Sustainability

2015-07-15

150,000 OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 Certificates issued

OEKO-TEX® General Secretary Georg Dieners (centre) and Robert Löcker (left), Managing Director of the ÖTI – Institute for Ecology, Technology, and Innovation GmbH present Martin Böhler (right), owner and Managing Director of Ernst Böhler GmbH in Lustenau (Austria) with the 150,000th OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certificate. Image: OEKO-TEX®

On June 30th, OEKO-TEX® General Secretary Georg Dieners and Robert Löcker, Managing Director of the ÖTI – the Institute for Ecology, Technology, and Innovation - presented the 150,000th OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certificate to the Austrian embroidery manufacturer Ernst Böhler GmbH. The family-run business from the Vorarlberg region has manufactured high-quality embroideries for the home furnishings and fashion markets since 1968. Since 2004, their product range has been tested for harmful substances by the ÖTI in Vienna.

"We are pleased to be able to share this success today with Ernst Böhler GmbH", emphasised Georg Dieners during the presentation of the certificate at the production site in Lustenau. "The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 enjoys high acceptance rates throughout the textile supply chain and offers practical benefits to companies which certify their products, for example as a component of company quality assurance or as a communication tool to business customers and/ or end consumers", continued Dieners.

"The number of product certifications in accordance with the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, which is still increasing globally, creates an obligation for us to further develop the test criteria and test methods and to continuously harmonise them in line with existing laws and initiatives."

Currently, more than 10,000 manufacturers, retailers, and brands from 98 countries are active participants in the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification system. In addition, there are numerous other companies who specify compliance with the OEKO-TEX® criteria in their delivery conditions and other organisations, associations, and initiatives who base their own Restricted Substances Lists (RSL) on the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. In the last two years, more than 13,000 certificates have been issued with 62% of these going to companies in Asia and almost 35% to European companies.

With more than 150,000 certificates issued since 1992, the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is the most widely used independent label in the world for textiles tested for harmful substances. Ernst Böhler GmbH is renowned for its exclusive embroideries for a discerning clientèle around the world. The company combines tradition and experience with the latest machine technology and maximum flexibility to meet the individual customer requirements in the sectors of home and object furnishings, women's and children's outerwear as well as lingerie and wedding fashion. Image: OEKO-TEX®