Footwear glossary · Compliance & Testing
What is an RSL (Restricted Substances List)?
RSL (Restricted Substances List)
An RSL is a brand or retailer’s list of chemicals restricted or banned in their products, with limits often stricter than law. Suppliers must test materials and finished goods against the RSL to confirm compliance before shipment.
Where REACH and other regulations set the legal floor, many brands publish their own RSL that goes further — tighter limits, more substances, or earlier phase-outs (e.g. PFAS). It is a contractual requirement, not just a legal one.
Meeting an RSL means selecting compliant materials up front and verifying with accredited lab testing, then keeping documentation for due diligence.
DOING works to a customer’s RSL when it is stricter than law, confirms materials before bulk purchase, and provides third-party lab reports on request.
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