#Sustainability

2022-12-15

Into the comfort zone

Another advantage of OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN is that products made of mixed fabrics can also be certified, regardless of the material. © OEKO-TEX®

Sustainability is the key: More and more consumers prefer consciously and socially responsible manufactured bedding, bed linen and towels. Many manufacturers of home textiles are orienting themselves to this demand and are increasingly relying on relevant labels such as OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN, as are more and more brands and retailers. Visitors to the Heimtextil international trade fair in Frankfurt from 10 to 13 January 2023 will also be able to see how much the topic of sustainability is now shaping the global home textiles industry.

With MADE IN GREEN, OEKO-TEX® offers a consumer label with a clear commitment to high product safety and ecological and social production conditions. The label scores with a high degree of transparency: each label has a unique product ID or a QR code. With one scan, the individual supply chain of each labelled textile product is revealed - ideal starting conditions to create sustainable trust. Manufacturers who are considering the gradual and targeted implementation of individual sustainability aspects can benefit from the OEKO-TEX® modular system. In addition to quality assurance at every stage of the textile value chain, it enables a simplified selection of ingredients and suppliers with OEKO-TEX® certification. Michael Möller, Head of the Audits & Certification Department at the testing service provider Hohenstein, adds: "The use of pre-certificates results in substantial cost savings for our customers.

What's more: for manufacturers of home textiles, the "upgrade" from STANDARD 100 to MADE IN GREEN is much less complicated than for manufacturers with complexly constructed products made up of numerous individual components. So if they have home textiles tested for harmful substances according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 and prove through STeP certification that the manufacturing conditions in their production sites are environmentally friendly and socially responsible, then they are eligible to label their home textiles with the OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN label." Another major advantage of OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN is that products made of mixed fabrics, such as terry towelling made of 50% cotton and 50% PES microfiber, can also be certified, regardless of the material.

Trade fair visitors can discuss open questions and more details about the OEKO-TEX® services and the OEKO-TEX® modular system with the Hohenstein experts in person during the Heimtextil trade fair from 10 January to 13 January 2023 at the OEKO-TEX® trade fair stand in Hall 12.0, Stand D48. They are also welcome to make an appointment in advance at customerservice@hohenstein.com.

Many manufacturers of home textiles, brands and retailers are increasingly relying on relevant labels such as OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN. © OEKO-TEX®

A new standard to combat plastic waste in forests

With DIN SPEC 35808 “Tree Shelter for Forestry Applications,” the testing and research service provider Hohenstein, in collaboration with Rottenburg University of Forestry, as well as forestry authorities and industry partners, has established a clear framework for bio-based and fully biodegradable tree shelters. The pre-standard defines requirements and practical testing methods designed to reduce plastic waste in forests and strengthen the long-term protection of soil and the environment.

Hohenstein publishes 2025 Sustainability Report

The testing and research service provider Hohenstein has published its latest sustainability report, outlining key progress and strategic initiatives. The report focuses on ambitious CO₂ reduction targets, the company’s new mission statement and the systematic expansion of sustainable services for customers worldwide.

New DIN SPEC assesses environmental impact of textile fragments in soil

Textile products made from synthetic fibres, finished fabrics or dyed materials release fibre fragments into the environment at every stage of their life cycle. With the new DIN SPEC 19296, Hohenstein has developed a standardised testing method to analyse how these fragments behave in soil under natural conditions. Until now, little was known about their environmental behaviour or potential ecological effects once released.

Testing and research laboratory ensures safe and more sustainable products worldwide

For 80 years, Hohenstein has stood for independent testing, scientific expertise and practical solutions. Today, the testing and research service provider supports manufacturers and brands worldwide in making textiles, hardlines and medical devices safe, more sustainable and market-ready – thereby building trust among consumers. With an international presence and interdisciplinary expertise, Hohenstein supports its customers from production through to market launch, helping them navigate an environment of growing regulatory and societal demands.

Denim moves towards sustainability

EIM (Environmental Impact Measurement), the global reference platform for measuring the environmental impact of garment finishing, presents the second edition of its annual report Denim Industry Progress & Insights 2025. The study analyses over 100,000 real denim finishing processes, providing an accurate and up-to-date view of the industry’s evolution towards more sustainable models.

Europe’s textile future at a turning point: New 2030 Circularity Blueprint aims to scale recycling and unlock investment opportunities

The EU textile system is at a critical crossroads. Today, less than 1% of discarded garments are recycled into new garments, despite EU-wide obligations for separate collection. In response, Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) is launching the 2030 Circularity Blueprint, in partnership with ReHubs. This ambitious initiative is designed to support the transformation of the EU textile ecosystem to advance textile-to-textile recycling and drive the transition to a circular economy.

STFI highlights textile circular economy and alternative fibres at INDEX™ 2026

From 19 to 22 May 2026, INDEX will invite visitors to Lake Geneva for the world's leading nonwovens trade fair. The Centre of Excellence in Nonwovens at the Sächsisches Textilforschung- sinstitut e.V. (STFI) will be in attendance to present the latest developments in nonwovens research. In the field of the textile circular economy, the STFI will present acoustically effective nonwovens made from chemical recycling residues. The range also includes innovations aimed at replacing conventional raw materials, such as the biobased and biodegradable polymer polybutylene succinate (PBS) and Kendyr as an alternative to cotton.

FET’s revolutionary gel spinning system wins Techtextil Innovation Award

FET has received the prestigious Techtextil Innovation Award 2026 in the New Production Technology category. The Techtextil Innovation Award honours outstanding ideas in textile technology, sustainability, AI and the creation of technical textiles, selected by an international jury of experts. Ranging from new materials to new production technologies, this award recognises progressive ideas that are driving forces for numerous industries, such as automotive, medical and construction.