A large number of new changes to MADE IN GREEN, MySTeP, STeP and STANDARD 100. OEKO-TEX ® will be 25 years old in 2017 and also in this year, OEKO-TEX® has reviewed the requirements of its products and has published the new regulations at the beginning of the year. An overview of some of the changes:
MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® and MySTeP by OEKO-TEX®
The OEKO-TEX® Association has established a new price strategy for the MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® product label to fully satisfy market requirements. The new pricing offers label issuers the option to use smaller packets of labels, or even a single label for their product to be labelled with MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX®.
STeP by OEKO-TEX ®
After three years on the market, OEKO-TEX® has revised the STeP by OEKO-TEX® limit value tables in Annex G1 and G2 of the standard document. These revisions have been influenced by ongoing changes in the global environment, input from customers and current regulatory developments. A new chapter has been added in Annex D: “Hazardous Processes That Should Be Avoided”. These processes to be avoided include the use of potentially hazardous surfactants, sodium hypochlorite (as a bleaching agent) and defoamers that are potentially damaging to the environment. More details about the updates to the STeP by OEKO-TEX® standard can be found at following link.
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX ®
The new regulations for STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® will come definitely into force on 1 April 2017; following a three-month transition period. At the parameter “per- and polyfluorinated compounds”; a large number of substances have been added or listed explicitly by name in product class I (items for babies and small children); and provided with limit values. As a result, in product class I, the use of per- and polyfluorinated compounds is severely restricted and nearly eliminated. A large number of substances is also included in the list of regulated softeners (phthalates) in all of the product classes. The three organic tin compounds dipropyltin (DPT), monophenyltin (MPhT) and tetraethyltin (TeET); are now regulated with limit values in all product classes. In addition, the use of the blue colourant “Navy Blue” is also now explicitly prohibited for product certification; according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®.
OEKO-TEX® will inform all interested companies about the new regulations regarding product certification; in line with STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®; within the framework of a webinar on 25 January 2017 at 6:00 p.m. CET. Participation is free of charge. Please register online at the following link. More details about the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX standard are also available at the following link.
These new requirements allow the OEKO-TEX® Association to provide significant support for both the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) initiative and the Detox campaign. These new changes will help OEKO-TEX® further increase awareness in the textile manufacturing chain; regarding the responsible handling of potentially hazardous substances in textile products and sustainable production in 2017. By working with the OEKO-TEX® system; companies play their part in ensuring effective consumer protection; and environmentally friendly and socially responsible production.