#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.

The Or Foundation, adidas, BESTSELLER, H&M Group, and Inditex launch Apparel Recovery Coalition, responding to impacts of post-consumer textile exports

adidas, BESTSELLER, H&M Group, Inditex and The Or Foundation, with support from Circle Economy, unveiled the Apparel Recovery Coalition (ARC). The coalition will explore how producer responsibility systems can support circular pathways such as reuse, upcycling, recycling, and responsible waste management in countries that receive large volumes of exported secondhand apparel.

NEUMÜHLE launches mono-material hoodie designed for textile recycling

With the Circular Mono Hoodie, Zurich-based label NEUMÜHLE introduces a new essential designed around a single-material principle. The textile construction is cotton throughout, right down to the sewing thread. Entirely free from elastane, the hoodie launches as a Limited Drop for CHF 139. Take-back, collection and existing recycling partnerships complement its circular design.

EIM evolves into a new Environmental Intelligence to measure the impact of textile production

¿Do we really know the environmental impact behind a garment? Answering this question remains one of the textile industry’s major challenges. Garment production involves multiple stages, from yarn and fabric to final finishing, carried out by different players across the supply chain. Accesing reliable data from each process, connecting it and establishing a common language are essential to understanding a product’s true impact.

Mayer & Cie. Global gears up tor ITMA Asia 2026

Mayer & Cie. Global will focus on mattress fabric production at ITMA Asia, taking place in Shanghai from 20 to 24 November 2026. The company will showcase one of its flagship models for this application: the OVJA 2.4 EM. Joining the mattress fabric specialist will be an OV 3.2 QCe, presented at ITMA Asia in a configuration for knitting double-face fabrics in E40. This gives the OV 3.2 QCe a combination of capabilities rarely found in the market. The German textile machinery manufacturer will also introduce its new portfolio strategy and share updates from its development team at its Albstadt headquarters.

FET highlights advances in fibre spinning technology at Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress

Fibre Extrusion Technology Limited (FET) presented its latest developments in fibre spinning technology at the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress in Austria in September 2026. In a presentation entitled “Spinning a good yarn”, Dr Jonny Hunter examined recent technological developments and challenges facing the fibre industry, highlighting the company's expanding range of specialised fibre extrusion and spinning systems.

Vietnam’s market evolution creates new sourcing opportunities at VIATT 2027

As Vietnam’s textile industry continues to upgrade and scale, new opportunities are emerging for suppliers of advanced raw materials, design-led fabrics, production technologies, and sustainability solutions. The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) will return 24 – 26 February 2027, presenting a cross-sector platform – spanning apparel, home and technical categories – for overseas companies to connect with manufacturers, brands, sourcing offices, retailers, and industry buyers from Vietnam, ASEAN, and beyond.