multi-tiered supply chains is a complex challenge, requiring many actors to play a role in achieving this goal.”
After weeks of internet and public campaigns, which included Greenpeace activists applying ‘Detox’ stickers to adidas retail stores, the company issued a further statement at the end of August, pledging its committed to the goal of zero discharge of hazardous chemicals from its supply chain via all pathways, with a 2020 timeline. It told Greenpeace it would develop within seven weeks a road-map for achieving this.
However, the sports brand went on to criticise Greenpeace for its divisive campaign, saying: “Greenpeace’s Detox campaign has been characterised as a competition among brands. The simple truth, however, is that there can be no winners unless the industry acts together. With that objective in mind, the adidas Group has together with other brands been working tirelessly in recent weeks to bring the industry together in a forum to develop a roadmap that will address the zero discharge challenge that Greenpeace has posed.”
That forum is planned to be held at the end of September in Amsterdam.
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