New Limits Set for PFAS in Textile and Leather
ZDHC's version 4.0 chemical list adds 16 substances and sets PFAS contamination thresholds for supply chains.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Chemistry
The ZDHC Foundation released version 4.0 of its Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL), adding 16 substances not previously covered and lowering limits for several chemicals used in textile and leather manufacturing. The update is a regulatory and industry guidance document, not a technology product, and it takes effect as guidance for suppliers and formulators.
Why it matters
The update tightens chemical controls across textile, leather, rubber, foam and adhesive supply chains, and sets the first concrete numerical limits in this framework for unintentional PFAS contamination. It reflects a broader industry move toward measurable thresholds for persistent fluorinated chemicals as analytical capabilities improve.
The update sets specific numerical thresholds: 25 µg/kg for any single PFAS, 250 µg/kg for the sum of PFAS, and 50 mg/kg for total fluorine, applied to unintentional contamination. Version 4.0 also covers 16 newly listed substances, including bisphenols, formaldehyde and polychlorinated biphenyls, while the stub does not report independent verification of these limits.
The players
ZDHC Foundation
An industry organization that maintains chemical management guidelines and restricted-substances lists for the textile, leather and footwear supply chain.
The details
The MRSL is a list of chemicals that manufacturers and their suppliers must avoid or limit in finished goods and production processes. Version 4.0 bans intentional addition of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a family of persistent synthetic chemicals) in compliant chemical formulations, and separately caps accidental PFAS presence so that trace contamination from raw materials or processing can be measured against fixed thresholds. The update also revises analytical methods, which define how labs test for these substances, and gives material-specific guidance for textiles, leather, rubber, foams and adhesives.
Timeline
November 2, 2026: ZDHC released MRSL version 4.0 and its PFAS position paper.
The Tech Race
The MRSL update positions ZDHC's framework as a reference point for brands seeking measurable PFAS controls ahead of changing regulatory requirements. Its move from prohibition-only rules toward quantified contamination limits sets a benchmark other chemical-management programs will be measured against.
Suppliers, formulators and testing labs working with textiles, leather, rubber, foams and adhesives will need to align products with the revised limits and new restricted substances. The stub does not state effective dates for compliance, so timing for supplier adoption is not yet known.
The takeaway
Watch for how brands and suppliers adopt the new unintentional-contamination limits in their testing protocols. The next signal will be whether ZDHC publishes further guidance on the analytical methods used to verify the 25 µg/kg, 250 µg/kg and 50 mg/kg thresholds.
Further reading
Explore more on Chemistry for the chemical science behind PFAS and other restricted substances.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WWD.
