TEXTILE STANDARDIZATION

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TEXTILE STANDARDIZATION? TEXTILE STANDARDIZATION BRINGS RELIABILITY AND TRUST IN THE QUALITY OF THE TEXTILE PRODUCT ITSELF. IN THIS BLOG WE EXPLAIN WHICH CURRENT STANDARDS ARE FOLLOWED BY SCENSO D.O.O.

MADE IN GREEN BY OEKO-TEX®

MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® is a traceable product label for all types of textiles (e.g. clothing, home textiles) and non-textile components (e.g. accessories). The MADE IN GREEN label confirms that the product has been tested for harmful substances. This is carried out through certification according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®. It also guarantees that the textile product has been manufactured through sustainable processes under environmentally friendly and socially responsible working conditions. This is ensured through certification according to STeP by OEKO-TEX®. You can use the unique product ID on the label to trace the countries and production facilities where the labeled product was manufactured.

Every item labeled MADE IN GREEN can be traced using a unique product ID or QR code. The label provides access to information about the production facilities where the textile was manufactured, the production stage the fabric belongs to, and the countries where production took place. The MADE IN GREEN label gives you the assurance that the textile product has been made:

- with materials tested for harmful substances

- in environmentally friendly facilities

- in safe and socially responsible workplaces.

STANDARD 100 BY OEKO-TEX®

If a textile product carries the STANDARD 100 label, you can be confident that every component of this product—every thread, button, and other accessory—has been tested for harmful substances and is therefore harmless to human health from an ecological perspective. Testing is carried out by independent OEKO-TEX® institutes based on an extensive OEKO-TEX® criteria catalogue. The tests consider numerous regulated and non-regulated substances that may be harmful to human health. In many cases, the limit values for STANDARD 100 exceed national and international requirements. The criteria catalogue is updated at least once a year and expanded with new scientific findings or legal requirements. It is not easy for manufacturers and buyers to keep track of the legal situation regarding harmful substances every day. Our experts from the OEKO-TEX® institutes do this for you.

In principle, all textile products at every stage of processing are suitable for STANDARD 100 certification, from yarn to finished fabrics and finished products. According to the modular system, each individual component is tested before the final article is allowed to carry the STANDARD 100 label. This includes yarns, buttons, zippers, and linings. Prints and coatings applied to the outer material are also tested for harmful substances according to the relevant criteria. Whether baby textiles, clothing, home textiles, or decorative materials: products bearing the STANDARD 100 label provide trust.

STEP BY OEKO-TEX®

STeP by OEKO-TEX® stands for Sustainable Textile and Leather Production and is a modular certification system for production facilities in the textile and leather industry. The goal of STeP is to implement environmentally friendly production processes in the long term, improve health and safety, and promote socially responsible working conditions at production sites. Target groups for STeP certification are textile and leather manufacturers, as well as brands and retailers.

STeP differs from other certification systems because, instead of considering only individual aspects of sustainability, it includes a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of production conditions. STeP analyzes all important areas of a company using six modules:

• Chemical management
• Environmental performance
• Environmental management systems
• Social responsibility
• Quality management
• Health and safety at work

The goal of the STeP certification is the long-term implementation of environmentally friendly production processes, social working conditions, and optimal health and safety.

STeP focuses on certifying the entire production chain in the textile and leather sector. Textile manufacturers at all processing levels can be certified, from fiber production to spinning and weaving/knitting to finishing and garment production. In the leather industry, all processes such as tanning, re-tanning, dyeing, fatliquoring, finishing, and coating can be certified. Logistics centers and manufacturers of accessories, foams, and mattresses can also apply for STeP certification.

DETOX TO ZERO BY OEKO-TEX®

DETOX TO ZERO by OEKO-TEX® is an effective verification system for the textile and leather industry aimed at implementing the criteria of the Greenpeace DETOX campaign in production facilities. In this case, instead of certification, it is an analysis tool for optimizing and monitoring chemical management and wastewater quality. What is DETOX TO ZERO? DETOX TO ZERO is based on the DETOX campaign launched by Greenpeace in 2011, which aims to eliminate hazardous chemicals from textile production. With DETOX TO ZERO, OEKO-TEX® provides textile and leather manufacturers with a practical and usable analysis and evaluation tool that creates transparency and control over the use of hazardous substances.

The focus is on:

- Compliance of wastewater and sludge according to the DETOX TO ZERO list of restricted substances (MRSL)

- Compliance of chemicals used in the company according to the DETOX TO ZERO MRSL

- General management with focus on chemicals and environmental performance

When using the DETOX TO ZERO analysis and evaluation tool, manufacturers cannot “pass” or “fail,” as this is not a traditional certification system. Instead, the focus is on a continuous improvement process. The situation in production facilities is analyzed and a strong action plan is prepared that enables the gradual reduction of harmful substances in production processes. Who is DETOX TO ZERO for? If you have signed the DETOX commitment from Greenpeace as a brand or retailer, the DETOX TO ZERO verification system supports you and your suppliers in achieving the campaign goals. DETOX TO ZERO is also designed for customers and suppliers who proactively work towards complying with the goals of the Greenpeace DETOX campaign.