On April 1st 2020, new OEKO-TEX® regulations will come into effect. The textile and leather certification consortium, made of 18 independent institutes in Europe and Japan, has updated its existing guidelines as well as the valid test criteria and limit values for its certifications and services.
Regarding the sustainability label MADE IN GREEN, introduced for textiles in 2015, it will also include leather products now, testing them for harmful substances by the LEATHER STANDARD. The certification will also state that they have been produced in environmentally friendly facilities in socially acceptable workplaces in accordance with SteP.
New susbstances included
Following one year of observation, the STANDARD 100 and the LEATHER STANDARD have been updated including carcinogenic N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosables substances; specific limit values for the total content of the toxic heavy metals arsenic and mercury have also been defined in both labels.
The herbicide glyphosate and its salts have also been included in the limit value catalogue for the STANDARD 100.
New substances will be observed by like SVHC as well as the group of arylamines, various dyes, pesticides and perfluorinated compounds according to the REACH regulation for the protection of human health and the environment.
STeP, ZDHC and DETOX
Moreover, DETOX TO ZERO will be an essential element for STeP-certified facilities using large quantities of water and chemicals (wet plants).
A positive aspect of the new regulation is the future conformity of STeP with the Manufacturing Restricted Substance List (MRSL), the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Initiative and the criteria for the Greenpeace Detox campaign.
The new regulations are available in detail from the Downloads menu item on the OEKO-TEX® website.
