Oeko-Tex gaining momentum

The number of Oeko-Tex 100 certificates issued to nonwovens companies has tripled in the past three years, and now stands at 744.

Of these, 325 were issued in product class I (textiles for babies and infants) and 377 in product class II (textiles with direct skin contact). There are also 10 certificates in product class III (textiles without direct skin contact) and 22 certificates in product class IV (furnishing materials).

Oeko-Tex was present at the INDEX show in Geneva for the first time this year, and specialists from the organisation made a number of presentations on product certification in accordance with the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and also STeP 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.

In respect of nonwovens, certification focuses interlinings for clothing textiles and materials for mattresses as well as those for cosmetic and cleaning cloths and materials employed for mechanical, thermal and chemical reinforcement in filler materials and upholstery in the automotive industry, amongst others.