Thank you for reading Outsider Innovation's second edition of Outsider Information. Part of Outsider Innovation's mission is to provide our contemporaries and colleagues with the best information so they can make the best decisions.
The content and frequency may shift based on the topics of the day, but it will always be information we think sustainability and innovation leaders in industry should know. In this edition, we pulled the most poignant quotes from important and timely articles.
Highlights
Here we've compiled articles and events from the Materials, Waste, and Textiles sectors to help your company stay ahead of potential issues and get tips and insight into current trends.
“That shows how much more momentum and visibility there is around the issue than there was even two years ago,”
The Packaging Industry Takes on PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in our Food Supply
"The additional cost of monitoring, treating and removing PFAS from drinking water could exceed several billion dollars in just the first five years,"
House passes sweeping new PFAS bill with waste implications
…"chemicals and heavy metals far in excess of industry accepted safe levels for garments."
Delta Airlines "toxic uniforms"
“The question that comes to mind is, are we dealing with a global microplastics cycle?
King’s College London: textile microfibers are also abundant in the air that we breathe
…researchers to recalibrate their estimates of the amount of microplastic fragments per cubic meter of ocean water from 10 to as many as 8.3 million.
Researchers found previously undetected mini-microplastics while analyzing the intestines of tiny filter-feeding invertebrates
"My guess is in 2020 you will have ordinances and state bills passing. The textile industry needs a game plan to address it, or as I always say, if you are not at the table you will be on the menu."
Brands and retailers are being warned that legislation in the US to clampdown on plastic pollution could lead to restrictions on the use of synthetic fibers.
…the legislation does not provide a "comprehensive approach to solving the growing problem of plastic pollution and certain provisions of the bill will make the problem worse."
The Senate passed the "Save Our Seas Act 2.0"
An Outsider’s Perspective
An Outsider’s Perspective is where Outsider Innovation shares our thoughts on this news. We try to connect common threads from these stories and extrapolate broad trends from them. It’s our opinion, but it could help keep your company ahead of the curve.
So, what's all this mean then? Pretty much business as usual - there's new consumption trends afoot, continued and concentrated focus on sustainability in its various forms, and existential threats to the planet and its inhabitants. The difference seems to be that lay people are noticing and mobilizing. Sure, European governments have made attempts to take legislative action throughout the last decade, but American end-users and legislative bodies have largely been laggards with respect to sustainability and environmental responsibility. If the US lawmakers are considering, and passing with bi-partisan support, actual legislation, then these issues are mainstream.
Material safety, especially in apparel, has been a major concern in the last several months. Documentaries like "The Devil We Know" and films like "Dark Waters" have dredged up the decades-old data showing fluorochemistries and their related auxiliaries can be dangerous, and research has highlighted dangers in other functional finishes like anti-wrinkle, stain release agents, anti-odor treatments, and flame retardants. Consumers have become more aware and thus pay more attention to their clothing and its interaction with them. The Delta Uniforms case is only the latest in a string of professional workwear-related lawsuits in the industry - in 2016, American Airlines faced similar claims, as did Alaskan Airlines in 2012. Despite following Manufacturer's Restricted Substance Lists (MRSL) and testing, these uniforms still appear to have caused issues for employees. Professional and Uniform Workwear can be an especially challenging because of the rigors the consumer expects the apparel to withstand, but the lawsuits highlight that any company selling apparel should know precisely what is in their product, why, and how much.
Our favorite quote from this selection of articles is from Heidi Sanborn, the executive director of the National Stewardship Action Council - “If you are not at the table, you will be on the menu". Her organization's efforts are a shot across the bow for the textiles and related industries, calling for legislative action against synthetic materials. These aren’t the first such rumblings for dramatically different labeling and material use, but they are becoming more concentrated. Considering the movement Congress has shown towards some hot-button issues like PFAS regulation and ocean plastics, the Stewardship Council’s words are worth some thought. Even though the past efforts in this realm have failed, companies that produce and consume synthetic fibers should consider being "at the table", showing the public that we know there's problems, but we're working on fixing them. We should also be pushing any of our industry organizations to engage. Groups like the OIA, SAC, EOG, SYFA, IFAI and others represent the enormous economic power the impacted companies have and should wield it to improve the industry while ensuring we’re at the table for major legislative discussions. Simply having a material consumption and waste remediation strategy can help focus your company's efforts and show that you're willing to lead the conversation – a conversation Outsider Innovation knows.
As always, we're here to help. Feel free to reach out (inquiry@outsiderinnovation.com) if you'd like additional information on any of the above articles or their potential impact to your business.