Standards

To make the next textile revolution happen, we need a major shift of mindset – to value a product, appreciate the stages and participants it has taken to manufacture each item, and going back to having less but of better long-lasting quality. While quality is hard to quantify, we can measure and test durability and many other aspects of textiles to ensure they last longer.

The Oeko-Tex Association has updated its various applicable test criteria, limit values and requirements for its range of certifications and labels for the textile and leather industry.

The Sustainable Fibre Alliance has published its new SFA Animal Fibre Standard v1.0 with an effective date for all producers trading ‘SFA-Certified’ cashmere fibre from 1 April 2025. It safeguards the health and well-being of people, animals and the environment through five global principles for responsible fibre production.

The development of voluntary, consensus-based standards can help smooth the path toward a circular economy by establishing collaboration and common ground, providing a framework for businesses to operate in, and inspiring consumer confidence in circular products, according to a recent workshop that explored how standards facilitate the transition toward a more circular economy for textiles.

The just announced Version 4.1 standard by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, aligned with the new European Union legal requirements on green claims, will be effective 1 July 2024.

The Leather Working Group and ZDHC Foundation have announced a move to collaborate in order to advance sustainable chemical management in leather manufacturing by harminising their respective standards.

The Preferred Fiber and Materials Matrix (PFMM), designed to assess the performance of standard systems within a material category, has been made publicly available for the first time.

WWF has released the findings of a benchmarking analysis that sought  to better understand the strengths and limitations in the coverage of key sustainability issues by six significant cotton production standards.

Better Cotton has announced a revised version of the Better Cotton Chain of Custody Guidelines, rechristening it as the Better Cotton Chain of Custody Standard. The new Chain of Custody Standard v1.0 will be introduced from October 2023.

Cradle to Cradle Certified is the leading multi-attribute standard used globally for more than a decade for designing and making products that enable a healthy, equitable and sustainable future, according to the world’s most advanced science-based measures. texfash.com in conversation with Nienke Steen, Global Lead—Apparel, Textile and Footwear, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.