#Sustainability

2020-02-20

Toray and MIDORI ANZEN launching Japan’s first uniforms certified by MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX®

MIDORI ANZEN Co., Ltd., and Toray Industries, Inc., today announced that their jointly developed work uniforms have become the first in Japan to be qualified a MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX®, a traceable product label that guarantees that a textile product has been manufactured using sustainable processes under environmentally friendly and socially responsible working conditions. OEKO-TEX® certification is a key benchmark for safety and customer confidence in more than 100 countries. MIDORI ANZEN will launch the new uniforms in January this year.

In Japan, the Nissenken Quality Evaluation Center (see note below) conducts OEKO-TEX® certification tests. These which encompass everything from the chemicals used in textile products to wastewater and gas emissions in manufacturing processes and working environments.

Certified uniforms from MIDORI ANZEN (c) 2020 Toray

To qualify for MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX®, it is necessary in advance to secure two other certifications. One is STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, which covers more than 300 hazardous chemicals. The other is STeP by OEKO-TEX®. This focuses on the environmental impacts of manufacturing sites, working environments, and other aspects of safety, health, and social responsibility.

MIDORI Apparel Vietnam Hoa Binh Co., Ltd. (left), Penfabric Sdn. Berhad (right) (c) 2020 Toray

Products carrying the MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® label thus employ safe materials, having passed the world's most strict analytical tests for hazardous substances, and are made at facilities that are sustainable in terms of the environment and working conditions. Such products also contribute to attaining several of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

The materials producer covered by this MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® label is Penfabric Sdn. Berhad, a Toray Group unit in Malaysia that has received both STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® and STeP by OEKO-TEX®. The uniform Sewing Factory with STeP by OEKO-TEX® Certification is Midori Apparel Vietnam Hoa Binh Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of MIDORI ANZEN.

In the years ahead, MIDORI ANZEN and Toray will together broaden the lineup of uniforms carrying the MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® label.

Toray develops recycling technology that retains carbon fiber strength and surface quality

Toray Industries, Inc., announced today that it has developed a recycling technology that can decompose diverse carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) made from thermosetting resins while retaining the strength and surface quality of those fibers. The company drew on this technology to create a nonwoven fabric employing recycled carbon fibers.

HEAD launches more sustainable(1) BOOM RAW racquet on Earth Day by using Toray’s bio-circular carbon fibers

HEAD continues to innovate with the launch of the BOOM RAW tennis racquet, an encouraging development in the search for a more sustainable future for racquet sports. All of the carbon fibers are bio-circular carbon fibers in the limited-edition and highly innovative BOOM RAW racquet, which offers the same explosive power - along with the same fun, feel and easy playability - as the regular, in-line BOOM racquet. The bio-circular carbon fibers are manufactured by Toray and its subsidiary Toray Carbon Fibers Europe.

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.

Aid by Trade Foundation presents annual report for 2025: Market position and impact of sustainably verified natural fibres strengthened

Despite global supply chain challenges, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) was able to further expand its international role in promoting sustainably verified natural fibres in 2025. In doing so, the foundation remains true to its fundamental approach of leveraging market forces. Last year, it generated total revenues of EUR 7.8 million; this included EUR 6.7 million collected through the successful marketing of four standards: Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), CmiA Organic, The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS), and the Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS). AbTF invested the resulting income in projects aiming to protect biodiversity, support women, increase transparency in the textile supply chain, and implement its verification system.

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.

Première Vision Paris expands innovation focus across fashion and beauty

From September 1–3, 2026, Première Vision Paris will bring together more than 900 exhibitors from across the global fashion value chain. This year's edition places a strong emphasis on Innovation-Tech, highlighting technologies and materials that are reshaping product development, manufacturing and sustainability.

SHIMA SEIKI to exhibit at Première Vision Paris

Leading digital textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan will exhibit at Première Vision Paris in Paris, France next month. The company will exhibit in the "Smart Creation" area, dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge technologies that integrate sustainability and innovation. The knitting expert will be demonstrating solutions that optimize product development workflows and enhance sustainability through proposals in Digital Product Creation (DPC).