In the previous financial year, OEKO-TEX issued in excess of 36,000 certificates and labels overall. This equates to an increase of 14 percent year on year. According to a press release covering the Annual Report 2021/22, the international OEKO-TEX Association has still managed to record “positive business development despite numerous global challenges”.
Thirty years after its foundation, all business practices continue to be “aligned with our core values” of “sustainability, trust and safety”, comments Georg Dieners, Secretary General of OEKO-TEX, in the press release. Accordingly, 40 percent of total expenditure went towards quality assurance and product control.
OEKO-TEX is headquartered in Zurich and comprises a total of 17 independent institutes in Europe and Japan. Together, they jointly develop test methods and limit values for the textiles and leather industry on a continuous basis. These serve as the stimulus for innovations in terms of high-quality and ecologically compatible products.
For the first time, the number of STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX certificates issued was in excess of 25,000. In addition, more than 15,000 products have been certified with the ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX for chemicals, colorants and auxiliaries.
Last year, the testing association introduced the Impact Calculator. With this, SteP by OEKO-TEX-certified companies can measure and reduce their carbon footprint and water consumption. From the fall of 2022, the Responsible Business by OEKO-TEX label will support companies with regard to the increasing global demands in relation to compliance with due diligence obligations.
In Switzerland and a range of other countries, the Zurich-based Testex Group is the representative of OEKO TEX. Testex is also one of the founding members of the association.