The representative of Hohenstein İstanbul Office Mr. Önder Kipriye, who has an important place in analysis and control services of textile products, provided information about the gains of OEKO-TEX certification system. Kipriye stating that OEKO-TEX is a valid international certification system for textile products and apparels in all kinds of production process and: “OEKO-TEX is the most common and best known test symbol for the best textile products in terms of ecological aspect complying with human use. Up to now, more than 100.000 certificates have been issued for millions of high quality textile products worldwide. The aim is to prevent the use of harmful substances within the value added textile chain,” he said.
Kipriye mentioned that with this certificate, manufacturers and their products are highlighted in the global market thanks to a more transparent content, a higher product safety level and an extended quality assurance. Kipriye pointed out that the OEKO-TEX label provides an advantage to its holder as a marketing tool and noted that many important brands prefer this label. Kipriye assessing the use of textile labels used in Europe underlined that as of 2012, the percentage use ratio of Oeko-Tex 100 Standards is 43% while Europe Label is 40%, Blue Angel Label is 36% and Global Organic Cotton is 27%.
Textile Products Being Analyzed Systematically
Önder Kipriye evaluating the criteria in consumer demands pointed out that consumers first of all pay attention to the product quality and skin tolerance, then the price and content of harmful substances. Kipriye pointing out that the number of certificates issued worldwide increase steadily added that renewals of certificates are also at high and mentioned that the term “textile ecology” covers the production ecology, human ecology, disposal ecology and use ecology. Kipriye said that in terms of human ecology, the OEKO-TEX 100 Standard evaluates the effects of the chemicals found in the textile products to consumers’ health and well-being and underlined that this system analyzing textile products as a whole and systematically assess the possible harmful materials and their potential risks within textile products in a realistic manner.
“For harmful materials, OEKO-TEX test is always based to the accurate use of the related substance. The closer the contact with the skin and the more sensitive is the skin, then the more sticker is the specifications of the laboratory test is,” said Önder Kipriye and informed about 4 product class: “ At Product Class I there are products dedicated for babies less than 3 years old. Underwear, baby sleepers, bed linens, textile toys, bed products and etc. At Product Class II there are all kinds of textile products contacting the skin. For instance underwear, shirts, shirts, tops, bed linens, towels, tights and etc. At Product Class III there are all kinds of textile products not contacting the skin such as jackets, coats, outwear products and etc. . At Product Class III there are VI there are furnishings for decorative purposes such as table cloths, curtains, upholstery fabrics, textile based wall and floor coverings and etc.”
Three Weeks Waiting Duration After The Application
In textile products within the scope of OEKO-TEX, Kipriye informed that product quality, legally allowed and limited substances’ test, substances harmful to health, parameters dedicated to protect health and biologically active and flame retardant substances are examined and tests are performed and, Kipriye pointed out that the legal requirements in these issues are met in compliance. Kipriye informing about Certification said that the issuing a certificate generally upon application takes at least 3 weeks’ time. However he also underlined that this period depends on the test scope and the product specifications and added that this process is shorter for products whose chemical component has not changed at all since the first certification.
Önder Kipriye said the followings about the benefits of the Modular System applied; “The cost of production certification is shared by all production stages. The responsibility related with human ecology, product quality belongs to the manufacturers who can influence the required specifications. Trustable relationship among suppliers are established and especially the test repeat is prevented and fast processing is enabled in apparel production, consequently certification costs decrease.”
A New Certification System from OEKO-TEX : STeP
OEKO-Tex will introduce a new certification system called Sustainable Textile Production (STeP). The system which will be introduced with a meeting to be held in Prime Source Forum in Hong Kong on 26 March 2013 is expected to replace the OEKO-TEX Standard 1000 certificate. Following the information meeting of this certificate to be held in March, production plants will start to get certificate after 12 June.
Giving information about the new certificate of OEKO-TEX, the Secretary General Jean-Pierre Haug explained the main components of the new SteP certification as quality management, chemicals, environmental protection, social responsibility, occupational health and safety. Emphasizing that certification process is an important step for determination of individual impacts in textile and apparel sectors, Haug stated that: “Companies that make investments in improving their own production conditions can get this certificate.”. Reporting that a successful and comprehensive audit is performed in the production facilities before granting the certificate, Haug continued by saying: “This certificate is also of great importance for occupational safety. At the same time, the new certification system supports the existing sustainability initiatives. In this context, we provide full support in such issues as increasing the production potential of the companies and safety of workers.
About OEKO-TEX
International Certification Organisation, OEKO-TEX, works for independent and optimised certification for companies which are environment-friendly and socially responsible. It offers a reliable certification system for textile companies operating in the global arena as well as retail sales companies and manufacturers under sustainable production conditions along the textile value chain.
