NEWS. Confidence in Textiles

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1 NEWS Confidence in Textiles News OEKO-TEX supports the German government s Textiles Alliance Our OEKO-TEX Standard 100 products STeP by OEKO-TEX MySteP by OEKO-TEX Made in Green by OEKO-TEX Customer Service Additional advertising for your company OEKO-TEX Exhibition events 2015 visit us: Heimtextil 2015: Hall 8.0 D 96 Green Village GAL.1 N01B ISPO 2015: Hall C2 315 MunichFabricStart: Eco-Village Further events at

2 2 Editiorial News OEKO-TEX supports the German government s Textiles Alliance GERMANY: Dear Sir or Madame, We are delighted to share our latest OEKO-TEX News with you. In time for the spring 2015 trade fairs, we have put together the latest from our portfolio for more sustainability along the textile chain. To begin with, page 3 provides an overview of the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 including the specific criteria for the testing for harmful substances and the advantages for industry and retail associated with the label. Have you heard of STeP by OEKO-TEX, yet? Committed to the overarching goal Sustainable Textile Production STeP is the consistent progression of the OEKO-TEX Standard How STeP Certification eases a credible and coherent communication of sustainable production processes is further elaborated on page 4. Our new label: Made in Green by OEKO-TEX find all details on page 7. Made in Green is a label tendering sustainably manufactured consumer goods and semi-finished products from all levels of the textile chain. The development of an IT-database and editing software for more transparency within the own supply chain was a pre-requisite for that. Page 6 presents what the MyStep database offers so far. Each and every alliance partner agrees on one central issue: more engagement is required to combat the no-go areas in worldwide textile production. Exploitative relationships, inadequate safety conditions and a lack of environmental protection are unacceptable situations more effectively fought against as a collective. The development of the alliance may have been complicated and the set targets and time window may be ambitious, but the core idea remains a worthy one. With this in mind, the OEKO-TEX Association, together with its 16 member institutes and more than 50 contact centres worldwide, is supporting the Textiles Alliance launched by the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Gerd Müller. Even at this early stage, some companies with OEKO-TEX certification including Trigema from Germany and Niagara Textiles and Saiham Knit Composites from Bangladesh have already joined the Textiles Alliance. The methods to be employed to ensure a strong collaborative partnership not only within the alliance but also along the textile chain and establish a proper standard of sustainability must be discussed on a on eye level, and a range of business models must be taken into account when setting out the specific steps to be taken. Non-governmental organisations and industry groups have different ideas and opinions about what is to be done and what means/instruments are required to do so. These differences can only be resolved through dialogue. Thus, from the perspective of the OEKO-TEX Association, the Textile Alliance is set to make a valuable contribution especially in confronting the undeniable realities in textile production. Our self-service-portal including the Buying Guide is available at all times on our homepage: We hope you enjoy reading our OEKO-TEX News and wish you inspiring encounters on the 2015 trade fairs. Yours faithfully, Jutta Knels, Manager, OEKO-TEX Foundation GmbH

3 3 Our product portfolio OEKO-TEX Standard 100 OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Concept The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is an independent certification system and product label for textiles of all kinds that have been tested for harmful substances. Certification is available for raw, semi-finished and finished textile products in every processing stage. Its modular principle (which recognises existing certification for source materials at subsequent stages) avoids duplicate checks and saves costs. OEKO-TEX harmful substance testing provides you with effective protection against undesired chemicals, thus providing a reliable product label for consumers for whom textiles that pose no risks to health are of particular importance. Criteria OEKO-TEX harmful substance testing cover: Legally prohibited and regulated substances Chemicals known to be harmful to health (but not yet legally regulated) Parameters for the provision of health care The test criteria are updated on a yearly basis. Overall, the requirements go far beyond existing national laws. Even today they are used as a standard for new legal regulations and other industry initiatives. Benefits for industry and retail OEKO-TEX certification is the perfect addition to your operational quality assurance regarding human-ecological product safety. The OEKO-TEX criteria catalogue forms a standardised worldwide requirements profile for purchasing and supply conditions which simplifies and accelerates the information flow through increased transparency. Certificates issued by world region (as of 31/12/2014) 1.6 % 34.9% 1.1% 62.3% 0.1% Certificates issued since 1992 (as of 31/12/2014) General presence More than 10,000 companies worldwide actively involved in the OEKO-TEX system A total of over 145,000 certificates issued since 1992 for millions of labelled products on the market (as of December 2014) More than 13,000 certificates issued in the past year alone (December 2014) Comprehensive presence throughout all stages of the textile value-added chain (including accessories) Providing a model and guidance for a wide range of other organisations, associations companies and even legal provisions Forms the basis for the terms of supply of a huge number of manufacturers and retailers and for their labels Product identification with the OEKO-TEX label in all areas of trade A high profile in major consumer markets such as Europe and Japan

4 4 Our product portfolio STeP by OEKO-TEX STeP by OEKO-TEX Concept Our certification system for sustainable textile production. Launched in July 2013 as the natural development of the earlier OEKO-TEX Standard 1000, STeP by OEKO-TEX certification allows brands, retailers and manufacturers in the textile chain to communicate their achievements regarding sustainable production conditions in a transparent, credible and understandable way. Certification can be obtained for production facilities in all of the processing stages, from fibre production, spinning mills, weaving mills, and knitting mills to finishing facilities and manufacturers of ready-made clothes. The aim of STeP certification is to continuously improve environmental performance, provide the maximum level of health and safety and ensure socially responsible working conditions. Criteria Taking a holistic approach, STeP by OEKO-TEX analyses and evaluates the current production conditions in terms of: The use of environmentally friendly technology and products and the impact of production operations on the environment Standards for fair working conditions (social responsibility) Compliance with strict standards for safe and healthy workplaces The implementation and application of a suitable chemical, environmental and quality management system Benefits for brands, industry and retail Economic added value thanks to efficient use of resources and production processes Transparent performance analysis, thus improving your ability to compare suppliers (benchmarking) in relation to key sustainability factors Image boost and the development of new business relationships thanks to neutral and easily understandable proof of social and ecological engagement Examples of companies with STeP certification worldwide MATTES & AMMANN Times New Roman PS gesperrt 50

