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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® chooses TextileGenesis to advance digital traceability for organic cotton

OEKO-TEX® today announced a full collaboration with TextileGenesis, a Lectra company, to digitally trace and authenticate organic cotton, strengthening fraud prevention across the supply chain. This announcement follows a successful pilot and brings together OEKO-TEX®’s certification expertise and closed testing system with TextileGenesis’ digital traceability platform to deliver a secure, end-to-end solution for managing certified organic cotton flows.

#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.

More News on Sustainability

#Sustainability

A new standard to combat plastic waste in forests

With DIN SPEC 35808 “Tree Shelter for Forestry Applications,” the testing and research service provider Hohenstein, in collaboration with Rottenburg University of Forestry, as well as forestry authorities and industry partners, has established a clear framework for bio-based and fully biodegradable tree shelters. The pre-standard defines requirements and practical testing methods designed to reduce plastic waste in forests and strengthen the long-term protection of soil and the environment.

#Denim

Denim moves towards sustainability

EIM (Environmental Impact Measurement), the global reference platform for measuring the environmental impact of garment finishing, presents the second edition of its annual report Denim Industry Progress & Insights 2025. The study analyses over 100,000 real denim finishing processes, providing an accurate and up-to-date view of the industry’s evolution towards more sustainable models.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Europe’s textile future at a turning point: New 2030 Circularity Blueprint aims to scale recycling and unlock investment opportunities

The EU textile system is at a critical crossroads. Today, less than 1% of discarded garments are recycled into new garments, despite EU-wide obligations for separate collection. In response, Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) is launching the 2030 Circularity Blueprint, in partnership with ReHubs. This ambitious initiative is designed to support the transformation of the EU textile ecosystem to advance textile-to-textile recycling and drive the transition to a circular economy.

#Sustainability

Number of GOTS-certified facilities grow 15% globally as demand for credible sustainability standards continues to strengthen

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification continued to grow in 2025, with nearly 18,000 certified facilities worldwide, despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and rapidly evolving regulatory requirements across global textile supply chains.

Latest News

#Home Textiles

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles unveils Trends 2027 alongside new lifestyle zone and product expansion

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition 2026 will spotlight forward-looking design directions and evolving consumer demand, as the global home and lifestyle market continues to adapt to sustainability priorities, emotional well-being, and diversified living spaces. Taking place from 18 – 20 August 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the fair will present its latest trend theme, ‘BREATHE UP!’, developed in collaboration with leading international trend forecaster NellyRodi™ Agency, alongside expanded product categories, and the debut of the Home Textiles Lifestyle Zone.

#ITM 2026

Groz-Beckert brings new knitting, weaving and nonwovens technologies to ITM 2026

From June 9 to 13, 2026, Groz-Beckert will present its latest innovations and solutions across the product areas of Knitting, Weaving and Nonwovens at ITM in Istanbul (Hall 3, Booth 304B).

#ITM 2026

Itema to showcase weaving excellence at ITM 2026

From June 9 to 13, Itema will exhibit at ITM 2026 in Istanbul (Hall 8 – Stand 806D), unveiling a distinctive exhibition concept designed to highlight the Company’s expertise across the entire weaving value chain. For this year’s edition, Itema will introduce an innovative stand experience built around two core areas: advanced weaving and spare parts solutions and an immersive textile gallery featuring fabrics produced by Itema Customers worldwide.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Global size study for brands and retailers to optimize fit and market coverage

Hohenstein Apparel Fit Solutions, a global leader in apparel fit, sizing, and product development, today announces the launch of its Global Size Study, a new initiative designed to equip brands to better understand and serve their target consumers through more accurate, market-relevant sizing.

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