G-Star Detox Strategy 2014
Action plan towards Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals

G-Star Detox Strategy 2014 as part of our Environmental strategy
thOn the 29 of January 2013 G-Star signed a Detox solutions commitment with Greenpeace. In the agreement
G-Star, in line with its long-term sustainability program, recognizes the urgent need for eliminating industrial
releases of all hazardous chemicals. According to its approach based on prevention and the Precautionary
Principle G-Star is committed to zero discharges of all hazardous chemicals from the whole product lifecycle andall production processes associated with the making and using of G-Star products by 01 January 2020. We
recognize that, in line with the ‘Right to Know principle', to achieve this goal, mechanisms for disclosure andtransparency about the hazardous chemicals used in our global supply chains are important and necessary..
Therefore we are increasing the public availability and transparency of our restricted substance list and audit
process and working on 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 discharge of hazardous
chemicals from the G-Star supply chain and product lifecycle) within one generation or less. This commitment
includes sustained investment in moving industry, government, science and technology towards systemic change
across the industry towards this goal. The 2020 goal demands the collective action of industry, as well as
engagement of regulators and other stakeholders. To this end, G-Star will continue to work with other companies
in the apparel sector, as well as material suppliers, the broader chemical industry, NGOs and other stakeholders
to achieve this goal. The scope of the commitment is a long term vision, nonetheless with short term practices
necessary.
This document lists G-Star’s steps towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals in 2014. This is a-follow up
document of our Individual Action Plan of 2012.
1.

Product and Consumer safety

G-Star Restricted Substances List:
In September 2013 G-Star updated the G-Star Restricted Substances List (RSL) version 1.2. As the European
list of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) is currently updated twice a year, G-Star updates the G-Star
RSL annually. The next publication of the G-Star RSL will take place in 2014.
Manufacturing Restricted Substances List:
The G-Star RSL only focusses on product content. Use of restricted substances may also occur on theproduction floor in production processes even though the restricted substance is not added to the product. TheMRSL addresses the input chemicals which are used during production. Hence, we will also focus on the input
and not only on end of pipe with the implementation of an MRSL. In addition to the development of a MRSL
within the ZDHC, G-Star will develop its own MRSL to be implemented in the G-Star supply chain. The G-StarMRSL will be aligned with the ZDHC MRSL and bluesign.
rdWe intend to publish the first version of a G-Star MRSL 1.0 in the 3 quarter of 2014. The document will be
updated on a yearly basis.
RSL testing program:
In 2012 we started an intense testing program on restricted substances on all garments delivered by our supplierbase. The results showed us that we had to draw attention to the compliance level of our products in moredetails. G-Star experienced that the end products did not comply with the levels given for restricted substances in
our RSL (which goes beyond legal limits). As a result of our RSL testing program, continuous advice andguidance we provided to our suppliers during the previous 2 years, we have seen huge improvements in regards
to G-Star’s RSL compliance.
The set-up of the product testing program will be maintained in the upcoming years. On a seasonal base andfollowing our risk assessment, G-Star requests to receive 3 samples first out of production - that will be subject
for chemical and physical testing. Styles will be selected based on a seasonal risk assessment and have to besent to the G-Star RSL team. Suppliers are requested to send G-Star only A-choice pieces and to strictly follow
the procedures to avoid delay in shipments. The RSL team will send the pieces to an accredited laboratory inEurope for testing. All orders that are subject to testing can only be shipped after positive test results andapproval of the RSL team.

When new potential suppliers come in sight, the RSL team requests them to deliver fabrics for testing prior tostarting production with the supplier. Testing fabric prior to production can diminish product testing failuressignificantly.
Phase out of Hazardous Chemicals in line with other commitment:
1.

APEO elimination policy
G-Star has informed all suppliers in February 2012 about the G-Star APEO elimination policy. We see in thetest results that the G-Star CMT suppliers are APEO free. As we want to maintain a complete ban of APEO
in our supply chain, products will be tested on compliance to the APEO elimination now and in the future.

2.

Phthalates elimination policy
G-Star acknowledged it is a priority to eliminate the use of Phthalates across our global supply chain.
Therefore G-Star has enforced a Phthalates ban in 2013. Current testing results show that G-Star products
are Phthalates free; nonetheless in future testing programs Phthalates will be included to create long termcompliance.

3.

PFCs elimination policy
As of January 2015 (for G-Star 15-1 pre collection) all G-Star garments must be PFC free. G-Star is currently
running trails with several suppliers on PFC elimination. In order to track compliance, we will test on
additional PFC CAS numbers. These will be included in the RSL update 1.2. A case file on our work done toeliminate PFCS will be published on Subsport this year.

