Disney, Adidas, Gap, and 16 Other Brands Linked to Toxic Clothing Waste

The Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) has released troubling findings that waste from 19 global brands, like Adidas and Walmart, is being used as fuel in local brick factories, with workers reporting related health issues resulting from clothing waste.

According to Reuters, the brands are:

• Adidas
• Athleta
• C&A
• Disney
• Gap
• Karbon
• Kiabi
• Lidl Stiftung & Co’s Lupilu
• LPP’s Cropp
• LPP’s Sinsay
• Lululemon Athletica
• Old Navy
• Primark
• Reebok
• Sweaty Betty
• Tilley Endurables
• Under Armour
• Venus Fashion
• Walmart’s No Boundaries

LICADHO conducted research in 21 brick factories, revealing that pre-consumer garment materials were being burned to cut down on fuel costs, resulting in increased amounts of toxic clothing waste. This has reportedly led to workers suffering from headaches, respiratory problems, and other ailments.

This echoes the fact that “burning garment waste can release substances toxic to humans if combustion conditions aren’t carefully managed, and the ashes can also contain high levels of pollutants, according to an internal 2020 study by the U.N. Development Programme which measured emissions from garment factory incinerators in Cambodia that burn garment waste.”

Furthermore, a separate 2018 report by academics in the UK at Royal Holloway, University of London, said that “clothing scraps often contain toxic chemicals including chlorine bleach, formaldehyde, and ammonia, as well as heavy metals, PVC, and resins used in the dyeing and printing processes.”

In reaction to the LICADHO report on toxic clothing waste, several brands have launched investigations and shown commitment to better waste management practices.

Adidas, recognizing the severity of the issue, reported that its environmental policy in Cambodia strictly mandates the proper disposal of all waste materials from its apparel suppliers. Lidl has voiced its concern over the reported conditions and started an investigation. LPP, unaware of its waste being burned, is now interacting with its Cambodian agents and planning a waste management-focused awareness day in 2024.

Similarly, Primark is investigating the issue, while Sweaty Betty is ensuring supplier compliance with its environmental code of conduct. Tilley Endurables expressed serious concerns about the findings and reiterated its commitment to proper waste management, stating that its factories have passed WRAP audits and utilize an environment ministry-approved waste removal company but currently lack insight into the waste’s final disposal.