An off-white cardigan with sustainability labels

Independent Standards​

In addition to complying with our own high quality standards and various customer standards, we support further independent standards. These standards are issued by organizations and programs that promote, for example, the sustainable production of textiles. These independent standards define, among other aspects, which ingredients are approved for the use in certified textile auxiliaries.

Ecologic and Social Standards​

We offer our customers in the textile industry textile auxiliaries and processes that promote sustainable action. Our development department is constantly working on making our range even more environmentally friendly and adapting it to the various ecological and social standards.

Our company supports the compliance with independent standards that promote the sustainable production of textiles. For example, we have our textile auxiliaries certified or accredited according to the following standards:

GOTS - GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) provides guidelines for the ecological and socially responsible manufacturing of textiles. It is internationally recognized as the leading global standard for processing textile goods which contain at least 70 % organically grown natural fibers. The quality of GOTS certified textiles is ensured through independent controls of the entire supply chain, from the extraction of the raw fibers to the labelling of the completed textile products.

GOTS defines groups of substances which are not permissible, or only partially permissible, and thus not acceptable for use in the manufacturing process. We have been supporting GOTS since 2006. In the letter of approval from Ecocert Greenlife you can find a positive list of our products which have been approved for use in the textile industry according to the current Global Organic Textile Standard.

STANDARD 100 BY OEKO-TEX®

The STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® was introduced in 1992. Since then, it stands for uniform, independently controlled quality of textile goods and all production stages. The inspection parameters, limit values, and testing methods are determined by the OEKO-TEX® test association. Testing for quality control and pollutant content of the textiles and materials is conducted and evaluated based on the criteria catalog of the independent OEKO-TEX® institutes. 

In the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® considers several hundred individual substances and regulates the use of dyestuffs, chemicals, and auxiliaries. Most of our products comply with OEKO-TEX® and can be used in for textile finishing according to the current STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®.

ZDHC - ZERO DISCHARGE OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS

The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Program was initiated by six apparel manufacturers in 2011. They aimed, and are still aiming to ban hazardous substances from the textile chain and to substitute them with more environmentally friendly chemicals. The ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) sets guidelines as to which chemical substances are forbidden for application in textile finishing, or for use in clothing and footwear. We already stopped utilizing most of the listed substances and substance groups several years ago.

The ZDHC Chemical Gateway Database was established in June 2017 in order to encourage more involvement by the chemical industry in ZDHC activities, auxiliary manufacturers can register their products in this database. We are supporting this ZDHC initiative. As the first German producer of textile auxiliaries to join the ZDHC back then, we have been a Value Chain Affiliate right at the start.

With the ChemCheck Summary Report we provide you with an overview of our products registered in the ZDHC Chemical Gateway. All of our auxiliaries are classified in „Level 3“, the highest category. Only a selection of our products is registered in the ZDHC Chemical Gateway. If you would like information on further products, please contact us.

BLUESIGN® SYSTEM

The bluesign® label is presented by the Swiss company bluesign technologies ag. The bluesign® system aims to ensure sustainable textile production. Not only do they focus on avoiding dangerous, environmentally hazardous substances, but they attach great importance on the eco-friendliness of all production processes in the textile chain including the technologies applied and raw materials used. Social aspects and occupational safety in the production facilities of the bluesign® system partners are also taken into account in the certification process.

We have been an accredited bluesign® system partner since the beginning of 2014. Many of our textile auxiliaries are bluesign® registered and we are continually adding new products to this directory. In our bluesign® brochure we listed the auxiliaries which were already approved by the bluesign technologies ag for the use in a sustainable textile industry. Through the bluesign® Finder registered textile manufacturers and system partners can find our up-to-date bluesign® products online.

CRADLE TO CRADLE CERTIFIED® STANDARD

Products which are certified according to Cradle to Cradle Certified® can be reused in a material cycle. This shall help to avoid waste. Using Cradle to Cradle Certified® products usually has no impact on the environment. The substances used in these products can be recycled after usage and utilized as technical or biological nutrients for the production of new products. In doing so, consumer goods such as natural fibers can be reused in a biological cycle. Via return or recycling systems, synthetic fibers can remain valuable resources in a closed circuit without impairing the products’ quality.

The Material Health category is one of five categories of the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard. A C2C Certified Material Health Certificate™ can be awarded at the Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum level. Such a certificate is given to products which are fulfilling the Material Health requirements of the multi-attribute Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard. The certificate is valid for two years.

For our yarn lubricants PERIXEN FDA and PERFILAN TS we have been awarded with a Gold C2C Certified Material Health Certificate™ (Download Certificate). Both products are appropriate for recirculation in the biological cycle (recycling).

For further information please visit the website of the Cradle to Cradle Innovation Institute. Cradle to Cradle Certified®, C2C Certified® and C2C Certified Material Health Certificate™ are trademarks of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

Please contact us.

Dr. Karlheinz Sommer

Would you like to know more about independent standards? Please write us.

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