About AFIRM Group
Founded in 2004, the Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management (AFIRM) Group is a member-driven organization of apparel and footwear companies collaborating to promote chemicals management in the global supply chain. Since its founding, AFIRM’s focus has been the continuous advancement of chemicals management including phasing out or limiting restricted substances to established limits in apparel, footwear, and accessories.
Committees
AFIRM’s Data Committee aggregates and analyzes chemical testing data to support multiple AFIRM objectives and assess the organization’s progress in phasing out or limiting restricted substances to established limits.
AFIRM’s Laboratory Technical Advisory Committee is comprised of members of the global laboratory networks and advises the organization on test methods and related issues as part of the annual RSL update process. More information is available here.
AFIRM’s Packaging RSL Committee is responsible for maintaining the group’s industry leading Packaging Restricted Substances List on an annual basis.
AFIRM’s Public Policy and Compliance Committee monitors product chemical regulatory proposals and engages policymakers with recommendations to ensure regulatory frameworks are pragmatic and advance chemicals management in the apparel and footwear industry. The Committee also develops guidance to assist members in their compliance programs and submits regulatory filings on behalf of members.
AFIRM’s RSL Committee is responsible for maintaining the group’s industry leading Restricted Substances List on an annual basis. The Committee divides its work across ad hoc Task Forces as necessary to meet the organization’s objectives.
AFIRM’s Steering Committee is responsible for oversight of the organization, including governance, strategic direction, and partnerships. Steering Committee members serve two-year terms of service on a volunteer basis subject to approval by the membership.
AFIRM’s Testing Committee works collaboratively with Lab Technical Advisory Committee members to harmonize and improve sampling and chemical testing procedures globally for apparel, footwear, and related products.
AFIRM’s Training Committee produces and maintains publicly available educational tools and guidance on restricted substances for brands, retailers and the global supply chain. Examples include AFIRM’s Chemistry Toolkit and Chemical Information Sheets. AFIRM also holds Supplier Training Seminars in global production regions every couple of years, which are planned by an ad hoc Supplier Seminar Planning Committee.
Steering Committee
Dr. Marion Süsse-Bourebrab
HUGO BOSS — Senior Expert Chemical Management
Meera Bawa
lululemon athletica inc — Manager, Global Regulatory
Alexander Gyebi
adidas — Sr. Manager Product Safety and Compliance
Antonio Cortés Fuertes
Inditex — RSL Responsible
Kristen Miro
Carhartt — Senior Manager of Global Product Integrity
Dr. Tiffany Gomez
The Children's Place — Sr. Manager of Sustainable Chemistry
Frederic Felipe
Decathlon — Chemical Safety Leader
Staff
Nathaniel Sponsler
Director
Elena Slagle
Program Coordinator
Peter Gregory
Lab Technical Advisory Committee Coordinator
Dr. Asli Tamer Vestlund
Committee Facilitator
Committee Chairs
Data Committee
Lisa Clerici
Under Armour — Sr. Manager Global Restricted Substances Compliance
Hazel Mao
J.Crew Group — Testing and Product Compliance Manager
Packaging RSL Committee
Deepak Jadhav
New Balance – Global Director of Product Chemistry
Public Policy and Compliance Committee
Marcus Kuerner
adidas — Global Director Product Safety
Nathaniel Sponsler
AFIRM Group — Director
RSL Committee
Kristen Miro
Carhartt — Senior Manager of Global Product Integrity
Testing Committee
Marcus Kuerner
adidas — Global Director Product Safety
Jane Pors
BESTSELLER — Senior Chemical Specialist
Training Committee
Avery Lindeman
Gap, Inc. — Senior Manager, Sustainable Chemistry
Dr. Katharina Nørregaard Poulsen
ECCO — Chemical Compliance Specialist
