G-Star Raw C.V. (hereinafter referred to as “G-Star”) Greenpeace Detox Solution Commitment 29January 2013

In line with G-Star´s long-term sustainability program G-Star recognizes the urgent need for eliminating
industrial releases of all hazardous chemicals (1). According to its approach based on prevention (2) and
the Precautionary Principle (3) G-Star is committed to zero discharges (4) of all hazardous chemicals fromthe whole lifecycle and all production procedures that are associated with the making and using of all
products G-Star sells (5) by 01 January 2020.
We recognize that to achieve this goal, mechanisms for disclosure and transparency about the hazardous
chemicals used in our global supply chains are important and necessary, in line with the ‘Right to Know
principle' (6). In line with this principle we will increase the public availability and transparency of ourrestricted substance list and audit process and will set up public disclosure of discharges of hazardous
chemicals in our supply chain.
G-Star also commits to support systemic (i.e. wider societal and policy) change to achieve zero dischargeof hazardous chemicals (associated with supply chains and the lifecycles of products) within one
generation (7) or less. This commitment includes sustained investment in moving industry, government,science and technology to deliver on systemic change and to affect system change across the industry
towards this goal.
The 2020 goal also demands the collective action of industry, as well as engagement of regulators andother stakeholders. To this end, G-Star will continue to work with other companies in the apparel sector
and any brands we sell, as well as material suppliers, the broader chemical industry, NGOs and otherstakeholders to achieve this goal.
G-Star understands the scope of the commitment to be a long term vision – with short term practice tobe defined by the following individual action plan:
Individual action plan
1. Supply-chain disclosure
In line with G-Star´s commitment to the public's ‘right to know’ the chemical substances used within its
global supply-chain and the products it sells, G-Star will be taking the following actions:
1. continue to publish its updated ‘Restricted Substances List’ and audit processes (including detection
limits(4) by the end of April 2013, and annually thereafter.
2. begin public disclosure of discharges of hazardous chemicals (beginning with, at least, the 11 priority
chemical groups as per endnote 8) and detection limits as per endnote 4) in its supply chain via full facility
transparency (i.e. location and individual data of each facility) of individual facility level disclosure ofchemical-by-chemical use and discharges data, to be achieved via an incremental process, beginning withthe following actions:i)by no later than end of August 2013, all our largest Chinese suppliers (and all of their facilities,
using an online platform (via the Institute for Public and Environmental Affairs – IPE –platform* and the data collection template agreed with same) and our largest “global south”
suppliers (and all of their facilities), using a Regional Disclosure platform equivalent to the IPE
platform and the data collection template agreed with same – equate to at least 25% of GStar’s global production by the end of August 2013);

ii)

by no later than December 2013, any additional Chinese suppliers (and all of their facilities in addition to the facilities in i) above), plus any additional suppliers in other parts of the“global south” using national PRTR platforms or a Global disclosure platform equivalent to theIPE platform and the data collection template agreed with same (and all of their facilities) - inaddition to the facilities in i) above, as per the respective disclosure platforms, terms andconditions above (that equate to at least 80% of G-Star’s total global production).

* we will publicise all data as per above timelines via our public webpage and add the other platforms asabove, as soon as they are available.
2. APEO elimination policy
We recognise the intrinsic hazardousness of all APEOs, and therefore acknowledge it is a priority toeliminate their use across our global supply chain. There are multiple supply-chain pathways for potential
APEO contamination (including chemical formulations) and will enhance both training and auditing of our
supply-chain in conjunction with other global brands, as well as ensure our suppliers have the latest
information on APEOs, highlighting where there is a risk that APEOs may enter into the undocumented
contamination of chemical supplier formulations.
In addition to these actions, G-Star will enforce its APEO ban with the following actions:
i.

ii.

iii.

initiate an investigation into the current compliance to this requirement, reporting the findings to
the public and simultaneously strengthening our supplier contract language to ensure only APEOfree chemical formulations are utilized by the end of August 2013,
work with our supply chain and other global industry leaders, to ensure the most current
technological limits of detection are reflected via the lowest detectable limits within our testing
regimes. (4)Document how APEOs have been substituted by safer alternatives and publish these case studies
via the online Subsport.org platform.

3. PFCs - Perfluorinated / Polyfluorinated Compounds(9) elimination policy
Consistent with the precautionary principle and the potential intrinsic hazardousness of all PFCs, G-Star
commits to eliminate any PFCs in any of the products G-Star produces and/or sells. The elimination of all
PFC used by any of the products we sell will be supported by:i.

eliminate all C7 and C8 (and any longer chain PFCs) and 50% of any shorter chain PFCs (baseline as of31 December 2012) by no later than 31 December 2013; and eliminate any remaining PFC use by nolater than 31 December 2014.

ii.
iii.
iv.

document how PFCs have been substituted by safer alternatives and publish these casestudies via the online Subsport.org platform.
a rigorous system of control to ensure that no traces of PFCs find their way into our supply
chain in line with the above.
work in partnership with our supply chain and other global industry leaders to accelerate themove to non-PFC technologies.

