Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management Group

What Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management Group does

AFIRM Group (Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management Group) is a membership consortium and standards organization operating as a division of Phylmar Group, Inc., a California corporation headquartered in Los Angeles. Founded in 2008, AFIRM convenes apparel and footwear brands to harmonize chemical management across the global supply chain, publishing the industry reference Restricted Substances List (RSL) and Packaging RSL that capture the most stringent global regulations including EU REACH, US CPSIA, and California Prop 65. Its core offerings include the RSL, Chemistry Toolkit, Chemical Information Sheets, Laboratory Capabilities Assessment, PFAS Phaseout Guidance, VOC Guidance, Sampling Guidance, training videos, webinars, the standardized Test Request Form (TRF), and the LabTAC committee.

The organization serves two primary segments: apparel and footwear brands/retailers (who use AFIRM resources for RSL compliance and shared test reporting), and their suppliers/manufacturers (who must comply with harmonized restricted substance requirements across multiple buyers). A secondary segment comprises third-party testing laboratories that use AFIRM protocols to demonstrate capability for member-brand programs.

AFIRM generates revenue primarily through membership fees paid by brand members; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization reaches the broader supply chain through a content-led model, distributing publications free of charge via its website in 8 languages, supplemented by email newsletters, a LinkedIn presence, webinars, and annual in-person Supplier Seminars (with the next scheduled for 20 November 2025 in Istanbul, Türkiye). Nathaniel Sponsler serves as AFIRM Director and primary membership contact.

Name

Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management Group

Legal name

Phylmar Group, Inc.

Website

https://afirm-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AFIRM Group is a membership consortium of apparel and footwear brands that publishes harmonized Restricted Substances Lists and chemical management resources for the global supply chain. Founded in 2008 and operated as a division of Phylmar Group, Inc., it serves brand members, their suppliers, and testing laboratories across 8 languages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chemical Management Standards

akta.pro primary industry

Supply Chain & Product Environmental Compliance (RoHS, WEEE, Packaging EPR, Eco-Design/Labeling Regulations) (EUAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Restricted substances list
• Chemical management standards
• Apparel supply chain compliance
• RSL management
• Industry chemical guidance

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: AFIRM Group generates revenue through membership fees from apparel and footwear brands. Other brands are welcome to apply for membership by contacting the AFIRM Director. As a division of The Phylmar Group, Inc., membership dues likely fund the consortium's operations and resource development.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AFIRM Group develops and publishes chemical management standards and guidance for the apparel and footwear supply chain. Its core offering is the AFIRM Restricted Substances List (RSL) and Packaging RSL, supplemented by the Chemistry Toolkit, Chemical Information Sheets, Laboratory Capabilities Assessment, VOC Guidance, Sampling Guidance, and PFAS Phaseout Guidance. These resources enable brands, suppliers, and laboratories to align on restricted substance requirements across global markets.

