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Introduction ....................................................................................................... 3
The official and valid version of this document is in English. Any translation of
the document is prepared for reference only. H&M accepts no liability for any
mistakes done in the translation.
The information in this document does not claim to be complete. The suppliers have the
responsibility to make sure that all products supplied to H&M group fully comply with the
latest version of H&M Chemical Restrictions. This is committed by accepting H&M
Standard Purchase Conditions (SPC)1.
See the table below to find your local contact for any issues regarding chemistry.
If you have technical questions regarding H&M Chemical Restrictions, its future
development, test methods or the background for the restrictions, please contact H&M
Global Quality department. See below for contact information:
1
Download the document at H&M Group Supplier Portal.
Below table gives information about the field of application and description of the
restricted substances. This information is of use in the proactive work on how to avoid
restricted substances.
The table below does not claim to be complete; there might be other fields of application
for a substance than mentioned.
Bisphenol-A (BPA) Bisphenol A (A=acetone) (BPA) occurs in its pure form as white
flakes with a faint phenol-like smell. It is used in the production
of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics. It can be used in
production of flame retardants and in PVC production and
processing.
Textiles
Chlorine dioxide (ClO2), sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and
calcium hypochlorite (Ca(ClO)2).
Paper
Chlorine gas (Cl2) and chlorine dioxide (ClO2).
Chromium VI (Cr6+) Chromium is used in leather tanning and can be oxidised into
Cr6+.
Disperse Dyes Disperse dyes are molecules that can penetrate the fibre
system of polyester. It is not chemically bonded to the
polyester fibre but trapped inside the fibre by physical forces.
Other Azo Dyes Azo dyes are colorants which molecular structure include a so
called azo-bond, which is two nitrogen atoms with a double
bond between them (N=N).
These azo dyes are regulated as dye compounds and not as
aromatic amines (that are cleavage products).
Dye related compounds These compounds could be used when dyeing or occur as an
impurity in the dye stuff.
Flame Retardants Flame retardants are used to decrease the flammability of the
product, by for example lowering the energy (heat) of the
flame.
Mordant dyes
• Metachrome
• After-chrome
There are reactive dyes and acid dyes suitable for the critical
fibres. Preferred dyes depend on the colour and the fibre.
Cobalt (Co) Cobalt is a metal element that can be present as a pure metal
or as Cobalt compounds e.g. salts.
Copper (Cu) Copper is a metal element that can be present as a pure metal
or as Copper compounds e.g. salts.
Mercury (Hg) Mercury is a metal element that can be present as a pure metal
or as Mercury compounds e.g. salts.
Nickel (Ni) Nickel is a metal element that can be present as a pure metal
or as Nickel compounds e.g. salts.
Mineral Oil Mineral oil could be used as filling liquid for any products like
compasses, snow globes etc.
Stabilisers in plastic/rubber
Anti-bacterial agents in textiles
Anti corrosion coatings in drums containing for example
dyestuff.
Catalysts in plastic and glue production
Metallic glitter
Discolouration Some chemicals can react with light, oxygen or solvents and
cause a discolouration of the product.
Precautions to be taken
• Avoid mixing many different qualities within one
garment.
• Keep the amount of BHT and similar chemicals at a
minimum in packaging material, polyurethane foam,
polyamide, elastane etc. Investigate the possibility to
find BHT-free foam.
• Treat all parts with anti-yellowing chemical products to
make them less sensitive to phenolic yellowing. Both
white and light coloured fabric/trims shall be treated.
• Make sure to finish the fabric and all trims at a low pH
value using a non-volatile acid, such as citric acid. Final
pH shall be 4.0-5.5.
• All factories and storage facilities must be kept clean
and well ventilated to avoid excess amounts of NOx
(nitrogen oxide gases).
• Avoid leftovers of chlorine after bleaching
Solvents
If the product is not aired or rinsed thoroughly, solvents
and/or spot removers might remain in the product and hence
cause smell. To avoid the use of spot removers it is important
to keep the production facilities clean.
