Nonwovens tested for harmful substances for varied areas of application in the industry to be lectured at Index

Certification focuses on appropriate interlinings for clothing textiles and materials for mattresses.

OEKO-TEX® to be represented at index14 with its own trade fair stand for the first time – specialist presentations as part of the Exhibitor Presentations Forum

Zurich – From 8th-11th April the OEKO-TEX® Association will, for the first time, have its own information stand at index14, the leading international trade fair for the nonwoven fabric industry. In Hall 4, stand 4489, competent experts from several OEKO-TEX® institutes and also from the OEKO-TEX® Secretariat and Certification Centre are available for personal talks during the four-day fair which attracts around 12,500 visitors. Three specialist presentations held as part of the “Exhibitor Presentations Forum” in Hall 1 will also inform the visitors about the latest developments in product certification in accordance with the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 and about the requirements for STeP by OEKO-TEX® certification for Sustainable Textile Production.

In total around 133,000 OEKO-TEX® certificates have been issued to 9,500 companies from more than 90 countries for textiles at all processing levels.

Of 13,078 valid certificates issued in accordance with the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 (as at 12/2013), around 744 were issued for nonwovens. This means that the number of certificates in the area of nonwovens has tripled since 2010. 325 certificates were issued in product class l (textiles for babies and infants) and 377 in product class ll (textiles with direct skin contact). There are also 10 certificates in product class lll (textiles without direct skin contact) and 22 certificates in product class lV (furnishing materials).

Certification focuses on appropriate interlinings for clothing textiles and materials for mattresses. There are also very delicate nonwovens for cosmetic and cleaning cloths as well as fiber nonwovens with mechanical, thermal and chemical reinforcement which are used for filler materials and upholstery in the automotive industry, amongst others.

“Sustainable Textile Production (STeP) by OEKO-TEX” is an independent certification system for brands, retail companies, and manufacturers from the textile chain who want to communicate their achievements regarding sustainable production to the public in a transparent, credible, and clear manner. Certification is possible for production facilities of all processing stages from fiber production, spinning mills, weaving mills, and knitting mills to finishing facilities and manufacturers of ready-made textile items.