Textile Enterprises Need To Pay Attention To International Eco Textile Standards To Be Implemented

During the epidemic prevention and control period, more than 60% of China's medical and sanitary textiles enterprises have started to resume production. Textile enterprises need to pay attention to the International Eco textile standards to be implemented. The International Eco Textile Association updated its existing certification service testing standards and limit values in early 2020. After the transition period, all new provisions of the OEKO-TEX2020 will come into force on April 1, 2020. The characteristics of the new regulation include:

- MADEINGREENbyOEKO-TEX now includes leather products.

Since the introduction of MADEINGREEN tags to textiles in 2015, the sustainability label has been applied to leather products since January 2020. In 2019, the International Eco Textile Association extended the certification target of STeP (Sustainable Textile production) to the leather products factory. By integrating leather products and MADEINGREEN tags, OEKO-TEX is taking a step forward. Leather products affixed with MADEINGREEN labels have been tested for harmful substances according to LEATHERSTANDARD and manufactured according to STeP in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible factory. This enables consumers to trace the production plants and manufacturing countries of leather products (such as clothing, footwear or furniture) through the only product ID or two-dimensional code on the label. OEKO-TEX also requires the production plant to be audited to check whether the production plant is up to standard. MADEINGREEN has been listed as one of the most stringent labels on the market by Greenpeace.

Two. New restricted substances

Substances that are included in the STANDARD100 and LEATHERSTANDARD standards are carcinogenic nitrosamines and nitroso compounds.

Substances that are included in the limit catalogue of STANDARD100: herbicide glyphosate and its sodium salt.

In addition, STANDARD100 and LEATHERSTANDARD also stipulated the total limit value of toxic heavy metals arsenic and mercury. Strict requirements for residues in textile materials will reduce the overall impact on environment, workers and consumers.

Three. New substances being monitored

In 2020, OEKO-TEX will monitor all kinds of new substances according to the latest scientific discoveries. According to the REACH code, some substances with special hazardous properties and aryl amines have been classified as SVHC substances. The new standard will also conduct rigorous testing of various dyes, pesticides and perfluorinated compounds.

Four. Integrate DETOXTOZERO into STePbyOEKO-TEX.

In response to the increasing complexity of textile and leather production, DETOXTOZERO will become a mandatory element of the STeP certification factory starting in April 1, 2020. The implementation of the new standard will enable STeP to meet the requirements of hazardous substances zero emission (ZDHC) manufacturing process restricted substances list (MRSL) and standard of Greenpeace detoxification action.

Five, enterprise response

(1) clarify the standard content and formulate internal procurement rules.

(2) enhance technological innovation, reduce or replace the use of prohibited substances.

(3) integrate existing internal resources and establish effective raw material database.

(4) strengthen communication and exchange among enterprises, complement each other and increase international competitiveness.

(5) seize the opportunity of all roads and develop diversified markets.