Certification body Oeko-Tex has outlined a series of new regulations in a bid to provide further targeted support on issues relating to consumer protection and sustainability throughout the textile value creation chain.
The updates of Oeko-Tex standards and guidelines, which were made on Tuesday (2 January), are based on the continuous exchange of experience with industry stakeholders, cooperation with initiatives and monitoring of legal regulations. The new regulations come into effect on 1 April for all certification systems and other services, following a three-month transition period.
According to the firm, the most important changes regarding the individual Oeko-Tex are:
Detox To Zero by Oeko-Tex
Thanks to the comparability of the Detox To Zero MRSL with the valid MRSL for the STeP by Oeko Tex certification, Detox To Zero can be fully integrated into STeP. Detox To Zero customers can convert to STeP at any time. The restructuring of the Detox To Zero assessment tool and status report improves usability and clarity.
Eco Passport by Oeko-Tex
The ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) initiative accepts the Eco Passport by Oeko-Tex as an indicator of conformity with their MRSL (harmful substance exclusion list for textile production). Upon approval, companies can have their products certified by Eco Passport listed in the Oeko-Tex Buying Guide – and if they wish from now on also in the ZDHC Chemical Gateway.
Bisphenol A is among the new substances to be recorded by Eco Passport. Other new included substances are additional alkylphenols (pentyl- and heptylphenol) and the aromatic amine aniline. You can now list up to five products from different categories on an Eco Passport certificate. Previously, an individual certificate had to be issued for every product category.
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By GlobalDataMeanwhile, now not only manufacturers of chemicals receive an Eco Passport certificate for their products, but also retailers and importers of chemicals distributed by them can certify their chemicals under certain conditions. From 2018, chemical manufacturers are no longer obligated to disclose secret formulas. In such cases, however, more extensive analytical testing is required to obtain an Eco Passport certificate.
Leather Standard by Oeko-Tex
Bisphenol A, the aromatic amine aniline and other alkylphenols (pentyl- and heptylphenol) are now recorded as part of the Leather Standard.
Made in Green by Oeko-Tex
The minimum requirements and criteria for awarding the Made in Green by Oeko-Tex product label have been updated. Advantages of the new definition are: improved comprehensibility and less time for label attainment.
Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex
The newly recorded harmful substances in the Standard 100 criteria catalogue are phenol, bisphenol A, the aromatic amine aniline as well as the additional alkylphenols, pentyl- and heptylphenol. The Oeko-Tex Association henceforth places the substance quinoline under observation. Amended limit values also apply for short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP) and ortho-phenylphenol (OPP). As of 1 April 2018, Oeko-Tex plans to integrate the testing of organic cotton products for genetically modified organisms (GMO) into Standard 100.
STeP by Oeko-Tex
The scope of STeP assessments for the survey of required company data is significantly reduced by condensing the questionnaire. The integration of Detox To Zero allows now to issue the STeP certificate and the status report additional with information on Detox To Zero.
