Chemicals enhance and add value to our products in many ways, but also comes with the responsibility of making sure that it is done, in the safest, and most correct way.

All chemicals used in our products must as a minimum comply with the restrictions set by REACH, the European Union’s legislation on chemicals. To further guarantee that our products are safe for both the environment, workers and our customers, we are increasingly setting stricter chemical requirements. By 2024 our suppliers are required to follow the chemical standards set by Oekotex. We advise all suppliers to be proactive in making the changes necessary to comply with these restrictions. By 2024, all metal and plastic trimmings, such as buttons, zippers, adjusters, etc. are required to be Oekotex certified.

We conduct random testing on our products to guarantee safety and compliance with our chemical requirements. These tests are only valid when administered by a lab approved by Baum und Pferdgarten to ensure a reliable result.

We keep strict control of those chemicals placed on REACH’s Candidate List and do not wish to see them used in our products. The Candidate List consists of chemicals that are suspected of being exceptionally harmful and might get banned while referred to as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). The Candidate List is updated twice a year. See the website of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for details. We ask our suppliers to stay up to date with the Candidate list and work towards eliminating the chemicals on the list.

Some chemical causes such a high concern that we go beyond the restrictions set by REACH and enforce a complete usage ban in our products. These chemicals are under no circumstances allowed in our products. These substances are the following:

• PVC: A type of plastic that has been named the single-most environmentally damaging of all plastics. Workers exposed to high doses of PVC experience headaches, dizziness, and drowsiness, while long-time exposure can lead to liver damage and cancer.
• Phthalates: a plasticiser used to soften hard plastics, such as PVC. It is linked to being both carcinogenic and an endocrine disruptor that alters hormones.
• PFC: A chemical that is found in water- and stain repellents. These chemicals are suspected of harming humans, animals, and the environment, in addition to degrading with difficulty. Multiple of these chemicals are being linked to causing cancer, hormone disruptions, increased risk of miscarrying and damaging the immune system.

Even safe chemicals can cause damage if they end up in nature. Working with chemicals must not be of harm to the surrounding regions and environment, and we require our suppliers to employ a responsible, effective and safe chemical waste management system.

Reducing the impact and use of chemicals, while phasing out problematic ones, is both a complex and lengthy process as it affects almost all parts of our supply chain. While it may be difficult, we are committed to continually improve and stay updated on the latest regulations and legislations. This commitment also goes towards supporting our suppliers in understanding, complying and staying up-to-speed with our chemical requirements.