Oeko-Tex Sees 21% Increase in Certificates and Labels
Sustainability standards certification organization Oeko-Tex said it issued more than 43,000 certificates and labels during its most recent fiscal year. The number represents a 21 percent increase for the period between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023 over the prior fiscal year.
Among its certifications and labels, the Made in Green product label recorded the strongest growth at 52 percent. Oeko-Tex also launched two new certifications during the fiscal year that focus on cooperation with numerous parties at each level of the global supply chain.
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The Oeko-Tex Responsible Business certification supports textile and leather companies in preventing negative effects from their internal business operations, supply chains and broader business relationships. The certification also includes a tool that allows businesses to address due diligence requirements and increasing global expectations.
The Oeko-Tex Organic Cotton program allows brands to work with a global network of certified companies from cultivation to finished product to facilitate sourcing chemicals, materials and business partners.
Over the past year, Oeko-Tex also has focused on partnerships with multi-stakeholder initiatives to include as many different perspectives as possible. The organization partnered with the ZDHC Foundation in the Netherlands to promote sustainable chemical management. And Oeko-Tex became a part of the ISEAL community, a network managed by the London-based ISEAL organization, which focuses on sustainable and fair trade practices.
This past fiscal year, Oeko-Tex also issued a general ban on the use of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in textiles, leather and shoes certified by Standard 100, Leather Standard and Eco Passport. Oeko-Tex also surpassed the milestone of 1,000 STeP-certified production facilities, laying a groundwork that it says will allow it to continue to grow in the coming years.
