Children across our schools are being required to wear uniforms made from synthetic fabrics and chemically treated materials for six or more hours every day , often with no option for safer alternatives.

These uniforms are increasingly made from polyester and other petroleum-based fibres. Many are also treated with chemical finishes to make them “easy care,” “stain-resistant,” or “non-iron,” including substances such as PFAS  often referred to as “forever chemicals.”

This raises serious concerns for both children’s health and the environment.

Health Concerns
Scientific research has identified that PFAS and other textile chemicals can be present in clothing, including school uniforms. Studies published in peer-reviewed journals such as Environmental Science & Technology have found PFAS in stain-resistant school uniforms.

PFAS exposure has been associated, in multiple studies, with:

Disruption to the endocrine (hormonal) system
Effects on immune function
Developmental impacts in children
Increased risk of certain cancers
Children are particularly vulnerable to environmental exposures due to their developing bodies.

School uniforms are worn directly against the skin for extended periods. Heat, sweat, and friction during the school day may increase contact between the skin and these materials.

In addition, synthetic fabrics such as polyester can shed microfibres. Microplastics have now been detected in air, water, and the human body, raising growing concerns about long-term health effects, although research is still ongoing in this area.

Sensory and Accessibility Concerns
For many neurodivergent children, including those with sensory processing differences, synthetic fabrics can be extremely uncomfortable.

These materials are often:

Less breathable
Heat-retaining
Prone to static
Irritating to sensitive skin
This can cause distress, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating in school  and in some cases, can even impact attendance.

At present, many schools do not offer suitable alternatives, or require special permission, placing an additional burden on families and singling out children who are already trying to fit in.

Inclusive education should not require children to endure physical discomfort in order to participate.

Environmental Impact
Polyester and other synthetic fabrics are derived from fossil fuels and do not biodegrade. Every synthetic garment produced continues to exist in landfill or the environment.

These materials also contribute to microplastic pollution, which is now found globally in oceans, soil, and ecosystems.

At a time of growing environmental awareness, it is no longer acceptable to require children to wear plastic-based clothing daily.

What are we asking you to sign?
We are calling on the Irish Government and Department of Education to introduce legislation that protects children’s health, accessibility and the environment by fundamentally changing the way school uniforms are designed, manufactured and sold in Ireland.

We are asking the Government to:

1. Give parents genuine choice
Require schools to adopt open, non-proprietary uniform policies, rather than requiring parents to purchase a complete uniform from one designated supplier.

Schools should be able to specify simple requirements such as navy trousers, navy skirts, white shirts and a school crest, rather than requiring uniquely designed garments that can only be purchased from one retailer.

A school crest should be available separately ,for example, as an iron-on or sew-on badge  so that parents can purchase suitable clothing from ordinary retailers.

2. Make natural fibre uniforms a genuine option
Require schools to make available an affordable natural-fibre alternative, particularly cotton, for children who cannot tolerate synthetic fabrics because of sensory, skin or other health needs.

Parents should not have to commission expensive bespoke uniforms simply because their child cannot tolerate polyester or other synthetic materials.

3. Stop unnecessary chemical treatments in children's schoolwear
Introduce legislation requiring school uniforms and children's school clothing sold in Ireland to be free from unnecessary chemical finishes, including treatments used to make garments “non-iron”, “easy care”, stain-resistant or permanently crease-resistant.

Where a chemical treatment is genuinely necessary, its presence should be clearly disclosed.

4. Require safer alternatives in mainstream retailers
Require retailers selling children's schoolwear to provide affordable, untreated or minimally treated natural-fibre alternatives, rather than making synthetic and chemically treated fabrics the only option.

A parent should be able to walk into a shop such as Marks & Spencer, Tesco or another schoolwear retailer and find a simple, affordable 100% cotton school shirt without unnecessary chemical finishes.

5. Protect children with sensory and medical needs
School uniform policies should recognise that children with autism, sensory processing differences, eczema and other conditions may have legitimate difficulties with particular fabrics and finishes.

No child should be singled out, stigmatised or forced to endure physical distress simply because their school uniform does not accommodate their needs.

6. Make children's schoolwear environmentally responsible
Government procurement and school uniform policies should prioritise durable, repairable and lower-impact natural fibres and reduce unnecessary reliance on fossil-fuel-derived synthetic textiles.

please note i am not asking you to donate money that is Change.org and has nothing to do with this campaign 

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