Textile And Apparel Boss: No Ta, You May Not Be Able To Get European Processing Orders!

In recent days, the Wujiang customs learned in the technical trade measures impact survey that some large brands and retail enterprises in Europe have screened the production enterprises through "STeP certification". Enterprises that fail to pass the certification will not be able to get processing orders.

"STeP certification" is known as "sustainable textile production certification". It is an independent certification system provided by Oeko-Tex, an international textile and environmental protection association. The international environmental Textiles Association was founded by the Haines Institute of Austria and the Textile Research Institute of Germany. It is now composed of 15 textile identification institutions and their representative offices.

"STeP certification" can cover all stages of textile production, including fiber production, spinning and weaving, knitting to finishing and garment manufacturing. Certification covers chemical management, environmental performance, environmental management, social responsibility, quality management, occupational health and safety modules. "STeP certification" transparently and reliably conveys the sustainable production conditions of enterprises, and helps global brands and retailers to find suitable suppliers that meet their environmental and social responsibility requirements worldwide. At the same time, this certification also provides favorable conditions for production enterprises to develop new market and supplier relationship.

It is understood that the member of the international environmental protection textile association, Haines Research Institute of Germany and TESTEX Swiss textile Certification Co., Ltd. has branches in Shanghai or Beijing, and the certification requirements of the corresponding enterprises can be applied and implemented through them.

The requirement of "STeP certification" is relatively high, which is difficult for enterprises with weak management foundation and relatively poor environmental friendliness. Under the trend of transformation, upgrading, quality and efficiency of textile industry in Wujiang, it is necessary for textile manufacturers to pay close attention to the certification, constantly improve their management foundation and environmental friendliness, and truly realize "sustainable textile production".

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What is STeP certification?

STeP is the abbreviation of SustainableTextileProduction, the sustainable textile production certification system introduced in July 2013 by OEKO-TEX international environmental textile association. STeP provides an independent certification system for brands, retailers and manufacturers in the textile industry to ensure that they communicate their efforts towards sustainable production conditions in a transparent and reliable manner. The modular structure of STeP certification can carry out a comprehensive analysis and assessment of the various fields of the enterprise, including quality management, environmental management, social responsibility, environmental protection, chemicals management and health and safety. STeP is more suited to the current market demand, and fully safeguarding the interests of the next generation is the upgrading of the original OEKO-TEXStandard1000 certification.

What are the exclusions of STeP certification?

Exclusions belong to the basic problem of STeP certification assessment. STeP certification enterprises need to meet all exclusion requirements before they are eligible to apply for STeP certification.

The development status of STeP certification?

So far, 32 enterprises in the world have successfully obtained STeP certification, about 10 enterprises are undergoing audit, about 40 enterprises are carrying out online evaluation, and about 60 enterprises have registered online and will carry out STeP certification. The accredited enterprises have covered 22 countries in the world, including Germany, Switzerland, Italy, China, India and Bangladesh, covering all the production stages of the textile supply chain, from fiber production to textile logistics centers.

How can STeP benefit enterprises?

First of all, STeP enables enterprises to gain a positive image, because the business results transmitted by the third party independent certification bodies to the public are convincing. The special advantage of STeP lies in the evaluation of all aspects of the enterprise and the overall assessment of the enterprise so that people can clearly see a variety of measurable environmental and social standards.

In addition, through careful observation of production processes together with OEKO-TEX auditors, enterprises can benefit from the specific requirements of certification. For example, for printing and dyeing factories, water can be saved by technical optimization and wastewater reuse. With far sighted and professional knowledge, water consumption can be reduced by 70% or even 80%, which is also applicable to other production processes. Innovative ideas and the adoption of the most advanced technology can save a lot of valuable raw resources, from waste heat utilization, production waste recovery to production workshop using energy-saving lighting and so on.