Print pastes
White spirit, kerosene and MTO can be used in print pastes. It
is preferred to use only water based print pastes.
PEVA
For PEVA (Poly Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) plastic,
the commonly used cross linker/catalyst DCP
(Dicumyl Peroxide, CAS: 80-43-3) can release the substance
Acetophenon (CAS: 98-86-2) which could give a very strong
smell to the final product.
DCP should not be used. Alternatives are available.
2
http://echa.europa.eu/chem_data/authorisation_process/candidate_list_table_en.asp
H&M SUPPLIER
Chemical
Restrictions CHEMICAL
SUB CONTRACTOR MANUFACTURER
DYER, PRINTER,
TANNER
• Insist that the chemical supplier provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all dyes,
auxiliaries and other chemical products used. SDS shall contain certain specified
information presented in a standardized way. Information about how a SDS should
be structured and what it should contain can be found in Appendix 1.
Study of the SDS can help to reveal whether the materials used are free from
banned substances. However, the content of any banned substances in the chemical
product always need to be verified in other ways, since SDS don’t have complete
information about all ingredients in the chemical product.
• Use dyestuffs, pigments and textile auxiliaries from reputable manufacturers, for
example ETAD members (www.etad.com).
• All chemical products should have properly labelled containers. Example of labelling
requirements can be found in Appendix 2.
• Make sure dye mills, print mills, tanneries, wash units have certificates from their
chemical suppliers stating that all their chemicals are in compliance with H&M
Chemical Restrictions. An example of a certificate is to be found in Appendix 3.
• Check the H&M Group Supplier Portal for “Positive list”. This is a listing done by
chemical suppliers pointing out which of their products that fulfil Zero Discharge of
Hazardous Chemicals, ZDHC 3.
• Information and help can also be found in AFIRM Toolkit, which can be found at
AFIRM website http://www.afirm-group.com/.
3
“Zero Discharge of Hazardous Substances” is collaboration between brands to eliminate
or substitute hazardous chemicals in our supply chain. Please see
http://www.roadmaptozero.com/ for more info.
It is clearly stated in H&M Chemical Restrictions that the supplier has full responsibility
for compliance between their products and H&M Chemical Restrictions.
H&M Group only performs tests on H&M Group’s own initiative. The supplier pays for
H&M Group’s testing on placed orders. For development testing, H&M Group pays.
Non Compliance
Any problems to comply with H&M Chemical Restrictions must be reported to H&M Group
immediately. Products that do not comply with H&M Chemical Restrictions will be
rejected. For details, see Standard Purchase Conditions 4.
Note! These tables do not contain all restricted substances in H&M Chemical Restrictions.
Also substances listed below can have other uses and thus be present in other
materials. Therefore the tables do not claim to be complete.
4
Download the document at H&M Group Supplier Portal.
General
Material Textile
Fusing
Paint Paper,
Padding
& Wood Ceramics &
Leather Metal Feather
Natural & Surface & Porcelain
Cellulosic &
Wool Silk Synthetic fibre Synthetic coating Straw
fibre Down
Chemicals blend
APEO ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Azo ● ● ● ● ● ●
BPA (Bisphenol-A) ●
Cationic Surfactant ● ●
Chloroparaffins ● ●
Cr VI ●
Disperse dyes ● ●
DMF (Dimethylformamide) ●5
Formaldehyde ● ● ● ● ● ●6 ● ●
Metals, extractable ● ●
Metals, total ● ● ● ● ● ●
Nickel release ●
Organotin Compounds ●7
5
DMF is especially risky in PU.
6
Formaldehyde is especially risky in pigment print, flock print and puff print.
7
Organotin compounds are especially risky in print and PU coated fabric.