More sustainable alternatives
DMFa/PU
G-Star experiences that it is currently very difficult to source Polyurethane coated fabric which is
Dimethylformamide (DMFa) solvent free. In our current testing programs we expand the tests on
Dimethylformamide (DMFa), a solvent that can be found often in Polyurethane. During supplier visits in China, GStar and its suppliers have searched for good Water based Polyurethane coated fabric - Currently Water based
Polyurethane - that fulfills all our conditions has not been found. In the upcoming year more research will be done
to find an alternative for solvent based.
2.

Transparency

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 has taken several actions in the past year:
We have published an updated ‘Restricted Substances List’ (including detection limits) and audit processes. GStar will annually publish an updated RSL.
G-Star publically disclosed discharges of hazardous chemicals and detection limits in its supply chain (i.e.
location and individual data of each facility) on an individual facility level, disclosing chemical-by-chemical use anddischarge data in 2013. We published data of around 80% of our Global South suppliers via the IPE and G-Star
website in 2013. We will continue to promote the disclosure of discharge data and detection limits via IPE to oursuppliers the coming year.
Additionally G-Star will stay an active stakeholder in the Right to Know work stream and collaborate to find aPRTR solution via the ZDHC.
G-Star is cooperating in pilot audits of the ZDHC conducted with the ZDHC Generic Environmental audit
protocol. The aggregated results of these audits will be compiled in a report and published on the Roadmap toZero website. Future pilots will be conducted as part of WS7 best practices work stream. G-Star has nominated
5 suppliers for this pilot in 2014.When results will become available, these results will be published on the Road
map to Zero website and made available for other stakeholders.

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Water testing
Based on the results of water testing done in 2013 at suppliers in the G-Star supply chain, further root cause
investigation of Water Discharge Report (WDR) I and II is currently taking place at our suppliers. With this firstround of chemical inventory and water testing we have set our baseline by which we can compare and measure
improvements in the next round of testing which we have planned to process after our MRSL implementation.
As a next step G-Star will pilot the ZDHC Generic Environmental audit protocol for environmental auditing. Thisprotocol includes a specific section focused on chemical use and water treatment. The environmental audits will
be performed by STS. After reviewing the results of the audits a decision will be made to move forward with thistype of auditing in our supply chain (which includes chemical water testing) and to combine this with programs
such as:- Bluesign for mills and suppliers currently already partner of Bluesign
stnd- WaterPact at 1 and 2 tier suppliers in Bangladesh
Several suppliers have already conducted environmental and chemical management audits. Based on risk
assessments of vertical CMT suppliers and fabric suppliers, the suppliers will be subject to one of the above
environmental and chemical audits on a yearly basis.
We will focus on G-Star suppliers and their factories in China that have processes in house that create a higher
environmental and chemical risk. As well as vertical integrated CMT suppliers with printing, dyeing and/or
washing in house and our denim suppliers with in-house laundries.

3.

Training

Supplier training
In 2013 G-Star has carried out awareness training at suppliers about the G-Star Detox Commitment andChemical management. The awareness training was a first step to make suppliers familiar with the road G-Star
has taken towards Chemical management and the implications it has for the supply chain.
In 2014 we need to provide suppliers direct and practical guidance to move towards Zero Discharge ofHazardous Chemicals by 2020. Several types of training are planned in the upcoming years to reach this goal:--

ZDHC training: The Joint Roadmap has set up a comprehensive in class 2 day training on Chemical
management that can be rolled out in 2014 in the brand supply chains. (start: target 2014 continuing
towards 2020)
The Indian company Nimkartek has launched a practical online training tool that is in line with the ZDHCin class training. Suppliers can test their current knowledge with this online tool and specify theirspecific needs for more information on certain topics to Nimkartek and G-Star.(start: target 2014
continuing towards 2020)
The RSL team will proceed with yearly visits including training at G-Star suppliers.
In Bangladesh the G-Star suppliers are taking part in the WaterPaCT program of Solidaridad. This
program is expecting to foresee in chemical management training in Bangladesh in cooperation withTNO, Made by and ZDHC in 2014.

Internal training:In addition to training suppliers within the G-Star supply chain it is of utmost importance to create moreawareness within the G-Star organization. Several departments are directly involved with suppliers, the type ofproduct we create and the impact they have on the choice for fabric, dyes and printing.
Internal training shall be given to our product development teams, merchandising team and sourcing team as wellas our local production offices.

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Months(M)RSLFOLLOW UP WDR I & II

CHEMICALMANAGEMENTOR RSLTRAININGSUPPLIERS

CASE STUDIESIPEPROMOTION

WATERPACT –till 2018ZDHC
ACTIVITIESBLUESIGN

G-STAR AUDITRSL TESTINGMRSLRSL UPDATE

Timeline Environmental/Detox strategy 2014

TIMELINE DETOX STRATEGY 2014

010203040506070809101112TRAINING

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