#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.

WHILL selects Teijin’s tough, lightweight Carbon Fiber Composite for new last-mile mobility

Teijin Limited announced today that WHILL Inc., a global leader in inclusive mobility technology, has selected Sereebo® P CFP series, a carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) material, for key structural components of the upcoming WHILL Model C Lite. Sereebo® P CFP series provides high strength, light weight, design flexibility and system cost advantages to the Model C Lite, which is a battery powered, single-seat, last-mile device. This new model combines maneuverability with light weight and one-handed folding to ensure ease of handling and operation.

Execs help steer Cascale’s consumer goods agenda in Athens

The 2026 Cascale Annual Meeting, taking place September 15–17 in Athens, Greece, will convene leaders from across the global consumer goods value chain to tackle one of the industry’s defining questions: how to accelerate meaningful, system-wide transformation. Guiding those conversations as this year’s co-chairs are Sean Cady, vice president, global sustainability, responsibility, trade, and government affairs at VF Corporation, and Dr. Delman Lee, vice chair at TAL Apparel Limited.

SAITEX reports efficiency gains and greater transparency in 2025 Impact Report

Vietnam-based denim manufacturer SAITEX has published its 2025 Impact Report, documenting progress in resource efficiency, chemical management, digital traceability and knowledge sharing across its manufacturing operations in Vietnam and the United States. Rather than focusing on sustainability ambitions, the report presents operational data, manufacturing developments and lessons learned from the past year.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues 2026 concludes with 50 international participants immersed in Brazilian cotton production

The Cotton Brazil Dialogues concludes its 2026 edition after a series of technical visits to farms, cotton gins and reference centers, as well as workshops focused on Brazilian cotton production. A total of 50 participants from 14 countries took part in the field trips. The initiative is led by the Brazilian Association of Cotton Growers (Abrapa) and the National Association of Cotton Exporters (Anea), with support from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

Novel flame-retardant and recyclable fiber-reinforced composite

Airplanes and passenger trains must meet strict safety requirements, including fire safety standards. This calls for materials that are flame-retardant, lightweight, robust, and scalable. Empa researchers, in collaboration with their industry partner Elantas, have now succeeded for the first time in making such a material – a composite – fully recyclable.

ZymoChem secures $4 million in renewed federal funding to advance U.S. biomanufacturing of critical materials and their supply chains

ZymoChem, the specialty chemicals company dedicated to bringing decarbonization, sustainability, and supply chain resiliency to the chemical industry through innovative biological manufacturing, today announced the resumption and expansion of its federal research portfolio. The company has been notified that previously paused work under a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program is officially back on, to be joined by continuing collaborations with three of the nation's premier national laboratories.