H&M Implementation Toolkit for H&M Chemical Restrictions 16(25)
Part 3:Apparel/Accessories/Footwear/Soft Home Interior Products and Part 7:Hardline, 2014
Material
Textile Fusing
Paint Paper,
Padding
& Wood Ceramics &
Leather Metal Feather
Surface & Porcelain
Natural & &
Cellulosic coating Straw
Chemicals Wool Silk Synthetic fibre Synthetic Down
fibre
blend
PFCs (Perfluorinated
Compounds)
●8 ●8 ●8 ●8 ●8 ●8 ●8
pH ● ● ● ● ●
Phenols (PCP, TeCP) ● ● ● ● ●
Phthalates ●
PVC ●
DMFu (Dimethylfumarate) ●
PAH ●
8
PFCs are especially a risk when product is treated to achieve water repellency and/or breathing properties.
Rubber
Rubber
natural +
Substances Acetate EVA/PEVA Melamine PA PC PE PET PMMA PP PS PU synthetic;
styrene-
TPE, TPU
butadiene
BPA X
Chloroparaffins X X X X X X X X
DMF
(Dimethylformamide)
X
Flame retardants X X X X X X X
Formaldehyde X
Isocyanates X
Total Metals
(Cd, Pb, Hg)
X X X X X X X X X X X X
N-Nitrosamines X X
Pesticides X
Phenols (PCP, TeCP) X X
Phthalates X X X X X X
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
PAHs X X X X X X X X X X X10 X X
PCB, PCT X X
PVC X X X X X X X X X
9
Only Antimony (Sb) relevant.
10
If dark coloured.
Do not hesitate to contact H&M Group with any questions you might have. Below are
answers to some of the most frequent questions.
Will complying with H&M Chemical Restrictions make my products more expensive/less
competitive?
H&M Chemical Restrictions is a part of the contract between H&M Group and its suppliers.
Every time H&M Group places an order, it is expected that the price includes compliance
with H&M Chemical Restrictions. It is not interesting to compare prices between
compliant and non-compliant products, since H&M Group does not wish to buy non-
compliant products, no matter the price.
Why is it that H&M Group can get a fail test result when our button supplier guarantee
Lead free?
For Lead, H&M is testing the total amount. It might be that your button supplier tests the
extractable amount which is a less strict test. For some eco labels, the requirement is
extractable amount, but H&M’s requirement is for the total amount.
What is the purpose of the MRSL and how does it differ from the RSL?
The aim of the MRSL is to secure not only the final product but also the work
environment and environment in the production country.
H&M Contacts
Who do I contact at my local H&M Group office if I have questions?
In the table in the beginning of this document you find contact e-mail addresses for all
different POs for queries about restricted chemicals and tests.
11
AFIRM – Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management Group
If we are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, why do we have to comply with H&M
Chemical Restrictions?
The reason for this is that Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and H&M Chemical Restrictions are
NOT the same. The two standards have significant differences. Some chemicals that are
restricted by H&M Group are not included in Oeko-Tex Standard 100, and for other
chemicals, the limits and/or test methods might differ.
The SDS for a chemical product should have a structure and content as specified in
Article 31 of REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 12 or in GHS 13. The classification given
in the SDS shall be done according to GHS, Dangerous Preparations Directive 14
(mandatory in EU until 1st June 2015) and/or CLP Regulation 15 (mandatory in EU from 1st
June 2015). It shall be dated and contain at least the below headings.
2) HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION;
3) COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS;
4) FIRST-AID MEASURES;
5) FIRE-FIGHTING MEASURES;
12
REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm
13
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)
http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_welcome_e.html
A Guide to GHS http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/ghs.html
14
Dangerous Preparations Directive 1999/45/EC on classification, packaging and labeling of dangerous
preparations http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm
15
CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and
mixtures http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm
16
In GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals) and/or CLP Regulation No
1272/2008 there is more information about labelling of chemical products.
Below is an example of a certificate for compliance that certifies that a specific chemical
product complies with H&M Chemical Restrictions.
Certificates from individual chemical suppliers can look different and have different
wording depending of legal aspects and the nature of their business.
Date: xxxx
CERTIFICATE
Fulfils the requirements of the current valid “H&M Chemical Restrictions”, provided that
the appropriate application and consideration of our recommendations are followed.
Signature
Name
Title
Company name and address
Company Stamp