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#Sustainability

Celebrating International Day of Families with OEKO-TEX®

Families come in many forms. The United Nations created International Day of Families nearly 30 years ago to promote awareness of issues affecting families. On May 15 and every day, we celebrate all families by helping them make safer, more sustainable choices.

Families are in constant contact with some form of apparel or textile product. Between 4,000 and 8,000 individual chemicals enter factories in countless formulations. They exit on the products or as waste that can negatively impact the environment. 

While consumers are conscious of the hazards associated with ingesting chemicals, they have been less concerned with the chemicals their families contact through clothes and home goods. Chemicals are present in everything from their towels, bed linens, pajamas, and intimate apparel. But that is changing. And every purchase and choice we make is an opportunity to prioritize safety.

The concern goes beyond our own homes. Chemicals used in textile production pollutes rivers, oceans, wildlife and horticulture within miles of processing facilities. For example, textile dying is the second largest polluter of water globally. The fashion industry produces 20 percent of global wastewater, according to the UN.

That's where our labels come in. OEKO-TEX® tests for harmful substances and certifies sustainable and fair manufacturing practices to ensure products are safer for human health and the environment.



STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® is one of the world's best-known labels for textiles tested for harmful substances. The label certifies that every component of the product from the fabric to the buttons has been tested for up to 350 toxic chemicals. The MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® label means a product is tested for harmful substances and comes from a facility that uses environmentally friendly production processes. The label covers the use of chemicals to responsible handling of wastewater. Certified suppliers must also improve working conditions and prioritize health and safety protection for workers.

Limiting chemicals in our products helps families, workers, and our collective future. This International Day of Families, we can ensure a brighter future for all families. OEKO-TEX® labels can help.



More News from Oeko-Tex® Association

#Sustainability

OEKO-TEX® - New regulations 2025

Fostering trust within the textile and leather industry remains the mission of OEKO-TEX®. Since trust relies on consistently high standards, the OEKO-TEX® Association has released the updated testing criteria, limit values and guidelines for its certifications, based on the latest scientific research and legal developments.

#Sustainability

OEKO-TEX® Annual Report 2023/2024 mentions 50,000+ valid certifications

The international OEKO-TEX® association has continued to demonstrate positive business growth, highlighting the critical role of close collaboration and shared commitment in accelerating sustainable change. More than 35,000 textile and leather companies depend on the certificates and product labels issued by OEKO-TEX®’s independent testing institutes. OEKO-TEX® issued more than 50,000 certificates and labels between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024 – an increase of 22% over the previous financial year.

#Sustainability

OEKO-TEX® New regulations 2024

Creating trust within the textile and leather industry and for its customers is the mission of OEKO-TEX®. Since trust is based on consistently high quality, the OEKO-TEX® Association is again publishing updates to the applicable test criteria, limit values and guidelines for its certifications. Based on new scientific findings and legal developments, the OEKO-TEX® Association has published the annual updates to its test criteria, limit values and guidelines.

#Sustainability

Change in the OEKO-TEX® Management Board

OEKO-TEX® announces the departure of Georg Dieners. The Association’s Secretary General is leaving the organisation after 8 years in office. OEKO-TEX® expresses appreciation to Georg Dieners for his work and wishes him all the best for his future.

More News on Sustainability

#Yarns

Textile Exchange publishes the final criteria for its new Materials Matter Standard, marking a pivotal shift in connecting certification to impact

Textile Exchange has published the final criteria for its Materials Matter Standard—a major milestone in the organization’s multi-year transition toward a unified, impact-driven standards system for raw material production and primary processing. 

#Nonwovens

EDANA wraps up its Sustainability & Policy Forum 2025: Uniting the industry and EU policymakers to navigate the future of nonwovens

Against a backdrop of rapidly evolving environmental legislation, the EDANA Sustainability & Policy Forum 2025 concluded the past week in Brussels, marking a step forward in the dialogue between the nonwovens industry and European policymakers. Held from 9-10 December at the historic Residence Palace, the two-day event successfully brought together business leaders, sustainability experts, and EU officials to address the dual challenges of circularity and industrial competitiveness.

#Sustainability

YKK recognized with Top ‘A’ rating by CDP for climate change leadership for third consecutive year

YKK Corporation announced its achievement of the highest “A List” rating in the 2025 Climate Change survey conducted by the global environmental disclosure nonprofit, CDP . This marks the third consecutive year YKK has received this prestigious recognition.

#Weaving

Itema announces strategic partnership with Ivy Decarb to accelerate decarbonization in weaving process

Itema is pleased to announce the strategic partnership with Ivy Decarb, the digital platform helping textile companies measure and reduce their carbon footprint.

Latest News

#Associations

Driving innovation in technical textiles, digitalisation and testing

Members of the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) can look back on 2025 as a year marked by notable technological advances and continued progress in global trade, despite an uncertain and volatile market.

#Heimtextil 2026

Artificial Intelligence in focus: Heimtextil 2026 prepares global textile industry for the future with strong content programme

Artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms the textile industry - from creation and production to pricing, distribution and communication. But how can AI be applied successfully, and where does it truly add value? Heimtextil addresses these questions from 13 to 16 January 2026: The comprehensive programme dedicated to the key future field AI strengthens the global industry and opens up new business opportunities as well as practical applications for design, retail, industry, architecture, interior design and contract furnishing.

#Weaving

Lindauer Dornier announces leadership transition in weaving machine business

After more than ten successful years at Lindauer DORNIER GmbH, Mr Wolfgang Schöffl will leave the family-owned company at the end of the year to enter well-deserved retirement.

#Heimtextil 2026

Texpertise Focus AI: Messe Frankfurt puts Artificial Intelligence centre stage at its international textile and apparel trade fairs

Under the banner 'Texpertise Focus AI, Messe Frankfurt will place a strong emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its international textile and apparel trade fairs from 2026 onwards, setting a future-shaping signal for the industry. The initiative highlights the responsible use of AI along the entire textile value chain, from fibre production to the point of sale. The programme will launch at Heimtextil in Frankfurt in January 2026.

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