2013 – StepChange Innovations Blog

The risks and alternatives of APEO and NPEO in textiles part 1

Post author:Florian Winkler
Post published:26/11/2013
Post category:Ecology Textile
Post comments:0 Comments

The environmental activist group Greenpeace runs the Detox campaign requesting from international fashion brands to eliminate alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) from their supply chain. In response to the Detox campaign, a group of international retailers has established a roadmap for “zero discharge of hazardous chemicals” (ZDHC) which has the aim of eliminating 11 substance groups between 2013 and 2020. At the present time, strong focus in the ZDHC programme is put on APEOs (alkylphenols and their ethoxylates), in particular on NPEOs (Nonophenol ethoxylates). This report will show the use, the risks and alternatives of APEOs.

Einstein´s theory of relativity explains why mercury is liquid

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:20/11/2013
Post category:Chemistry
Post comments:1 Comment

Scientists from New Zealand, France, and Germany have solved the old "mystery" why mercury is liquid at room temperature. The study used advanced computer models of theoretical chemistry to prove that the low melting point is due to mercury's special electron structure, something that can only be explained through Einstein's special theory of relativity.

The Detox Catwalk – Greenpeace launches a new type of fashion brand catwalk

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:08/11/2013
Post category:Ecology Textile
Post comments:0 Comments

Greenpeace launched the Detox Catwalk, an interactive online platform assessing the progress made by major clothing companies towards a toxic-free future. ZDHC founders adidas, Nike and LiNing only rated as greenwashers.

Nobel Prizes 2013 for natural sciences awarded

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:16/10/2013
Post category:Biology Chemistry Physics
Post comments:1 Comment

The 2013 Nobel Prizes in natural sciences have been awarded by The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. In physics, the Nobel Prize was awarded for the theoretical model which gives mass to all particles. In chemistry, the Nobel Prize was awarded for pioneering work in computational chemistry. In medicine, the Nobel Prize was awarded for discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in cells.

World´s leading scientists hang on to global warming story, despite declining rate of temperature increase

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:04/10/2013
Post category:Ecology Energy
Post comments:1 Comment

Climate change due to global warming continues to be a major threat for the world, according to the recently released IPCC report, the leading source for the assessment of climate change. Despite declining rate of temperature increase, the world´s leading climate scientists re-enforce warnings on global warming.

Technical background of water and soil repellent finishing on textiles

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:13/08/2013
Post category:Chemistry Textile
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Perfluorinated fluorocarbon (PFC) polymers provide the best performance for water and oil repellent finishing on textiles, but there are serious concerns regarding their environmental and toxic properties. In this article we discuss the technical and scientific background of water and oil repellent finishing on textiles, and will look into options for future, more sustainable technologies and chemical solutions.

$1M Healthcare Innovation Award to Fight Child Mortality

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:31/07/2013
Post category:Pharma Real Business
Post comments:1 Comment

GlaxoSmithKline and Save the Children have launched a fund totalling $1,000,000 to reward organisations practicing innovative approaches for reducing under-5 child mortality.

Jeans bleaching – advantages and risks of different bleaching processes – part 3

Post author:Florian Winkler
Post published:25/07/2013
Post category:Ecology Textile
Post comments:0 Comments

The last part of the article series compares the different methods in jeans bleaching, which have been elaborated in detail in part 2, and summarize their advantages and disadvantages. The used chemicals in each of the processes are assessed against ecological criteria, especially considering the targets the ZDHC program, in order to find processes with low environmental impact. The target is to select processes which have a good price/performance level and a, good reproducibility, while using environmentally friendly chemicals, or avoid the use of chemicals.

Jeans bleaching – advantages and risks of different bleaching processes – part 2

Post author:Florian Winkler
Post published:11/07/2013
Post category:Ecology Textile
Post comments:0 Comments

In this part different jeans bleaching processes are discussed, their benefits and features as well as their problems. The study is looking at chemical and mechanical treatments for open-pocket machines for fabrics and single garments. The methods discussed include bleaching processes using hypochlorite, permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, organic peroxides, laccase, ozone, glucose, sandblasting, electrochemical and laser engraving

Greenpeace puts pressure on outdoor brands to phase out fluorocarbon chemistry

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:09/07/2013
Post category:Ecology Textile
Post comments:4 Comments

Greenpeace increases the pressure on leading retail brands. The environmental pressure group revealed data on hazardous fluorocarbons, PFOA, PFOS and others, tested on outdoor textiles from leading brands. We had a closer look at the report and discuss the issue in light of the progress in the ZDHC programme.