The international Oeko-Tex Association developed positively in the last financial year. Overall, Oeko-Tex issued more than 43,000 certificates and labels in the last financial year – an increase of 21 percent compared to the previous year. The product label “Made In Green”, which is one of the institute’s strictest labels, recorded the strongest growth of 52 percent. The institute has awarded a total of 10,975 Made in Green Labels. In the 2022/2023 financial year, Oeko-Tex also exceeded the mark of 1,000 STeP-certified production facilities for the first time.
Two new certificates were also launched last year: “Oeko-Tex Responsible Business” is a response to increasing global expectations of compliance with due diligence requirements and has been supporting textile and leather companies since November 2022 in reducing existing and potentially negative effects of their own business operations, of supply chains and other business relationships. Oeko-Tex Organic Cotton is also new. Companies working with this seal can benefit from a network of certified companies around the world to facilitate the sourcing of chemicals, materials and business partners from cultivation to finished product.
At the beginning of the year, based on current industry developments and scientific findings, Oeko-Tex issued a general ban on the use of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS/PFC) in textiles, leather and shoes that comply with Standard 100, Organic Cotton, Leather Standard and Eco Passport certified.