In 2018, the OEKO-TEX® association endeavors to provide further targeted support on issues relating to consumer protection and sustainability throughout the textile value creation chain. In this regard, the existing guidelines of the OEKO-TEX® product portfolio were updated on 02 January. The new regulations will come into effect on 01 April 2018 for all certification systems and other services, following a three-month transition period.

The OEKO-TEX® Association presented the new product regulations in detail to interested companies during a webinar on 30 January 2018.

The updates of OEKO-TEX® standards and guidelines are based on the continuous exchange of experience with industry stakeholders, cooperation with initiatives and monitoring of legal regulations. The work of OEKO-TEX® expert groups thus takes into account current scientific innovations and knowledge as well as latest market developments, which will help enable textile companies worldwide to opt for more sustainable sourcing and production practices.

The most important changes regarding the individual OEKO-TEX® products are:

DETOX TO ZERO by OEKO-TEX®

Detox to Zero, which allows textile manufacturers to evaluate their chemical management systems and wastewater quality through independent verification, will be restructured to improve usability. Since the Detox to Zero Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) is comparable to the STeP by Oeko-Tex certification’s MRSL, Detox to Zero can fully merge into STeP. Detox to Zero customers can shift to Oeko-Tex’s STeP certification at any time–which will enable them to assess chemical management, environmental performance and quality management at textile production facilities.

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. One 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. Another new update: 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. More information on new admissions and other changes can be found at www.oeko-tex.com/ls-updates-2018.

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.