Kingpins and ZDHC to Collaborate on Sustainable Chemical Management

April 30, 2019

In February 2019, Kingpins Show announced its commitment to establishing future mandatory standards for its exhibitors with the goal of improving excellence in the denim industry.

The first mandatory standards, which all denim mills exhibiting at Kingpins Amsterdam must meet or exceed by the end of 2020, focused on corporate social responsibility. Now, Kingpins Show organizers have disclosed that the next phase of exhibitor requirements will focus on sustainable chemical management.

Kingpins believes that the adoption of a clear and unified approach on sustainable chemical management in the denim supply chain will reduce complexity, increase transparency, improve communication and ultimately lower costs – both in certification and in evaluation tests of chemical substances. Kingpins Show will collaborate with The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Foundation to develop the show’s sustainability protocol and to define the required progress levels of ZDHC conformity and tool usage, such as the Gateway and Academy, for denim exhibitors.

Both organisations will also work together to provide practical improvement support for the industry and showcase best sustainable and innovative practices.

“Kingpins Show show is pleased to collaborate with ZDHC and keen to move our exhibitors toward the future,” said Andrew Olah, founder of Kingpins Show. “The expanded collaboration with Kingpins enables a most effective uptake and impact of chemical management practices and innovations across the denim industry”, says Christina Raab, Global Implementation Director at ZDHC. “We are excited about the visionary move by the Kingpins Show to set exhibition requirements along global industry standards. This bold step will further drive the adoption and implementation of ZDHC as a harmonised and forefront approach to environmental performance in the denim supply chain.”

ZDHC will have a booth at the upcoming Kingpins Amsterdam show (April 10/11) to inform on latest developments, demonstrate its tools and share practical implementation experiences. The new sustainable chemical management requirements will apply to denim mills and laundries. The deadline for Kingpins Amsterdam exhibitors to adopt and continuously conform with the ZDHC standards is 2020.

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About Kingpins

The Kingpins Show is an invitation-only, boutique denim sourcing show featuring a highly-edited selection of vendors that include denim and sportswear fabric mills from the U.S., Japan, China, India, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Thailand, Spain and Mexico; wash houses; full package manufacturers; trim providers; and makers of technology, wash chemicals and business solutions. Kingpins, which launched in 2004, produces biannual shows in New York and Amsterdam, as well as annual shows in Hong Kong and China.

About ZDHC

The ZDHC Foundation oversees implementation of the Roadmap to Zero Programme and is a global industry collaboration of currently 125 Contributors from the fashion, luxury, denim, sportswear and outdoor industry. The vision is widespread implementation of sustainable chemistry, driving innovations and best practices in the textile, apparel, leather and footwear industries to protect consumers, workers and the environment. ZDHC takes a holistic approach to sustainable chemical management and enables tangible progress in the wider industry by a number of reference guidance and practical tools, capacity building as well as implementation and innovation projects. More information about ZDHC at www.roadmaptozero.com.

For more information, please contact erin@kingpinsshow.com.