Switzerland-based Bluesign Technologies has released new criteria aimed at helping the fashion and textile industry reduce its environmental impact and increase safety for both consumers and workers.
The latest update marks the first time criteria revisions have taken place through close stakeholder collaboration. Starting in 2019, a number of stakeholders comprised of brands, NGOs, fellow industry consultants, chemical suppliers and a government institution, provided over 30 points for consideration with the aim of raising the benchmark and ensuring industry conformity.
“The end result is an expansion and deepening of our requirements as well as the harmonising of them with trends and tendencies in the textile supply chain and other institutions,” says Maren Herter, research and development expert for Bluesign Academy.
Two key points of considerable influence for the industry are increased consideration on definitions and terminology, and the implementation of new sections such as the criteria for fibre manufactures.
“Bluesign recognises a need for clear, uniform definitions…particularly with the fashion and apparel industry for topics relating to sustainability and claims relating to environmental protection. By establishing greater clarity within the revised Bluesign criteria the intent is to simplify the planning and implementation of goals, as well as to increase industry conformity to one set of understood definitions.”
Newly created criteria documents include specific guidelines for fibre manufacturers’ production sites that have been realised to bring into effect a chain of custody throughout the supply chain. To this end, requirements of fibre manufacturing include traceability of recycled fibres for Bluesign approved materials.
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By GlobalData“Bluesign never stands still when it comes to achieving our vision of responsible and sustainable manufacturing of textile consumer products, and it is continually improving its services to meet this goal. To ensure this continuous improvement, Bluesign has revised its criteria including broad stakeholder consultation in order to align with the industry’s efforts and to raise the bar in order to accelerate achievements,” says Jill Dumain, CEO at Bluesign.
The Bluesign criteria came into effect this month and has a transition period of one year.
