NIKWAX Launches Chemical Management System To Further Protect Partners, Consumers, & Environment

Nikwax, the global leader in innovative, environmentally safe aftercare and waterproofing solutions, extends its commitment to human and environmental safety as part of its Sustainability Roadmap 2025  

Nikwax continues to lead the field in outdoor industry safety by implementing a Chemical Management System (CMS) that looks after its employees, its customers, and the environment through precise, safe management of chemical substances. It also demonstrates the sustainable qualities of Nikwax products.  

The Nikwax CMS goes above and beyond legal requirements to eliminate hazardous chemistry from the entire manufacturing process - from sourcing to bottling. It allows the brand to add chemicals of concern to its unique Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL), ensuring they react quickly to emerging safety evidence so that nothing dangerous comes in, or gets out into people’s homes and the environment. 

“Nikwax has had a long, proud history of ‘doing the right thing’ when it comes to the selection of safer chemistry, including the complete avoidance of PFC’s. The new Chemical Management System takes this even further, ensuring that nothing hazardous has been present in our manufacturing processes. We are going beyond industry best practice to ensure our products continue to be safer for people, and our planet.” Tim Pickering, Director of Product and Brand 

The CMS is one of 20 sustainability projects that will help Nikwax fulfill its goals and champion transparency by demonstrating it does exactly what the company says it does - not exposing humans and the environment to hazardous chemistry. Outdoor industry companies have a fundamental responsibility to help preserve the natural environment and its people, and Nikwax will play a crucial role in reshaping the industry and beyond, for future generations to come. 

Five key principles to ensure the safe processing of Nikwax chemicals:

1. Input management  Ensuring nothing hazardous comes in, via effective sourcing, screening and its unique Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL)
2. Inventory/stock Knowing exactly what the company has on its sites, via precise inventory management
3. Chemical handling Handling chemicals safely, via expert training that is continually reviewed
4. Chemical storage  Storing chemicals safely and following cast iron procedures
5. Output management Ensuring nothing hazardous gets out, via stringent output controls that includes wastewater testing

Nikwax will undergo three auditing procedures to prove both the veracity of its CMS and the brand’s core commitment to transparency:

1. Annual ISO 9001 audit to demonstrate Nikwax is following its own processes comprehensively
2. CMS-focussed additional auditing, which is reviewed within the ISO 9001 audit
3. Independent audit that covers all chemicals on-site, and input and output effluent

Nikwax has published its CMS Policy Manual and the methodology behind its integration into its ISO 9001 audits: https://www.nikwax.com/en-gb/environment/chemical-management-system/ 

The CMS is one of 20 sustainability projects that will help Nikwax fulfil its goals and champion transparency by demonstrating it does exactly what the company’s says it does - not exposing humans and the environment to hazardous chemistry. Outdoor industry companies have a fundamental responsibility to help preserve the natural environment and its people, and Nikwax will play a crucial role in reshaping the industry and beyond, for future generations to come.