Toxic zinc pyrithione in textile products

Zinc Pyrithione is a biocide that is still widely used in the industry. Since March 2022 it is prohibited for the use in cosmetic articles in the EU market, where it was mainly used as an anti-dandruff agent and preservative.

But this substance is still applied in textile industry on fabrics and garments in order to achieve an anti-odor effect, especially for sportswear where sweating can lead to unpleasant smell. However, zinc pyrithione is a very hazardous chemical substance being classified (in the EU) as

■ Acute toxic

■ Toxic to reproduction (may damage the unborn child)

■ Very Hazardous to the aquatic environment

At bluesign we have banned the substance already 2021 in our effort to detox the textile supply chain and to protect people and the environment. The good news is: There are safer alternatives for biocides as well as non-biocidal anti-odor finishing solutions available. Our bluesign^® FINDER offers currently more than 40 of those safer alternatives from 14 bluesign^® SYSTEM PARTNER chemical companies.

Please check out our public freely accessible bluesign^® FINDER (www.bluesignfinder.com) to search for safer biocides in the below subcategories:

■ Anti-microbiotics

■ Anti-microbiotics for Finishing

■ Anti-microbiotics for Polymers

You can contact our SYSTEM PARTNERS regarding the growing number of non-biocidal anti-odor products or find some when searching for “odor” in the general search: