A recent industry webinar on “Better Chemical Management with The BHive” brought renewed attention to the growing complexity of chemical management in global apparel and textile supply chains, as brands and manufacturers face tighter regulations, rising data demands, and increased expectations for transparency. The discussion highlighted how chemical management is evolving from a compliance-driven exercise into a core business requirement tied to product safety, environmental protection, and regulatory readiness.
Speakers emphasized that while the fundamental principles of chemical management have remained largely unchanged over the past decades, the way chemical data is collected, verified, and used has shifted significantly. Brands are increasingly moving away from fragmented questionnaires and manual document reviews toward standardized, structured datasets that can be reused across multiple reporting and compliance needs. This shift is intended to reduce audit fatigue, lower compliance costs, and improve the reliability of chemical information across supply chains.
Traceability emerged as a central theme, with industry experts noting a move away from annual declarations and spot checks toward more continuous, time-bound visibility of chemical use. Monthly inventories, production-period data, and stronger links between chemicals, processes, and finished products are becoming more common. This approach allows earlier identification of chemical risks and supports more credible sustainability claims, particularly as regulations such as the EU’s CSRD, CSDDD, and ESPR place greater emphasis on verified supply chain data.
The regulatory landscape itself is becoming more demanding. In both the European Union and the United States, chemical legislation is shifting from voluntary initiatives toward mandatory disclosure, documentation, and control of substances of concern. Knowing the exact composition and regulatory status of chemicals used in production is increasingly seen as essential not only for sustainability reporting, but also for market access and legal compliance.
Participants also discussed the limitations of relying solely on certifications. While certifications indicate the presence of management systems, they do not necessarily reflect which chemical substances are actively being used at a given time. As a result, there is growing demand for high-quality, structured data extracted directly from safety data sheets, combined with ongoing screening against restricted substance lists and regulatory requirements.
From a brand perspective, best practice in chemical management now centers on visibility across supply chain tiers, particularly in regions and processes associated with higher chemical risk. Centralized data systems that serve as a single source of truth were highlighted as a way to support multiple objectives simultaneously, including MRSL and RSL management, regulatory reporting, and preparation for future initiatives such as digital product passports.
The webinar also featured insights from a luxury brand representative, who described chemical management as critical to both regulatory compliance and environmental responsibility. Improved supplier engagement, training, and access to clearer chemical data were cited as key factors in strengthening chemical performance across manufacturing partners. According to the speaker, more structured approaches to chemical inventories and performance monitoring have led to measurable improvements over time.
Overall, the session reflected a broader industry transition toward more data-driven, risk-based chemical management. As regulations tighten and expectations rise, chemical data is no longer treated as a standalone sustainability issue but as an integral part of operational decision-making, supply chain governance, and long-term business resilience.
