Levi’s, H&M announce ban on sand-blasting

Two of the best known fashion brands in the world have announced they will implement a ban on sand-blasting on all their future product lines.
   Hennes & Mauritz AB and Levi Strauss & Co. say they want to eliminate sand-blasting as an industry practice.
   Sand-blasting creates a worn look for denim and other apparel, but risks exposing workers to crystalline silica. While companies such as H&M and Levi’s take steps to protect workers with their own codes of conduct and legislative requirements, counterfeiting operations are unlikely to do the same.
   The companies say that the last orders for sand-blasted garments will be on December 31, 2010. The ban includes, but is not limited to, the use of aluminium oxide, aluminium silicate, silicon carbide, copper slag and garnet for abrasive blasting.