Good News Friday

Wedenesday's post was a little bleak, so let's finish off the week with a couple of pieces of good news.
First up, EU member states have unanimously voted to extend the ban on a substance found in most clothing that has a negative hit on the marine environment.
Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) are rinsing agents that are released from clothing when it's washed. It's been found to cause hormone disruption in fish, harming fertility, growth and sexual development. Though NPE has already been banned in the EU since 2004, the new legislation extends to imported textiles.
A 2011 study by Greenpeace found NPEs in two-thirds of a clothing sample it examined, including items from big name brands like Ralph Lauren and H&M. Although they stress that the chemicals pose no risk to human health, the new legislation is specifically aimed at protecting marine life and the aquatic environment.
Manufacturers grumble that as NPEs are so prelavent in the global supply chain, it's will be difficult to phase them out in the time scale that the EU have demanded. Our View: I'm sure they'll figure something out.
In client news, Sarah Howcroft of Gift Your Gear has been in touch. The charity has just won a major prize at OutDoor, Europe's most prestigious outdoor trade show. The Gold Award, which was given to 9 winners out of a field of over 300 entries, praised Gift Your Gear for its innovative approach, pointing out that reuse is a much more appropriate use for outdoor clothing than recycling. Sarah told us:

"The OutDoor Industry Gold Award to Gift Your Gear is a wonderful recognition of the importance and value of ‘reuse’ to the industry.
Gift Your Gear has provided unwanted outdoor clothing and equipment to over 350 UK community organisations, youth groups and charities working with young people in the UK outdoors. Recondition such as this helps in the general understanding of the real benefits reuse can bring to the outdoor industry.
A big thank you to everyone who has supported Gift Your Gear and donated so generously."

This September, Gift Your Gear will once again be teaming up with Rohan to make the donation of your unwanted outdoor clothing even more simple. Just take it into any Rohan store, and you'll get a money-off voucher for new purchases. Our View: can't say fairer than that, can you?
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend.