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Oeko-Tex Association releases annual updates

Industry News, News | January 10, 2022 | By:

Oeko-Tex Association has released its annual updates to test criteria, limit values and requirements. In addition, its new Impact Calculator is now available for STeP by Oeko-Tex customers. The industry-specific tool will provide carbon and water footprint data essential to meeting climate goals. Later in 2022, Oeko-Tex will also introduce a new certification for corporate due diligence: Responsible Business by Oeko-Tex.

At the 2021 World Climate Conference in Glasgow, representatives of the textile industry presented a more ambitious version of the UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. In the updated charter, more than 130 participating companies pledged their commitment to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius– a goal of the Paris Climate Agreement. In turn, the textile industry has set the target of reducing carbon emissions by minimum 30 percent by 2030. The carbon- and water-intensive manufacturing processes in the textile industry hold great potential for improvement but the large-scale challenge requires action beyond voluntary initiatives.

To achieve the industry’s 2030 goal, companies need reliable data. To promote progress and data exchange along the global supply chain, Oeko-Tex has launched the Impact Calculator. The tool measures the carbon and water footprint of each process step, the overall process and one kilogram of material/product.

“Transparency is the decisive factor to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption in supply chains,“ explains Secretary General Georg Dieners. “Providing tangible solutions for industry’s challenges is the guiding principle behind Oeko-Tex ‘s 30 years of commitment to companies and consumers. Oeko-Tex continues to develop scientific solutions and digital systems for our customers to manage processes in terms of environmental and social impact. Embedding criteria for CO2 emissions and water consumption is a logical step toward even more transparency.”

Oeko-Tex recognized the need for action and started development of a life cycle assessment tool in 2020. Now, both carbon and water footprint calculations are integrated into the STeP by Oeko-Tex facility certification. Thus, the certification enables individual facilities to:

  • Identify the largest carbon and water impacts by materials used or produced, as well as by production processes.
  • Take action to improve operations and meet reduction targets.
  • Share carbon and water footprint data with customers, investors, business partners and other stakeholders.

The STeP certification is a pre-requisite for earning the Made in Green by Oeko-Tex product label. Implementation of footprint calculation data for consumer communication is planned for a future step toward transparency.

In mid-2022, the association will introduce Responsible Business by Oeko-Tex, a new certification for brands and retailers committed to international agreements for human rights and environmental protection. Oeko-Tex aims to support companies in fulfilling due diligence obligations within their own operations and their global supply chains. Responsible Business by Oeko-Tex was developed in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the relevant OECD Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct.

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