Product overview

AFIRM Group operates as a single integrated platform providing resources, publications, and guidance for chemical management in the apparel and footwear supply chain. The core offering centers on the AFIRM Restricted Substances List (RSL) and Packaging RSL, supplemented by the Chemistry Toolkit, Chemical Information Sheets, and Laboratory Capabilities Assessment. Additional supporting services include the Test Request Form (TRF), VOC Guidance, Sampling Guidance, Training Videos, Webinars, and PFAS Phaseout Guidance. The organization also facilitates Supplier Seminars and maintains LabTAC (Laboratory Testing and Advisory Committee) for industry collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AFIRM Restricted Substances List (RSL) The flagship harmonized Restricted Substances List for the apparel and footwear industry, capturing the most stringent global chemical regulations plus additional chemicals and stricter limits for best practice. Available in English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Indonesian, Japanese, Spanish, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Used by brands, suppliers, and laboratories to align on chemical compliance.
• Packaging RSL A restricted substances list specifically for packaging materials used in the apparel and footwear supply chain. Available in multiple languages to support global supply chain accessibility.
• Chemical Information Sheets Detailed information sheets for each chemical or group of chemicals on the AFIRM RSL, providing guidance on restricted substances and their management. Published in multiple languages.
• Chemistry Toolkit A comprehensive toolkit providing resources and guidance for chemical management best practices in the apparel and footwear supply chain. Available in multiple languages including English, Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Spanish, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
• Laboratory Capabilities Assessment Resources and guidance for assessing laboratory testing capabilities for restricted substances compliance in the apparel and footwear supply chain.
• PFAS Phaseout Guidance Guidance document for brands and the footwear and apparel supply chain on eliminating the use of PFAS in materials, footwear, apparel, accessories, and products. Available in multiple languages.
• VOC Guidance Guidance on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) management for the apparel and footwear supply chain. Available in multiple languages including English, Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Spanish, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
• Sampling Guidance Guidance on sampling procedures and best practices for RSL testing in the apparel and footwear supply chain.
• Test Request Form (TRF) A standardized fillable PDF template with dropdown lists and radio buttons for submitting test orders to laboratories, referencing AFIRM testing packages and matrices. Used by suppliers and brands to streamline RSL test ordering.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% of OEKO-TEX content mirrors AFIRM RSL, demonstrating industry alignment with AFIRM standards

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• OEKO-TEXmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFIRM maintains comparability with OEKO-TEX standards. Over 80% of OEKO-TEX content mirrors AFIRM RSL and brand-specific RSLs, though there are specific differences. OEKO-TEX 100 approved materials still must fulfill AFIRM or brand-specific RSL requirements regardless of OEKO-TEX certification.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS: Global testing, inspection and certification company providing RSL testing and supplier audits to apparel brands. A scaled incumbent whose lab and certification services overlap with the AFIRM Test Request Form and LabTAC offerings.
• Textile Exchange: Industry-wide standards body for preferred fibers and materials (GRS, RCS, OCS) with growing chemical-management work. Overlaps with AFIRM on apparel supply chain sustainability standards, though broader in scope beyond chemicals.
• Intertek: Major TIC provider offering chemical testing and restricted-substances compliance services for textiles and apparel. Comparable overlap through laboratory capabilities and chemical-compliance programs that could substitute for AFIRM-aligned testing.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing and certification group active in consumer-products chemical compliance for apparel and footwear. Provides testing protocols and supplier programs that intersect with AFIRM's Laboratory Capabilities Assessment and testing guidance.

Direct peers

• Bluesign Technologies: Provides chemical and process certification (bluesign approved, bluesign CIL) for textile and apparel manufacturers. Comparable chemical-management standards and supplier-assessment services aimed at the same brand and supplier base as AFIRM.
• OEKO-TEX: Operator of Standard 100, STeP and Made in Green certifications for textiles and leather. Functions as both a partner (over 80% of OEKO-TEX content mirrors AFIRM RSL) and a competing standard for chemical safety in the apparel supply chain.
• ZDHC Foundation: Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Foundation operates the apparel/footwear industry's other major chemical management framework (ZDHC MRSL, InCheck, ClearStream). Directly comparable membership consortium targeting the same brands and suppliers with overlapping chemical-compliance goals.

Emerging players

• ChemFORWARD: Maintains a shared chemical hazard database (Safer Chemicals) used by brands and suppliers to screen formulations. Comparable focus on harmonizing chemical safety data, but more chemical-formulation centric than AFIRM's product-level RSL.
• ChemSec (International Chemical Secretariat): Swedish non-profit that maintains the SIN List and advocates for stricter chemical regulation. Influences the same REACH and PFAS policy landscape AFIRM tracks, and could evolve into a competing compliance framework.

Others

• Green Science Policy Institute: Research and advocacy organization focused on PFAS and other chemicals of concern. Not a direct competitor, but its policy work directly shapes the substances AFIRM is asked to track and phase out in the RSL.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afirmgroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management Group