Online:
Visits:
Stories:
Profile image
Story Views

Now:
Last Hour:
Last 24 Hours:
Total:

GAP: 971 days without Detox

Monday, March 10, 2014 4:11
% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

(Before It's News)

Action at GAP Flagship Store in Taipei, Taiwan

Last Friday, GAP officially opened its first ever store here in Taiwan. Not wanting to miss out on the party, we decided to mark the occasion by giving GAP a little reminder of its unresolved toxic problems. As the ribbon was cut at the sparkling new store in Taipei, Greenpeace East Asia activists stole the spotlight, dropping a banner to deliver the demand of Greenpeace and GAP’s customers around the world: we won’t accept toxic fashion, it’s time to Detox.

It has been 971 days since the release of the first Dirty Laundry report into the use of hazardous chemicals in the textile industry and since then GAP has been implicated in toxic water scandals from China to Mexico. More recently, our Polluting Paradise report revealed the brand’s ties to a supplier in Indonesia found to be releasing a cocktail of chemicals into the local water supply, the Citarum River.

Despite these scandals, GAP still refuses to sign a credible comittment to rid its clothes of these toxic monsters.

Leaders and Laggards

Illustration with Over the last four years, the Detox campaign has shown that the fashion industry can lead the way to a toxic-free future. 19 global brands, from budget giant Primark to luxury labels like Valentino, have already made lasting commitments to Detox. What’s more, most of them are taking action – starting to disclose information on the release of hazardous chemicals in their supply chain, and laying out credible timelines for the elimination of priority substances.

Unfortunately, GAP’s actions (or lack of) to date have shown them up to be a toxic-addicted laggard. Though the company claims to be cleaning up its act, hiding behind the paper commitments of the ineffective Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals industry group, there is still a clear gap between GAP’s words and its actions.

Corporations and Legislation

Only with a combination of responsible corporate action from brands like GAP, and strong government legislation to create a level playing field in the industry, can we put a stop to the pollution of our global waterways.

Here in Taiwan, the government recently took an important first step to recognise that we all deserve to live in a future free from hazardous chemicals by passing the landmark Taiwan Toxic Chemical Substances Control Act (TW-TSCA). While there is still more to do, from implementing a registration system to ensuring industry transparency, this piece of legislation represents a critical move for Taiwan on its pathway to a toxic-free future.

Take Action

We have shown time and time again that change only happens when people stand up and speak out. Brands like Zara, Levi’s and Burberry listened to their customers and are now acting on our demands.

Isn’t it time GAP also recognised the urgency of this situation, taking meaningful action to clean up its supply chain on behalf of its new customers here in Taiwan and those all over the world?

Send GAP your own message and tell the brand to become the fashion-forward company its customers expect it it to be.

@GAP, how much longer do we have to wait? #Detox now: http://bit.ly/HgecA2 #Laggard

Rose Lai is a Detox Campaigner with Greenpeace East Asia and Ashov Birry is a Detox Campaigner with Greenpeace South East Asia.



Source: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/GAP-971-days-no-detox/blog/48452/

Report abuse

Comments

Your Comments
Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

Top Stories
Recent Stories

Register

Newsletter

Email this story
Email this story

If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.