About AFIRM Group

Founded in 2004, the Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management (AFIRM) Group is a member-driven organization of apparel and footwear companies collaborating to promote chemicals management in the global supply chain. Since its founding, AFIRM’s focus has been the continuous advancement of chemicals management including phasing out or limiting restricted substances to established limits in apparel, footwear, and accessories.

Committees

AFIRM’s Data Committee aggregates and analyzes chemical testing data to support multiple AFIRM objectives and assess the organization’s progress in phasing out or limiting restricted substances to established limits.

AFIRM’s Laboratory Technical Advisory Committee is comprised of members of the global laboratory networks and advises the organization on test methods and related issues as part of the annual RSL update process. More information is available here.

AFIRM’s Packaging RSL Committee is responsible for maintaining the group’s industry leading Packaging Restricted Substances List on an annual basis.

AFIRM’s Public Policy and Compliance Committee monitors product chemical regulatory proposals and engages policymakers with recommendations to ensure regulatory frameworks are pragmatic and advance chemicals management in the apparel and footwear industry. The Committee also develops guidance to assist members in their compliance programs and submits regulatory filings on behalf of members.

AFIRM’s RSL Committee is responsible for maintaining the group’s industry leading Restricted Substances List on an annual basis. The Committee divides its work across ad hoc Task Forces as necessary to meet the organization’s objectives.

AFIRM’s Steering Committee is responsible for oversight of the organization, including governance, strategic direction, and partnerships. Steering Committee members serve two-year terms of service on a volunteer basis subject to approval by the membership.

AFIRM’s Testing Committee works collaboratively with Lab Technical Advisory Committee members to harmonize and improve sampling and chemical testing procedures globally for apparel, footwear, and related products.

AFIRM’s Training Committee produces and maintains publicly available educational tools and guidance on restricted substances for brands, retailers and the global supply chain. Examples include AFIRM’s Chemistry Toolkit and Chemical Information Sheets. AFIRM also holds Supplier Training Seminars in global production regions every couple of years, which are planned by an ad hoc Supplier Seminar Planning Committee.

Steering Committee

Clara Hedström Cortinovis

H&M Group — Chemical Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Lead

Marion Bourebrab

HUGO BOSS — Senior Expert Chemical Management

Meera Bawa

lululemon athletica inc — Manager, Global Regulatory

Alexander Gyebi

adidas — Sr. Manager Product Safety and Compliance

Antonio Cortés Fuertes

Inditex — RSL Responsible

Kristen Miro

Carhartt Senior Manager, Product Safety and Compliance

Tiffany Crescentini

Nike Inc. — Sr. Responsible Chemistry Manager

Frederic Felipe

Decathlon — Chemical Safety Leader

Staff

Nathaniel Sponsler

Director

Elena Slagle

Program Coordinator

Peter Gregory

Lab Technical Advisory Committee Coordinator

Committee Chairs

Data Committee

Lisa Clerici

Under Armour — Sr. Manager Global Restricted Substances Compliance

Hazel Mao

J.Crew Group — Testing and Product Compliance Manager

Packaging RSL Committee

Deepak Jadhav

Deepak Jadhav

New Balance – Global Director of Product Chemistry

Public Policy and Compliance Committee

Marcus Kuerner

adidas — Global Director Product Safety

Nathaniel Sponsler

AFIRM Group — Director

Karl Wasmuth

Nike Inc. — Global Sustainability Policy Manager

RSL Committee

Kristen Miro

Carhartt — Sr. Manager, Product Safety and Compliance

Testing Committee

Marcus Kuerner

adidas — Global Director Product Safety

Jane Pors

BESTSELLER — Senior Chemical Specialist

Training Committee

Avery Lindeman

Gap, Inc. — Senior Manager, Sustainable Chemistry

Katharina Nørregaard Poulsen

ECCO — Chemical Compliance Specialist

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