5 5 Our product portfolio STeP by OEKO-TEX 22 9 Companies certified by STeP by OEKO-TEX (as of 21/12/2014) 27 Latest status of the certification 27 certified production facilities from 13 countries worldwide and at every processing stage 9 companies being audited at present 22 companies currently carrying out the required online assessment 42 interested companies that have registered for certification All STeP by OEKO-TEX certified facilities can be found in the OEKO-TEX Buying Guide at 42

6 6 Our product portfolio MySTeP by OEKO-TEX MySTeP by OEKO-TEX Concept Launched in summer 2014, the MySTeP by OEKO-TEX database allows registered users to analyse and manage the sustainability of their entire supply chain using the relevant key performance indicators (KPIs). The new database can be used by all companies in the textile sector, regardless whether they have OEKO-TEX certification. Functions Easy and clear management of existing supplier relationships, including a range of options for communicating with participating businesses Visual display of your existing supply chains plus the ability to compare supplier operations with each other in a clear way using statistical data and key performance indicators (KPIs) Option for defining sustainability targets and tracking their implementation in the production operations involved in your supply chain for increased transparency Efficient management of existing certificates, including automatic notifications when existing OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certificates expire and need to be renewed by certificate holder Benefits for brands, industry and retail Determine and assess the efficiency levels of the production operations in your value-added chain based on key sustainability factors Transparent and centralised management of existing supplier relationships Improved communication for the implementation of company-specific sustainability strategies Potential risks can be identified in a timely manner and be managed successfully thanks to the clear display, evaluation and comparison of key performance indicators (KPIs)

7 7 Our product portfolio Made in Green by OEKO-TEX Made in Green by OEKO-TEX Concept Made in Green by OEKO-TEX is a fully traceable product label for highlighting sustainably manufactured consumer goods and semi-finished products from all levels of the textile chain. Textiles certified with the label are produced from materials that have been tested for harmful substances and manufactured using environmentally friendly processes under socially responsible working conditions. Added value provided by the label Each Made in Green label is assigned a unique product ID and/or QR code that allow the production of the item to be traced. The product ID provides information about the various stages of production and the countries in which the textiles were manufactured. Benefits for brands, industry and retail Companies can place the label directly on their products and use it to document and highlight the close partnerships they have with their suppliers to the outside world. Reliable supplier relationships are often a key factor in the successful implementation of sustainable aspects such as product quality, regular education and training of employees and improving working conditions. The Made in Green label makes all of this visible to the consumer. Companies who wish to make their entire supply chain transparent can use the Made in Green label as a trustworthy sign that their suppliers in countries such as China, India and Bangladesh also adhere to agreed quality standards and work ethics. The Made in Green label provides information regarding the current sustainability of their entire supply chain. Companies can also use the product label to demonstrate continuous improvement as they work to achieve greater sustainability at their individual production sites. Made with materials tested for harmful substances. Made in environmentally friendly facilities. Made in safe and socially responsible workplaces. More to come soon! stocksnapper / photocase.com

8 Customer Service Additional advertising for your company OEKO-TEX Company of the Month In 2011 OEKO-TEX started the campaign Company of the Month to focus on companies in the textile chain who have shown an above-average commitment to product safety and sustainable production. The application to be Company of the Month is open to all businesses with a valid OEKO-TEX certification. Each month, an OEKO-TEX jury will select one company from all applications received. This company will then be showcased on the campaign web site at as well as in OEKO-TEX publications such as the newsletter and press releases. All Companies of the Month will also be highlighted with the campaign logo in the OEKO-TEX Buying Guide at and will receive a corresponding certificate and free web banners for use in their own publications and sales channels. Any company that applies but is not selected remains in the pool of applicants permanently and may then still be selected in the future. Apply to be our Company of the Month! Just click the relevant button and enter the required information when editing your company profile at: OEKO-TEX Self-Service Portal/Buying Guide Our interactive online directory at allows you to provide interested customers with detailed information about your OEKO-TEX certified products and company philosophy. Transparency on the internet is becoming more and more important for communicating your company principles ( Code of Conduct ) to your B2B partners and the consumer. With around 5,000 page visits daily and visitors from around 200 countries worldwide, the OEKO-TEX website is the ideal high-visibility platform for doing so, and your free placement is sure to pay off. What content can I add? Detailed company profile and company logo in as many languages as you require this allows you to present your goods and services to your customers in a range of sales markets Upload any number of brand names and brand logos together with a corresponding web address Additional addresses, web links and contacts (sales points, online shops, etc.) Product specifications to your Buying Guide data Specify whether your company entries should also be visible on the OEKO-TEX web pages for consumers (B2C communication) How can I add my company information to the Buying Guide? Simple: just go to our self-service portal at You can get your individual access data from your respective OEKO-TEX institute. One call is enough! Imprint, contact & information: Foundation OEKO-TEX GmbH Resp.: Jutta Knels, Director Kaiserstraße Frankfurt am Main Germany Phone: +49 (0) Fax: +49 (0) info@certification-oekotex.com Layout & production: VON WEGEN Kommunikationsagentur Frankfurt am Main Germany Printing: Druckerei Brett, Besigheim Germany