Source: Ecotextile

LONDON – Luxury clothing brand Burberry has played the kind of dead bat* which defensive England cricket legend, Geoff Boycott, would have been proud of in responding to allegations by Greenpeace about toxic chemicals found in an item of its children’s clothing. Greenpeace recently published a report which alleged it found potentially hazardous chemicals on 82 children’s textile products in May and June 2013 in 25 countries from fast fashion brands, American Apparel, C&A, Disney, GAP, H&M, Primark and Uniqlo, sportswear brands, adidas, LiNing, Nike, and Puma – and Burberry.

The items tested included a children’s purple metallic shirt modelled by Romeo Beckham in Burberry’s Spring/Summer 2013 campaign. Greenpeace found that the shirt, which was made in Tunisia and which could be purchased in the UK from the label’s online store, was found to contain a relatively high level, 780 mg/kg, of NPEs, manmade chemicals that are widely used surfactants by textiles manufacturers.

Yet in a statement, a Burberry spokesperson said: “All Burberry products are safe and fully adhere to international environmental and safety standards. We have an active programme dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of our supply chain, working in collaboration with our suppliers and NGOs.

“Greenpeace is aware of our work, which includes the commitment to eliminate from our supply chain the release of chemicals that have an environmental impact.”

*The bat when held with a light grip such that when the ball strikes it, the ball loses momentum and falls to the ground (wiki)