New Regulations On Eco Friendly Textiles Certification

In order to further improve the identification of Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (ECO textile certification standard)

It is known that alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (APEO) mainly includes nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (NPEO) and nonylphenol (NP).

These substances are often used as surfactants for textile production and processing, such as detergents, industrial detergents, dispersants, wetting agents and other industrial chemicals.

Although there is no accepted research result, it can be directly explained that wearing contains NPEO class.

In the environmentally friendly factory certification Oeko-Tex Standard 1000, the International Environmental Protection Textile Association (Oeko-Tex) has restricted the use of such environmentally harmful surfactants (including OP octyl phenol and OPEO octyl phenol polyoxyethylene ether) and has become an important inspection project for Oeko-Tex Standard 1000 certification.

Based on the fact that there is no recognized data, the above surfactants are directly harmful to human health. Therefore, in the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 eco textile certification of the association, despite the investigation of harmful substances and chemicals up to 300 kinds, the surfactant content was not included in the inspection area.

In order to enhance the safety of Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified textiles, the international environmental protection textile association will start adding the new assessment substances and their limited values into the Oeko-Tex assessment catalogue from January 2012. The enterprises will be able to comply with the above material requirements from April 1, 2013.

The specific restrictions are as follows: NP: 100ppm, OP: 100ppm, NP (1-9) EO total: 1000ppm, NP (1-9) EO total: 1000ppm.

The relevant person in charge of the agency said that the expansion of Oeko-Tex 100 standards on substances such as NPEO and NP will promote the textile industry to reduce the use of such surfactants, thus promoting the green and healthy development of the global textile industry chain.

The environmental protection textile association will immediately inspect the above surface active substances in the purchased products, in order to remind the certificated enterprises to pay attention to such substances and help enterprises identify and avoid such substances in the production and supply chain.

In addition, the 15 member organizations of the association will also share information on the elimination of APEO substances in time with the enterprises at regular on-site audits (1 times every 3 years).