Textile Dyes - Standards and Usage: Goals of The Study
Textile Dyes - Standards and Usage: Goals of The Study
Textile Dyes - Standards and Usage: Goals of The Study
This is the summary of the study report of RISE-AT regarding the information available
on the standards for dyes and the usage of dyes in the northern region on Thailand.
1. general assessment,
2. recognize concept and structure of problems involved,
3. list hazardous chemicals and indicate known, dangerous Thai dyes.
availability of data:
1. publications mostly in English
2. complete list of banned dyes not yet available,
3. classification-system not conform with Thai system,
4. new standard is expanding and dynamic body, thus subject to many additions and
changes in the future,
information dissemination:
1. so far, restricted to Institutes, special boards, organizations and certain industry.
2. regular up-dates available
3. list of specialized topics available for further inquiries,
lists:
1. extensive lists on hazardous chemicals and all dye-types are published, but as yet
incomplete,
2. list on amines ( harmful chemicals ) is classified according to Amine name and
where possible abbreviation CAS-Number ( Chemical Abstract Service )
3. list on dyes is classified according to (dye) CI- name (international color
catalogue) CI-Number (Color Identification Number) commercial names of the
industry trade names of producers and/or distributors (only available on lists from
India)
ISO 14000
A. Hazardous AZO-dyes
Availability:
...of product:
1. easy to purchase
2. widely distributed
3. known as “German Dyes”, they are sold in packs or by weight
...of information
1. chemical make up for majority of Thai dyes not known,
2. labeling and naming according to CI standards not available
Price:
1. 20 Baht per packet or two Baht per gram
2. Price is stable
Distributors:
1. distributors are mostly producers as well.
2. Six companies are known in the north alone, nation-wide large number likely
3. interviews indicate distribution of banned dyes from international companies
through these local companies
Available alternatives:
...for product:
1. natural dyes
2. safe AZO-dyes
3. other safe dye-types ( like reactive, pigment, basic dyes etc....)
...of information:
1. information only available using the international system
2. international companies disseminate their own promotional information on
safe alternatives produced by their company
3. local brand-names offer no information on the subject
Availability:
...of product:
1. not easy to purchase
2. not widely distributed
3. they are sold by weight
...of information:
1. information available in English, using international standards
2. some information in Thai, restricted to brand-names
Price:
1. 20 to 100 Baht per gram
2. Prices differ
Distributors:
1. only distributed by international cooperate companies operating in Thailand
through retail and wholesale.
1. a list of alternative, safe, chemical dyes would be of little effect now, due to
o a lack of descriptive terms that would make sense to Thai users
o Thai standards do not compare to international standards
o the prices of alternative dyes are too high for target group
o the dyeing process with alternative dyes needs to be more controlled when
compared with hazardous dyes
o recommendations in safe dyes can not match substituted colors, as the
descriptive terminology of ISO does not include Thai brand-names
2. the problem of chemical dyes is a structural problem and not an individual one,
e.g.. the users have no choice
3. there is only basic material for recommendations to producers/ distributors
4. success in substituting dangerous dyes is only possible in cooperation with
producers / distributors
5. the financial aspects of alternative dyes suggest another target group
6. suggestions for problem solutions do as yet not have a structural basis
7. middlemen are interested in solution
8. target group is indifferent to solution
9. waste-water of AZO-dyes is hazardous
B. Natural dyes:
1. limited resources
2. limited number of color shades
3. limited durability of raw-material
4. limited color fastness
5. labour-intensive dyeing method
6. research and information available
7. limitations of potentialities not yet reached
8. resources controlled by target-group
9. export-promotion possible through ecolabelling
10. waste-water environmentally acceptable
11. a lot of practical experience and knowledge...etc..