The international OEKO-TEX® Association recorded excellent results for the second year in a row, despite the obstacles of the COVID-19 epidemic. In the previous fiscal year, the association granted more than 31,000 certifications and labels, a 31% increase over 2019/2020. MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® expanded the most this year, more than tripling the number of labels. In addition, OEKO-TEX® has made progress with its new Water and Carbon Footprint Tool.

OEKO-TEX® has stood for transparency, consumer protection, and the assurance of increased safety and confidence for all those engaged in the textile and leather manufacturing chains for over three decades.

Georg Dieners, Secretary-General of OEKO-TEX®, said that their goal has not changed. The yearly study shows the industry's rising importance of this topic. In more than 100 countries, OEKO-TEX® works with over 21,000 producers, brands, and retailers. Between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021, the number of labels and certificates issued increased from 24,205 to 31,696.

OEKO-TEX® has made every effort to continue certification and minimize supply chain disruptions in year two of the COVID-19 pandemic. With exemptions of over 370 STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certification costs on the mouth and nose masks, the organization helped the industry and the global battle against COVID-19.

To guarantee a smooth and uniform certification process, the organization established rules for virtual audits due to travel constraints. Furthermore, STeP by OEKO-TEX® certification ensures that over 620,000 employees are employed in safe and socially responsible working conditions with environmentally friendly procedures.

OEKO-TEX® continues to provide expertise and sustainable solutions to the industry. The OEKO-TEX® Carbon & Water Footprint Tool was created in collaboration with sustainability consulting firm Quantis to assist the fashion sector in reducing CO2 emissions and water usage. The technique was successfully validated and deployed by a neutral third party in 2021. In 2022, OEKO-TEX® certification will be used to incorporate the tool into the STeP.

The level of trust that the market has in a certificate is critical. In this regard, OEKO-TEX® is always working to adopt a range of quality assurance procedures while also taking into account external perspectives. Round Robin Tests are an important component of their effort to guarantee that their measurement processes and laboratories are of the highest possible quality. To offer an interlaboratory comparison, identical samples are evaluated with identical test procedures at each facility.

In terms of trademark protection, OEKO-TEX® has been working with the brand protection software SENTRYC to combat trademark infringement since the beginning of 2021. Over 2,600 incidents of abuse have been identified and handled thus far. In April 2021, the first OEKO-TEX® International Advisory Board (IAB) met, in addition to participating with external multi-stakeholder initiatives. The IAB's primary responsibility is to give guidance on the continuing development of standards based on the recommendations of the OEKO-TEX® Working Group.