The Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) is compiled by the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Programme (ZDHC), representing a group of major apparel and footwear brands and retailers. It applies to chemical substances subject to a usage ban that are used in facilities processing textile materials and trim parts.
The MRSL addresses hazardous substances potentially used and discharged into the environment during manufacturing and related processes, not just those substances that could be present in finished products. Listed chemical substances or groups of substances may not be used to achieve a desired function or effect during production of the raw material or product (that is, no intentional use) including cleaning and maintenance. Natural leather and metal trim parts are not covered and may be addressed in the next version of the MRSL. Limit values apply to substances in commercially available chemical formulations.
MRSL-listed chemicals include ingredients potentially used in cleaners, solvents, adhesives, stabilizers, paints, inks, detergents, dyes, pigments, auxiliaries, coatings and finishing agents used for wet-processing, maintenance, wastewater treatment, sanitation and pest control.