Poison in Fast Fashion?

POINTER CHECKT revisits Centexbel!
stijn pointer checkt screenshot
23 / 05 / 2025
REACH

Does your clothing contain toxic substances?

In this episode, Pointer Checks examines six garments from three major popular retailers: H&M, Zara and Primark. 

None of the items Pointer Checkt had us test from Zara, H&M and Primark contained more toxic substances than the standard allows.

Pointer examined clothes from these three brands, because previous research showed that products from popular online shop Shein did exceed the health standard for toxic substances. This was followed by viewers asking: what about clothes from other well-known brands that produce in the same countries, such as China and Bangladesh, and also belong to the fast fashion industry?

In this episode, presenter Benji and his team go to Centebel to hear the results of the tests. They also talk to fashion journalist Susan Sjouwerman about the fast-fashion industry and visit Lowtox friend, who tries to avoid as many chemicals in her clothes as possible.

Stijn-pointercheckt-50

According to Stijn Steuperaert, the sample is not representative to make statements about the brands as a whole.

We can only say that for the chemicals tested here, we found no issues above the legal limit. Obviously, a more extensive study with multiple tests is needed to make a statement whether all garments are safe or not. But for the chemicals tested, the garments are definitely safe for human health.

Shein Haul

Watch the previous episode of POINTER CHECKT in which Centexbel conducted the tests and Stijn interpreted the results.

Contact

More news

Banner-Polymer processing
27 / 10 / 2026
Patent news

Polymer processing aid for polyolefin compositions

The present disclosure relates to polymer processing aids for polyolefin compositions and the methods of using the same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to polymer processing aids that are substantially free of fluorine-containing compounds and their use in polyolefin compositions, like in linear low density polyethylene compositions, in particular to produce blown or cast films.

Polymer processing aid for polyolefin compositions
Banner-Protective Clothing (1).
27 / 10 / 2026
Patent alert

Protective Clothing

This month's patent alert highlights recent innovations in protective clothing and specifically firefighter clothing systems. Protective clothing is a rapidly evolving field that combines textile engineering with the search for ultimate properties combinations, such as comfort and protection against different hazards. Centexbel plays a key role in both the testing and certification of protective clothing. 

Protective Clothing
Banner-75jaar_CEO
23 / 10 / 2026
Press

75Y Centexbel

On Thursday, October 22, Centexbel celebrated its 75th anniversary with a special event at The Lab in Ghent. Customers, companies, researchers, innovation partners, and policymakers came together to reflect on 75 years of technological progress and, above all, to look ahead to the challenges that will shape the textile and plastics industries in the years to come.
 

75Y Centexbel
All news