4. Phthalate elimination policy
Consistent with the precautionary principle and the potential intrinsic hazardousness of all Phthalates,
and therefore acknowledge it is a priority to eliminate their use across our global supply chain. There are
multiple supply-chain pathways for potential Phthalate contamination (including chemical formulations)and will enhance both training and auditing of our supply-chain in conjunction with other global brands,
as well as ensure our suppliers have the latest information on Phthalates, highlighting where there is arisk that Phthalates may enter into the undocumented contamination of chemical supplier formulations.
In addition to these actions, G-Star will enforce its Phthalates ban with the following actions:i.

Initiate an investigation into the current compliance to this requirement, reporting thefindings to the public by the end of September 2013;

ii.

Strengthening our supplier contract language to ensure only Phthalate-free chemical
formulations are utilized by the end of September 2013; andiii.

Work with our supply chain and other global industry leaders, to ensure the most current
technological limits of detection are reflected via the lowest detectable limits within ourtesting regimes.

iv.

Document how phthalates have been substituted by safer alternatives and publish thesecase studies via the online Subsport.org platform.

5. Targets for Other Hazardous Chemicals
G-Star commits to regularly review the list of chemicals used in the textiles/apparel industry and thelatest scientific findings on them and periodically update our chemical policy, at least annually, to further
restrict or ban chemicals, as new evidence on their impact becomes available.
In this context, we recognize the need to not only report to the public the evidence of elimination of the11 groups of hazardous chemicals identified as a priority but also set clear intermediate progress targets
on the elimination of hazardous chemicals (beyond these 11 priority chemical groups) and theintroduction of non-hazardous chemistry by 2015 on the road to elimination by 01 January 2020.
We will also support an industry wide approach to ensure the use of chemicals in the products we sell ismanaged responsibly and in line with the above commitment and in particular the intrinsic hazards
approach. In line with this, G-Star commits to reinforce the work of the sectoral chemical inventory andhazardous substance black list, aiming to establish this inventory, and the black list, based on an
intrinsically hazardous screening methodology, by no later than December 2013.
The individual actions covered above will be reassessed by G-Star at regular intervals – at least annually.
6. Within 8 weeks of this commitment, G-Star Raw C.V. will publish:-Case studies of past hazardous chemical substitutions, and the steps we will take to develop afurther number of substitution case studies (e.g. where we are currently substituting any of the 11
groups of hazardous chemicals as per below (8), with more non-hazardous chemicals) via theonline Subsport.org platform.

-The steps outlining how we will take forward and lead on the development of the intrinsic hazards
screening methodology (to be developed in close consultation with relevant NGO stakeholders,
including Greenpeace) .

-------(1) All hazardous chemicals means all those that show intrinsically hazardous properties: persistent,bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT); very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB); carcinogenic,
mutagenic and toxic for reproduction (CMR); endocrine disruptors (ED), or other properties of equivalentconcern, (not just those that have been regulated or restricted in other regions). This will requireestablishing – ideally with other industry actors – a corresponding list of the hazardous chemicals
concerned that will be regularly reviewed.
(2) This means solutions are focused on elimination of use at source, not on end-of-pipe or riskmanagement. This requires either substitution with non-hazardous chemicals or where necessary finding
non- chemical alternative solutions, such as re-evaluating product design or the functional need forchemicals.
(3) This means taking preventive action before waiting for conclusive scientific proof regarding cause andeffect between the substance (or activity) and the damage. It is based on the assumption that somehazardous substances cannot be rendered harmless by the receiving environment (i.e. there are no‘environmentally acceptable’/ ’safe’ use or discharge levels) and that prevention of potentially serious or
irreversible damage is required, even in the absence of full scientific certainty. The process of applyingthe Precautionary Principle must involve an examination of the full range of alternatives, including, wherenecessary, substitution through the development of sustainable alternatives where they do not alreadyexist.
(4) Zero discharge means elimination of all releases, via all pathways of release, i.e. discharges, emissions
and losses, from our supply chain and our products. “Elimination” or “zero” means ‘not detectable, tothe limits of current technology’, and only naturally occurring background levels are acceptable.
(5) This means the commitment applies to the environmental practices of the entire company (group,and all entities it directs or licences) and for all products sold by G-Star Raw C.V. or any of its subsidiaries(e.g. including, but not limited to G-Raw, G-Star Raw Denim, G-Star). This includes all its suppliers or
facilities horizontally across all owned brands and licensed companies as well as vertically down its supplychain.
(6) Right to Know is defined as practices that allow members of the public access to environmental
information – in this case specifically about the uses and discharges of chemicals based on reportedquantities of releases of hazardous chemicals to the environment, chemical-by-chemical, facility-byfacility, at least year-by-year.
(7) One generation is generally regarded as 20-25 years.
(8) the 11 priority hazardous chemical groups are : 1. Alkylphenols 2. Phthalates 3.Brominated andchlorinated flame retardants 4. Azo dyes 5. Organotin compounds 6. Perfluorinated chemicals 7.
Chlorobenzenes 8. Chlorinated solvents 9. Chlorophenols 10. Short chain chlorinated paraffins 11. Heavy
metals such as cadmium, lead, mercury and chromium (VI).
(9) Polyfluorinated compounds, such as fluorotelomers, can serve as precursors that degrade to form
perfluorinated carboxylic acids, e.g. PFOA.