Customised tools for the implementation of greater sustainability in the textile chain

TSIM SHA TSUI, Hong Kong - Jan. 7, 2015 - PRLog -- 11-Nov-2014 | 2176-EN

Zurich (hm) Activities such as the detox campaign and the resulting ZDHC initiative, the regular tightening of the statutory requirements under the European REACh regulation and also political actions such as the establishment of the Aktionsbündnis für nachhaltige Textilien [Alliance for Sustainable Textiles] in Germany clarify that human-ecological product safety, fair working conditions and the use of environmentally friendly production processes represent key challenges for the textile industry. In this context, at their annual meeting in Vienna at the end of October, the OEKO-TEX® General Managers confirmed that the OEKO-TEX® Association will continue to provide optimum support via their independent services to industrial and retail companies in the operational implementation of greater sustainability. "For more than 20 years, our product portfolio has specifically targeted the situation in the textile and clothing industry and thus offers companies practical solutions", summarised OEKO-TEX® General Secretary, Dr. Jean-Pierre Haug, with reference to the reasons for high acceptance and distribution along the textile value-creation chain. With over 13,000 certificates issued in the past year, the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, for example, is again showing a growth rate of 5.8% compared to the previous year and was also able to further establish its position as the global leading label for textiles tested for harmful substances.

The additional quality assurance actions introduced by OEKO-TEX® in recent years such as the increase in checkpoints on the market (from 20 to 25% of certificates issued each year), as well as the regular company audit for certified businesses (over 3,500 visits per year), show a significant improvement in the conformity of certified products with the technical requirements of the OEKO-TEX® Standards 100. The failure rate has never been as low as it was last year. This figure has improved continuously over recent years and is currently at just 3.4%. According to the OEKO-TEX® General Secretary, "even though the majority of these cases only relate to 'less critical' tests such as the pH value or colour fastness, we consistently follow up each case of non-conformity and demand an improvement in the production conditions by the certificate holder."

"In addition, of particular importance for our 10,000+ participating partner companies from around 100 countries", continues Haug "is the continuous further development of our certifications." For example, amongst other things, the new test criteria and threshold values for the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 were adopted in Vienna. These will be valid from January 1st, 2015 and are intended as a new amendment in the context of increased product safety. The General Managers were also pleased about the positive response by the industry to the STeP certification for environmentally friendly and socially responsible production facilities, which was introduced in 2013, as well as the MySTeP database, which was presented this year, which allows brand suppliers, manufacturers and retailers to centrally manage their supply chains with regard to sustainable criteria. Since July, a total of 22 production facilities in 12 countries have successfully passed through STeP certification, 29 further companies are currently taking the online assessment and/or the required company audit and will soon receive their certification. The MySTeP database is currently used by some well-known pilot customers and can be used by all companies in the textile chain, regardless of whether they already have OEKO-TEX® certification.

The OEKO-TEX® representatives expressed their great satisfaction with the current status of the new Made in Green product labels for textiles that have been tested for harmful substances and which are the result of sustainable production. In the future, the new premium label will offer industrial and retail companies the possibility to recognise services provided along the supply chain with regard to their non-hazardous product quality, socially responsible working conditions and ecological production processes directly on the sales article for the consumer in a clear manner. The Made in Green by OEKO-TEX® Label replaces the previous OEKO-TEX® Standard 100plus as well as the Spanish Made in Green by Aitex label and is currently in the final pilot phase before it is launched on the market.