#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.

Textile Exchange reports growth in certifications and industry engagement

Textile Exchange has published its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting continued growth in certified sites, industry participation and the development of its standards and membership structure. According to the report, more than 100,000 sites worldwide are now certified to Textile Exchange standards, more than three times the number recorded in 2020. Preliminary figures also indicate 12% year-on-year growth across the organization's current standards, including the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and the Responsible Animal Fiber standards.

Febratex 2026 to be the largest edition of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas with 10 exhibition halls

Febratex 2026 will be the largest edition in the history of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas. Dedicated to the textile and apparel manufacturing industries, the event will take place from August 18–21, 2026, in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil, with a strong focus on technology, sustainability, and business generation.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues field trip brings international stakeholders closer to Brazil’s cotton production chain

How do you build trust across the global textile value chain? By opening the farm gates. This is the principle behind the Cotton Brazil Dialogues. At the end of July, the programme welcomed its first group of international participants for a five-day immersion into Brazilian cotton production, combining field visits with technical workshops to showcase the quality, sustainability, innovation and traceability behind one of the world’s leading cotton origins.

ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 Shanghai showcases intelligent and sustainable manufacturing

From 20 to 24 November 2026, the textile machinery industry will gather in Shanghai for ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026, Asia’s leading business platform for textile machinery, to be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The exhibition will occupy seven halls, with a total gross exhibition area of about 180,000 square metres. The exhibition has expanded by 10% over the last edition which reflects the continued industry interest in the region.