The PUR project aims to eliminate environmental and occupational health risks for synthetic leather factories

Background

Data shows that over 95% of the world’s synthetic PU leather factories are located in China, with significant room for improvement in environmental practices. In traditional solvent-based synthetic leather production, the toxic substance N,N-dimethylformamide (DMFa) is primarily used as a solvent for polyurethane slurries. During the wet-coagulation process, a slurry of polyurethane and DMFa solvent is spread onto a base fabric, where the polyurethane solidifies into a film. After washing, drying, and post-processing, wet-process polyurethane synthetic leather is obtained. Furthermore, to enhance the quality of the split leather, the polyurethane slurries used in the production process also contain substantial amounts of DMFa in the porous coagulation and surface treatment layers.

Once present in materials, DMFa can maintain relatively stable concentrations and volatilize over extended periods. It can easily enter the body through inhalation, skin absorption, or ingestion, leading to symptoms such as liver failure, respiratory and digestive issues. The EU’s REACH regulation has listed DMFa as a substance of very high concern and imposes a limit of 3000 mg/kg for DMFa in textiles and footwear-related products.

PUR Project

CADS, a division under the German Shoe Industry Association HDS/L, is a highly authoritative international research institution in the footwear sector. Many renowned European brands are members of this organization. The PUR project, specifically tailored by CADS for polyurethane-coated fabrics, aims to encourage enterprises to comply with safety and environmental regulations, particularly by reducing the use of harmful chemical solvents in production and producing environmentally friendly synthetic leather.

Within the PUR project, CADS has also developed corresponding testing and certification systems for synthetic leather enterprises. This allows major brands to monitor the production of synthetic leather materials against uniform standards, thereby improving production conditions in synthetic leather factories. The project ensures that wastewater returns to nature with low or no chemical content and minimizes air emissions, while avoiding the production of PU synthetic leather containing harmful substances for consumers. The key focuses of the PUR project include:

1. Environmental friendliness:

   – Supply chain management

   – Chemical management

   – Environmental and waste management

   – Water and wastewater management

   – Air emission control

   – DMFa monitoring

2. Social responsibility:

   – Child labor

   – Freedom of association

   – Health and safety

   – Working hours

   – Compensation, etc.

Services Provided by PFI
  • Online assessment (Enterprises can access PFI’s online assessment platform to evaluate their current status and identify gaps).
  • On-site training (Based on the factory’s online assessment results, PFI provides on-site training).
  • On-site audits (Comprehensive audits for social compliance and environmental compliance).
  • Testing (Sampling on-site and testing according to ZDHC wastewater guidelines).
  • Risk assessment and benchmark reports.
  • CAP (Corrective Action Plan) follow-up (Factories can seek consulting advice from PFI Group in case of unsatisfactory audits).
Benefits of PUR for Enterprises
  • During certification audits, PFI conducts comprehensive assessments of factories and identifies areas for improvement, providing recommendations for change.
  • Our experts offer training based on extensive on-site factory experience.
  • Compliance with China’s governance on air and water pollution, as well as meeting EHS management requirements of domestic and international brands.
  • Enhanced factory reputation, leading to more buyer orders.
PFI Group

As the technical consultant for the PUR project, PFI Group is currently the only third-party organization with the qualification to conduct PUR audits. They assist PU synthetic leather enterprises in inspecting and auditing their work environments for safety and health, as well as testing and auditing the safety and non-toxicity of their PU synthetic leather products.

PFI Group hopes to promote the PUR audit program through conferences, urging factories to focus more on worker health and environmental issues. This initiative aims to underscore the importance of environmental concepts throughout the industrial chain downstream.

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