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The report reveals that many carpets from leading European manufacturers contain hazardous substances, including phthalates, halogenated flame retardants, and PFAS, which pose health risks and obstruct circular economy goals. Testing of 15 samples showed that while some products are non-toxic, others contain substances like DEHP and TDCPP, even when using recycled materials. The document argues that current EU regulations and voluntary certifications are insufficient, calling for a shift toward family-based chemical regulation and extended producer responsibility to ensure safe recycling.

The report examines food fortification in Mexico, focusing on the mandatory addition of micronutrients to wheat and maize flour. It highlights a 'double burden of malnutrition' where high obesity rates coexist with widespread micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron and zinc. While legislation (NOM-247-SSA1-2008) mandates fortification, the report finds that the legal framework lacks details on external monitoring and enforcement, effectively leaving the industry to self-regulate. Analysis of available government data from COFEPRIS shows variable compliance, with a concerning drop in folic acid compliance in maize flour from 100% in 2015 to one-third in 2017. The report also criticizes the 'bad fortification' of ultra-processed 'junk foods' used by the industry to mislead consumers about the health benefits of unhealthy products. It concludes with recommendations for the Mexican government to strengthen monitoring protocols, introduce penalties for non-compliance, and ensure that industrially produced tortillas and breads are made from fortified flour.

The report examines the state of food fortification in Mexico, specifically focusing on the mandatory enrichment of wheat and corn flours to combat 'hidden hunger' and micronutrient deficiencies. While Mexico has legislation (NOM-247-SSA1-2008) requiring the addition of iron, zinc, folic acid, and B vitamins, the document argues that a lack of clear government oversight and reliance on industry self-regulation have led to variable compliance. It highlights a significant drop in folic acid compliance for corn flour between 2015 and 2017 and criticizes the 'bad fortification' of ultra-processed 'junk food' used to mislead consumers. The report concludes with recommendations for the Mexican government to update legislation with specific monitoring protocols, sanctions, and nutritional specifications for end-products like tortillas and bread.

A coalition of organizations urges the European Commission to strengthen its strategic approach to pharmaceuticals in the environment, citing the grave global health and economic threats of antimicrobial resistance. The authors call for broadening Good Manufacturing Practices to include environmental impacts, using Watch List data to identify priority substances under the Water Framework Directive, and implementing robust Environmental Risk Assessments for marketing authorizations.

The report evaluates the global viscose industry's transition to sustainable production, highlighting a divide between 'front-runner' brands adopting closed-loop standards and 'laggards'—including several luxury and low-cost retailers—who lack transparency. It specifically analyzes the commitments of major producers Lenzing and Aditya Birla Group, and the emerging Collaboration for Sustainable Development of Viscose in China, while arguing that current certifications like the EU Ecolabel and OEKO-TEX STeP are insufficient compared to EU Best Available Techniques (BAT) standards.

The report argues that the proliferation of certification labels creates consumer confusion and allows companies to greenwash their operations without achieving substantive environmental improvements. In fisheries, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Friends of the Sea (FOS) are criticized for certifying overfished areas and lacking transparency. In the palm oil sector, programs like RSPO, ISCC, and ISPO are found to have failed in slowing deforestation or peatland drainage. In textiles, the Higg Index and Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) are highlighted for weaknesses such as reliance on self-assessment and allowing GMO seeds. The authors call for a shift toward mandatory government regulations and a reform of certifications based on transparency, independence, holistic life-cycle approaches, and scientific standards.

The report assesses voluntary sustainability certifications in fisheries, palm oil, and textiles, concluding that many schemes act as 'greenwash' and fail to prevent deforestation, overfishing, or pollution. It argues that the proliferation of labels creates consumer confusion and a 'race to the bottom' in standards. The authors call for the abolition of ineffective schemes and a transition toward science-based, transparent, and holistic regulations that cover the entire product life-cycle.

The report examines voluntary sustainability certifications in the palm oil, fisheries, and textile industries, concluding that these schemes often lack transparency, lower their standards to increase volume, and fail to prevent deforestation or overfishing. It argues that certifications are being used as 'greenwashing' tools by corporations and governments and calls for a shift toward strict, independent, and comprehensive standards that cover the entire product life cycle, while emphasizing that voluntary initiatives cannot replace government regulation.

The document argues that the proliferation of voluntary certifications in the palm oil, fisheries, and textile sectors has created consumer confusion and a 'race to the bottom' in standards. It finds that these schemes often fail to stop deforestation, overfishing, or pollution, and are sometimes used by companies to mask unsustainable operations. The report calls for the abolition of most current schemes in favor of a few high-ambition, transparent, and science-based standards that complement, rather than replace, government regulation.

