Nike Sponsored Portfolio Offers Alternatives to DMF, Facilitating Safer Textile Production

ChemFORWARD is pleased to announce the availability of a portfolio of safer alternatives to dimethylformamide, an organic solvent known commonly as DMF and used in acrylic fiber spinning, chemical manufacturing and pharmaceutical production as well as textile dyes and pigments. The chemical is toxic to the liver and has been connected with liver damage in workers exposed to it, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Clothing and shoe manufacturers including Nike have been eager for a less toxic replacement to the inexpensive, abundant and effective chemical, which has been used for decades to produce synthetic leather. The sports apparel company includes DMF on its restricted substances list, one of Nike’s programs which target, remove or replace toxic chemicals, whether they are regulated or not.

ChemFORWARD has assembled complete chemical hazard assessments for 10 solvents that can be used instead of DMF. This group was selected from 17 published in a 2019 project of the Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry, which all met that project’s standards for function, health and sustainability. Nike sponsored both projects to gain a more complete picture of viable DMF alternatives.

“Nike sharing this work on ChemFORWARD’s platform so that it can be accessed broadly by the apparel sector and beyond is testament to Nike’s ongoing commitment to industry collaboration and transformation, supporting global supply chains in moving away from chemicals of concern and avoiding regrettable substitutions,” said Stacy Glass, ChemFORWARD’s executive director.

ChemFORWARD works with brands to create alternative portfolios that empower the supply chain to move quickly and confidently toward safer chemistry. Each portfolio is researched for potential viable alternatives, screened for known hazards, and  a short list of likely safer alternatives is created. Comprehensive chemical hazard assessments are conducted on the safer alternatives by qualified board certified toxicologists from leading firms in the United States and United Kingdom. Independent toxicologists peer review the final work before assessments are posted. When the quality assurance process is complete, the assessment is listed as ‘Verified’. The chemical manufacturer and other key stakeholders can contribute to continuous improvement of the chemical assessment by presenting a challenge according to our challenge guidelines.

ChemFORWARD is continually working on new portfolios of safer alternatives and works as a trusted partner to assemble a collaboration centered on users’ chemicals of concern. TTHe collaboration  creates alternative assessment portfolios to guide supply chains toward safer chemistry and avoid regrettable substitutions. 

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