BLUESIGN® ACADEMY
Who we are
The bluesign® ACADEMY is a dedicated team of technical experts committed to delivering valuable sustainability knowledge for society and industry. Our wealth of expertise is supported by practical experience drawn from many hundreds of on-site company assessments and chemical evaluations. Textile engineers and PhDs from the bluesign technical department support the bluesign® ACADEMY with their specialist skills.
Our Purpose
The bluesign ACADEMY creates and manages the bluesign® CRITERIA; the reference for all bluesign assessments and certifications.
Our experts provide tailored seminars, webinars, and customized technical training to companies in the areas of environment, safety, and sustainability in the textile industry. Our purpose is to reduce the impact of textile supply chains upon the planet and its people.
bluesign® SYSTEM PARTNERS strongly benefit from the bluesign® ACADEMY helpdesk and have access to regular webinars, our knowledge space, and our growing e-learning platform.
Our Services
Beside the benefits within a bluesign® SYSTEM PARTNERSHIP we offer a range of additional services which may further boost any company’s sustainability program.
We are always open to discuss whether we can support you with services that are not in our standard portfolio. If you need tailor made training or expert advice for specific technical issues, please contact us. We can tailor a solution that meets your needs.
ACADEMY NEWS
News
Friday, October 11, 2024
EU Strengthens Chemical Safety in Textiles
New PFHxA Restrictions Align with bluesign’s Broad PFAS Phase Out Program
The European Commission has recently published the highly anticipated restriction on the use of undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts, and related substances (Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2462). This new restriction comes by way of adding entry 79 to Annex XVII to the REACH regulation. The decision was made due to PFHxA’s environmental persistence, its high mobility in aquatic environment, and its potential adverse effects on both human health and the environment.
News
Thursday, July 25, 2024
bluesign Standards: Reducing Bisphenol Risks in Sustainable Textile Production
Bisphenols are a group of chemicals mostly used in the industrial manufacturing of polymers such as polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. These materials are used across a range of consumer products, making them common in many everyday products. The most widely used and known is bisphenol A (BPA), although following the restrictions on the BPA leads to the increasing volumes of bisphenol S and bisphenol F that may be equally harmful.
News
Friday, May 24, 2024
The bluesign® Difference
‘The bluesign® difference’ is the pathway, “to meet specific sustainability criteria, with four particular areas in mind; resource efficiency, environmental impact, health and safety at work, and consumer protection,” as said by Sugath Disanayake, Assistant Manager – Chemical Sustainability at MAS Capital in the latest blog update at MAS Holdings.
VALUABLE SUSTAINABility KNOWLEDGE FOR SOCIETY AND INDUSTRY
Our bluesign® ACADEMY experts
Daniel Waterkamp
Head of bluesign® ACADEMY
Daniel is a chemical engineer and sustainability professional with a PhD in process engineering. He began his career as a researcher in green chemistry and micro-reactor technology, before moving to the testing industry to oversee chemical compliance for international brands and to develop inspection and decarbonization services. Daniel joined bluesign in 2015, assessing chemical companies and serving as a product stewardship coach. In 2023, he became Head of bluesign® ACADEMY. Daniel is part of bluesign’s management team and a member of the ZDHC MRSL council.
• Product stewardship
• Sustainable chemistry
• R&D
• Leadership
Niclette Mbala
Training Manager
Niclette has a knack for communications and has developed a multi-faceted approach to this topic through various roles in her career. She is adept at B2B and B2C marketing and communications; has successfully managed B2B digital projects; and, in recent years, has chosen to specialise in learning management.
• Educational management
• Digital project management
• Marketing and communication
Petra Druskova
Data Manager
Petra holds a Master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry and has five years of work experience in the regulatory department of an MNC, where she was responsible for managing data for the creation of Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) globally.
Petra joined bluesign in September 2023 with a focus on data maintenance of the bluesign Navigator tool and BSBL/BSSL revision support.
• Chemical regulatory frameworks
• Overview of industry-relevant (M)RSLs
• Data management
Maja Dimoska Tokuyucu
Sustainability Expert
Maja holds a Bachelor’s degree in Textile Chemistry and Technologies and a Master’s degree in Engineering of Textile Materials. Currently pursuing a PhD, she brings over eight years of R&D experience with renowned textile manufacturers and ethical brands. Her professional expertise encompasses product development, innovation, future aligned practices and solutions aimed at embedding sustainability within the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) pillars.
