Carrefour bans sandblasting from its own textile brands

To reinforce Carrefour’s commitment to fundamental labour rights and the Group’s action relating to the health and safety of workers in the textile industry, the Group decided to ban sandblasting finishing in all its own brands textile production from September 2010 on (season summer 2011 in stores).

The sandblasting process is used in textiles to give a worn aspect to denim products. Studies have proven that silica dust generated by this technique may seriously affect workers health when workers don’t wear the adequate protection. Carrefour decided then to ban this method for its own brands products.

This decision is part of the strict social policy implemented by Carrefour since over 10 years in partnership with its suppliers. This policy, based on the International Labour Organisation rules and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is described in the Carrefour supplier social charter signed by all suppliers who have to commit to it. Carrefour verifies the upholding of this commitment through factory audits carried out by third parties. These audits have demonstrated the difficulties encountered in attaining rigorous worker safety conditions when sandblasting is concerned, so, to eliminate this risk entirely, the group decided to stop all commercial orders where the sandblasting technique has been used.