Potassium permanganate (PP) has been added to the Chemical Watchlist of the ZDHC Foundation, marking a significant step toward stricter chemical control in denim production. The move increases industry scrutiny and signals a potential phase-out of PP spray, a hazardous process widely used to create vintage effects on denim.
Jeanologia, a global leader in sustainable finishing technologies, welcomed the decision. The company has advocated eliminating PP spray for years due to its risks to worker health, operational safety, and the environment.
Since 2015, Jeanologia has replaced PP spray with laser-based technologies, including Light Bright and G2 Ozone systems. These solutions create authentic vintage effects without chemical spraying, offering digital precision, improved worker safety, and reduced environmental impact.
Through its Environmental Impact Measuring (EIM) platform, Jeanologia’s 2024 denim report identifies potassium permanganate as a high-risk finishing process and reinforces laser technology as a safer, scalable alternative.
According to Jeanologia’s Global Marketing Director Carmen Silla, the industry must move beyond compliance and fully transition to safer technologies. The company urges brands, laundries, and manufacturers to accelerate the shift toward chemical-free denim finishing.
As ESG standards and transparency requirements grow, early adoption of sustainable technologies is becoming a competitive advantage. Industry experts believe the phase-out of PP spray is no longer a future goal — it is already an industrial reality.
