Inditex assumes the leading role on the commitment to improve Product Health in the chemical industry sector which manufactures dyes, pigments and auxiliary chemical products with the development of The List, by Inditex programme.

The List, by Inditex is the Group’s response to the most common cause of breach in products health for clothing; the use of inadequate dyes or auxiliary chemicals for the manufacturing of garments.

The List, by Inditex is the first time that an international fashion retailer proactively tackles this problem and drafts a research programme and quality controls for products and processes which differ from what is traditionally considered as the textile manufacturing chain. The responsibility to guarantee our clothing health starts well before this is even designed or even the fabric is woven.

The List, by Inditex has four objectives:

• To analyse the colourants and auxiliary products available commercially and classify them according to the levels of compliance with strict quality criteria imposed by Inditex.
• To audit the facilities and processes used in the manufacture of the substances to verify that they comply with the most demanding international regulations related to safety and environmental control.
• To evaluate the commitment of the chemical manufacture companies with excellence, sustainability and environmental respect in the manufacture of their products.
• To propose improvements for the manufacture procedures and product control, in order to improve the levels of quality.

Dyes, pigments and ancillaries are subject to tests and assessed based upon their contents of controlled substances such as dyes, forbidden azoic dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals and Chrome (VI). Once the products tested and the manufacturing processes assessed, products are classified as “A” (no residue of the controlled substances), B (low levels of the controlled substances) and C (unacceptable levels of the controlled substances).The use of products classified as B in the manufacture of items for Inditex is subject to severe restrictions, including an exhaustive analysis of the final items. The use of products classified as C is prohibited. The products classified as A can be used freely.

The List, by Inditex is having a clear and positive impact on two fronts:

• Considerable reduction by suppliers of the use of products of inadequate quality by better knowledge of the level of risk that may be implied for all clients.
• Elevated interest in the chemical industry that manufactures colourants, pigments and auxiliaries through participation in the programme and, therefore, that subjects products, processes and facilities to evaluation.