The report investigates voluntary certification in three high-impact sectors: fisheries, palm oil, and textiles. It concludes that a proliferation of low-ambition schemes creates consumer confusion and allows companies to 'greenwash' unsustainable practices. In fisheries, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Friend of the Sea (FOS) are criticized for certifying fisheries with high bycatch and destructive methods. In palm oil, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and government-led schemes like ISPO are found ineffective at stopping deforestation and peatland drainage. In textiles, the report highlights the lack of transparency in the Higg Index and the low standards of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) compared to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). The authors call for the abolition of the least ambitious schemes and a shift toward mandatory due diligence, transparency, and science-based regulations.

The report examines Nestlé's infant milk products across 40 countries, finding that the company often uses nutritional science as a marketing tool rather than a formulation guide. It highlights inconsistencies where products contain ingredients like sucrose and flavourings that Nestlé's own labels advise against in other markets. Furthermore, the report notes that Nestlé uses health claims for probiotics and prebiotics in some regions despite these being prohibited in the EU due to insufficient evidence. The investigation concludes that product development is driven by consumer trends and profit maximization, leading to 'premium' products with varying compositions and prices that lack a clear scientific rationale.

The report argues that Nestlé prioritizes profit and growth over nutritional science in its infant milk business. Through an analysis of 79 products in 40 countries, the authors found that Nestlé's marketing claims often contradict its own nutritional advice and the scientific evidence provided by bodies like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Key discrepancies include the use of sucrose and flavorings in markets where the company advises against them, and the use of 'probiotic' claims in regions where such claims lack scientific authorization. The report concludes that 'premium' product differentiation is driven by consumer preferences and market trends rather than health outcomes.

The report details severe pollution and health crises linked to Aditya Birla Group's viscose plants in India and Indonesia, highlighting discrepancies between the company's public sustainability image and the actual conditions on the ground.

The roadmap urges brands to drive a transition to closed-loop viscose and modal manufacturing by 2023-25 to mitigate air and water pollution. It outlines a framework for responsible sourcing, including supply chain mapping, third-party monitoring, and the adoption of EU Best Available Technique (BAT) standards for chemical recovery and emission limits. The document emphasizes the need for brands to set hard deadlines for suppliers, ensure worker safety, and remediate historical environmental damage, particularly in high-volume production areas like China.

The report finds that pharmaceutical companies in Hyderabad continue to discharge untreated or inappropriately treated wastewater containing toxic heavy metals and solvents, leading to severe ecological damage and human health risks. It highlights a failure of local and national regulatory bodies to control these emissions and warns that the situation is deteriorating as production capacity expands. The document specifically links antibiotic production discharges to the global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and argues that pharmaceutical purchasers in the EU and US must address these supply chain failures.

The report finds that pharmaceutical production in Hyderabad continues to cause severe environmental degradation through the discharge of untreated wastewater containing heavy metals and industrial solvents. It highlights a critical link between these manufacturing practices and the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global health threat. The document argues that Indian regulatory bodies are failing to enforce pollution controls and that the pharmaceutical industry's reliance on opaque supply chains allows companies exporting to the US and EU to avoid accountability for their environmental footprint.

The report examines the practices of Nestlé, Danone, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Abbott, concluding that the proliferation of 'premium' and 'specialised' infant formulas is a strategy to increase market share and profit margins, particularly in Asia, often at the expense of breastfeeding promotion and consumer affordability.

The report exposes the destructive nature of irresponsible rayon production, detailing water and air pollution, worker fatalities, and severe health issues in Asia. It identifies a direct link between these polluting factories—operated by conglomerates like Aditya Birla and Lenzing—and major global brands such as H&M, Zara, and ASOS. The document argues that while rayon is often marketed as a 'green' alternative, its current chemical-intensive production is unsustainable, and calls for brands to use their purchasing power to force a transition to closed-loop, non-toxic manufacturing systems.

The report exposes severe pollution from viscose production in Asia, where manufacturers dump untreated wastewater and emit toxic gases, impacting local health and ecosystems. It identifies direct sourcing links between these polluting sites and major brands like H&M and Zara, arguing that the 'green' image of viscose is misleading due to the use of hazardous chemicals like carbon disulphide. The authors call for a transition to closed-loop production systems and mandatory supply chain due diligence.

The report details how the viscose industry in China, India, and Indonesia causes severe water and air pollution, leading to health crises like cancer and birth deformities in local communities. It identifies a lack of transparency in fashion supply chains and argues that a small group of dominant producers, pressured by major brands, could rapidly transition the industry toward closed-loop, non-toxic production systems.