A trolley of cotton fabric dyed red sits next to white fabric at a dyeing factory in Shishi city of Fujian Province. Greenpeace launches a study to investigate the hazardous and toxic residues in children’s clothing. Clothing from Zhili Town of Huzhou City in Zhejiang Province and Shishi City in Fujian Province - two largest distribution centres for children’s clothing in China - were tested for nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), phthalates, antimony and other toxic chemicals.
The problems of Zhili Town and Shishi City are snapshots of the overall textile industry. Only by establishing proper chemicals management regulations, can the hazardous and toxic chemicals be removed completely from children’s clothing.