• Circularity and Impact assessments
• EU legislation (EU Green Deal, ESPR, DPP, Green Claims)
• Sustainability reporting
• Development of tailor-made trainings and webinars
Matthias Czerny
Expert for Chemical Substance Evaluation
Matthias is an expert in chemical hazard and risk assessment. He holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry and has deep expertise in the wide field of chemical regulatory frameworks including REACH, GHS, CLP, and Prop 65 among others. Prior to joining bluesign, Matthias worked as a technical consultant and served at several renowned chemical companies in the function as the Regulatory Affairs Lead.
• Chemical and environmental regulation, GHS, and Safety Data Sheets
• Hazard evaluation and risk assessment of chemicals
• Helpdesk services
Sumit Kanti Sarker
Sustainable Textile Expert
Sumit has a Master’s degree in Chemical and Energy Engineering, focusing on the impacts of water pollution and energy efficiency. His scientific publications have garnered over 300 citations to date. He also has extensive experience working with leading apparel brands and textile manufacturing facilities across diverse global regions to advance sustainability programs. Since 2014, he has worked in textile sustainability, gaining first-hand experience in industry trends and initiatives.
• Sustainable production process
• Chemical, energy and wastewater management
• Research, consulting and training in sustainability and EHS
Chu Wong
R&D and Strategy Expert Sustainability
Chu was trained to be a translator/interpreter, but her heart beats for fashion and she’s spent the last ten years working to make the industry better: She’s campaigned for better conditions within the fashion value chain. She’s founded a FashionTech start-up. She’s supported clients with a turnover of over a billion euros on their decarbonization journey.
Her expertise lies in:
• Stakeholder engagement
• Sustainability regulations
• Decarbonization
Sonia Chaudhary
Intern
Sonia holds a Bachelor’s in Textile Chemistry and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Sustainable Textiles with a vision to bridge gap between chemistry and sustainability.
Having worked as a Technical Lab Executive, Sonia has gained hands-on experience in recipe prediction, shade development and shade matching for global brands such as Adidas and Decathlon among others. Sonia is well-versed in textile testing as per ISO and AATCC standards.
Our Technical Experts
DR. MAKEBA KAMPARA
DR. RER. NAT. BIOCHEMISTRY
Head of Technical Services
Makeba has over ten years of experience in the assessment of chemical products, hazard and risk assessments, and related manufacturing processes, in the context of chemical regulation and product certification.
- Chemical regulation, labelling, SDS, REACH
- Product stewardship, product safety
- Ecotoxicology and environmental fate
Dr. Jimmy LEE
PhD Chemistry
Head of Textile Assessment Asia
Jimmy was a consultant providing consultancy services and technical support to textile, garment and plastic film manufacturers.
- EHS audit
- Sustainable textile processes
- Chemical management
Arthur Ruan
B. Sc. Textile Chemistry
Company Assessor
Arthur has ten years of experience in product development for dyes and auxiliaries with a world-leading company.
- Textile chemistry especially dyestuff
- Regulations after China EHS, product/chemical safety
- Product development
- Product stewardship
KEVIN SAU
PhD Chemistry
Head of Chemical Company Service Asia
Kevin worked at a commercial testing institute for ten years and has extensive knowledge of restricted substances.
- Textile chemistry
- Consumer safety
- Product stewardship
DR. MICHAL SABO
Dr. Rer. Nat. Chemistry and Material Science
Head of Chemical Services (Global)
Michal spent seven years working for a private textile and automotive company, and two years in research and development with a chemical company.
- Textile/materials chemistry and manufacturing
- Assessment of chemical products and materials
- On-site assessments
How to get a quote and book your desired service
- Contact us via email academy@bluesign.com with an outline of your needs
- Schedule a meeting with a bluesign ACADEMY technical expert for a service introduction and a discussion on your specific requirements
- Receive a defined scope of work and formal quotation
- Upon signature of the agreement, the ACADEMY will assist you in reducing the impact of your textile supply chains upon the planet and its people
SHARED KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION
At the bluesign® ACADEMY, we collect know-how from all of the areas of expertise in the textile production and delivery chain. We look beyond the horizon to learn from other industries. By observing new developments and trends, we prepare solutions for the future. We network with experts in the science, research and business sectors, and maintain an active exchange with our stakeholders.
