Freudenberg, a supplier of innovative technical textiles, has received the STeP (Sustainable Leather & Textile Production) and Made In Green label by Oeko-Tex. The company's Evolon fabric, well-known for combining high performance technical properties with ecological benefits in many durable applications, met the most stringent requirements in terms of sustainability, health and safety.

 

“Certificates awarded by the independent Oeko-Tex institute are highly respected and trusted by the textile industry because they are 100 per cent transparent, 100 per cent independent, 100 per cent textile. For manufacturers, they are confirmation of ecologically and socially responsible production and products – a quality characteristic that plays a growing role in purchasing decisions of companies as well as for end-users,” the French high-performance nonwovens manufacturer said.

 

By awarding the STeP label, the Oeko-Tex institute recently certified environmentally friendly production processes, a high level of health and safety and socially responsible working conditions at the Freudenberg site in Colmar. Freudenberg scored top marks and reached the highest grade of certification, namely Level 3, for “exemplary implementation of best practices”.

 

“Evolon fabrics have already held the Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex label for more than twenty years. This is one of the world’s best-known certificates confirming that textiles have been tested for harmful substances. Here too, Evolon meets the most stringent requirements, and is ranked in product class I, which stands for suitability with baby skin contact,” Achraf Khedimi, head of global sales Evolon, said in a press release.

 

“As a result of the combination of STeP and Standard 100 certificates, Evolon meets all the requirements for the coveted Made In Green by Oeko-Tex label,” the company added. “This proves that a product has been tested for harmful substances and manufactured using sustainable processes under socially responsible working conditions. The certificate also confirms the complete traceability of all materials and a transparent supply chain, and thus offers consumers the highest level of safety.”

 

Moreover, compliance with Detox To Zero by Oeko-Tex criteria is fully achieved as part of the SteP certification. This specifically covers chemicals management and wastewater quality, following an initiative of Greenpeace which aims at eliminating harmful substances in the textile industry, the manufacturing firm concluded.