Posts

March 31, 2026

CAF recently met with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to discuss the government's planned information gathering related to nanoscale silver — a substance used in antimicrobial treatments in apparel and textile products. The discussion covered ECCC's current and planned work in this area and the potential for a voluntary, industry-led information gathering exercise that CAF could coordinate on behalf of impacted members and others in the industry. CAF indicated its willingness to explore this approach with the membership before …

Jan. 26, 2026

  Bill 90 (the Textile Waste Act, 2025) is legislation currently in the Ontario legislature.  If passed, it would put Ontario on course to apply Extended Producer Responsibility requirements to apparel and textiles. This bill would amend the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act (RRCEA) 2016 by requiring the Minister of Environment, within three months of the bill coming into force, to commence a review to determine how to include textiles as a designated class of material — meaning clothing …

Dec. 23, 2025

In November 2025, EPA released a proposed rule that would significantly revise reporting obligations under Section 8(a)(7) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), otherwise known as the U.S. federal “PFAS Reporting Rule.”  Finalized in 2023, the original version of the rule required domestic manufacturers of PFAS chemicals and importers of PFAS or PFAS-containing articles to submit a one-time report on all PFAS manufactured or imported from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2022.  However, EPA is now proposing a series …

June 25, 2025

Companies in the apparel/textile sector should be preparing for new reporting requirements for the Federal Plastics Registry (FPR). The registry is a system designed to track plastic throughout its lifecycle—from production to disposal. It aims to gather reliable data to help reduce plastic waste and pollution. Of immediate concern to companies is a requirement to report the volume of plastic in packaging, beginning in September 2025, and reporting on plastics in apparel/textile products beginning in 2026. Companies unfamiliar with this …

June 23, 2025

  The new anti-greenwashing provisions in Canada's Competition Act, which came into effect on June 20, 2024, require businesses to ensure that environmental claims are not false or misleading and are backed by adequate and proper testing or substantiated using internationally recognized methodologies. ' The Competition Bureau has issued final guidelines to assist businesses in complying with these new rules. Their guidance document is located here: https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/how-we-foster-competition/education-and-outreach/guide-june-2024-amendments-competition-act We encourage all firms to review how these guidelines would impact your marketing. …

Jan. 24, 2025

Companies that have determined they need to report on the PFAS in their products should take note of the following. CAF reached out to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to clarify the extension process.  ECCC has indicated that it will process all extension requests received on or before the day of the deadline, January 29, 2025.. They cannot grant any extension if one is submitted on or after January 30, 2025. They also noted the following: Following the request …

Jan. 15, 2025

The OEKO-TEX® Association has released the updated testing criteria, limit values and guidelines for its certifications. Key changes include enhanced organic cotton certification through OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON, with inclusion in OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN, stricter BPA limits under OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 and rigorous transparency requirements for leather supply chains under OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD. The expanded OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT will include commodity chemicals and biodegradability verification. Following the transition period, the revised standards will take effect on 1st April 2025. For more details contact Testex, …

Dec. 23, 2024

  Competition Bureau Launches Public Consultation on Environmental Claims Guidelines The Competition Bureau is inviting Canadians to provide feedback on its proposed guidelines concerning environmental claims. These guidelines aim to help businesses assess whether their environmental claims comply with the Competition Act, including new provisions relating to greenwashing added in June 2024. To review the draft guidance, click HERE. The deadline for comments is Feb. 28, 2025. Key Points: Guidelines for Businesses: The proposed guidelines do not dictate when or how …

Posted by Bob Kirke July 15, 2024

On July 27, 2024 the Canadian government launched a data collection effort on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) substances and products containing that class of chemicals PFAS substances are found in many industrial and consumer products, including textiles/apparel. In apparel products, these substances are found in water-repellent and stain-repellent finishes, among other uses.  Historically, the largest user of the substances has been outerwear with durable water-repellent finishes.  However, as the background document from AFIRM (below) demonstrates:  PFAS are found in …