During the epidemic prevention and control period, more than 60% of my country’s medical and health textile companies have resumed production. Textile companies need to pay attention to the upcoming international ecological textile standards. The International Ecological Textiles Association will update its existing certification service testing standards and limit values at the beginning of 2020. After the transition period, all new regulations of OEKO-TEX2020 will come into effect on April 1, 2020. The main features of the new regulations include:
—, MADEINGREEN by OEKO-TEX® now includes leather products
Since 2015 Following the introduction of the MADEINGREEN label for textiles in 2020, this sustainability label can be applied to leather products from January 2020. In 2019, the International Ecological Textile Association expanded the STeP (Sustainable Textile Production) certification to leather product factories. OEKO-TEX takes a step forward by integrating leather products with the MADEINGREEN label. Leather products bearing the MADEINGREEN label have been tested for harmful substances according to LEATHERSTANDARD and are produced in environmentally friendly and socially responsible factories according to STeP. This allows consumers to trace the production factory and country of leather products (such as clothing, footwear or furniture) through the unique product ID or QR code on the label. OEKO-TEX also requires an audit of the production factory to check whether the production factory meets the standards. MADEINGREEN has been listed by Greenpeace as one of the strictest labels on the market.
2. New restricted substances
Substances included in STANDARD100 and LEATHERSTANDARD standards: carcinogenic nitrite Amines, nitroso substances.
Substances included in the limit list of STANDARD100: the herbicide glyphosate and its salt sodium.
In addition, STANDARD100 and LEATHERSTANDARD also stipulate the total limit values of toxic heavy metals arsenic and mercury. Strict requirements for residues in textile materials will reduce the overall impact on the environment, workers and consumers.
3. New substances to be monitored
OEKO-TEX in 2020 will be based on the latest scientific discoveries Monitor various new substances. According to the REACH regulations, some substances with special hazardous characteristics and arylamines have been classified as SVHC substances. The new standards will also strictly test the various dyes, pesticides and perfluorinated compounds involved.
4. Integrate DETOXTOZERO into STePbyOEKO-TEX
In order to cope with textile and leather production In order to meet the increasingly complex demands in the industry, DETOXTOZERO will become a mandatory element of STeP certified factories from April 1, 2020. Implementing the new standards will bring STeP into compliance with the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) and the Greenpeace Detoxification Initiative.
5. Enterprise response
(1) Clarify the content of the standards and formulate internal procurement rules.
(2) Improve technological innovation capabilities and reduce or replace the use of banned and restricted substances.
(3) Integrate existing internal resources and establish an effective raw material database.
(4) Strengthen communication and exchanges between enterprises, learn from each other’s strengths and increase international competitiveness.
(5) Seize the opportunities along the Belt and Road and explore diversified markets.
