Labels & Legislation News
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Wednesday, 21 April 2021Textile Exchange launches alpaca standard
VANCOUVER – Global industry non-profit Textile Exchange (TE) has introduced a new voluntary standard to ensure that alpaca wool is responsibly sourced from farmers with high animal welfare standards. The Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS) has been… -
Wednesday, 14 April 2021AGI Denim's HempX wins C2C gold certification
KARACHI - Pakistani textile manufacturer AGI Denim has been awarded gold level certification from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute for it's HempX fabric. The award recognises environmental and social performance across five… -
Friday, 09 April 2021Canada moves towards slave labour action
OTTAWA - Canada is moving forward with new legislation that would see companies face hefty fines if they are caught importing products made with slave or child labour. The Senate, the upper house of parliament in Canada, has given a second reading… -
Wednesday, 07 April 2021Social auditors 'should be liable for reports'
LONDON - Social auditors should be held legally liable for inaccurate reports which fail to uncover health and safety breaches in brands and retailers' supply chains, according to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC). A new report… -
Wednesday, 31 March 2021Coalition to back natural fibres' case to EU
SYDNEY - The Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) industry organisation is to form an international coalition to ensure demand for natural fibres is not harmed at the expense of synthetics by new European Union (EU) legislation. It fears that the EU's… -
Tuesday, 23 March 2021Bluesign recognised by German government
BERLIN - Textile chemical management specialist Bluesign has been recognised by the German government as a credible measure of sustainable manufacturing for public procurement purposes. Bluesign said it was proud to be able to contribute to the… -
Monday, 22 March 2021Western countries sanction China on Xinjiang
LONDON - The UK, European Union, US and Canada have jointly announced sanctions on Chinese officials over human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region which supplies more than a fifth of the world's cotton. Up to two million Uyghur Muslims have been… -
Tuesday, 16 March 2021New C2C Certified Product Standard launched
OAKLAND - The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute has released the fourth version of its Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard which it claims is its most ambitious to date. The institute will begin accepting new applications to… -
Friday, 05 March 2021German cabinet approves supply chain law
BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet has backed plans to introduce a new law which would make companies legally responsible for human rights and environmental issues throughout their global supply chains. It would mean that larger… -
Tuesday, 23 February 2021Leather Working Group updates flagship certification
NORTHAMPTON - The Leather Working Group (LWG) trade body has released the seventh version of its flagship environmental certification featuring new social, traceability and chemical management requirements. The LWG Environmental Audit Protocol has… -
Tuesday, 16 February 2021
Germany reaches deal on supply chain law
BERLIN - German plans to introduce a new law which would make companies legally responsible for human rights and environmental issues throughout their global supply chains look set to go ahead. It follows a hard-fought compromise, described as a… -
Thursday, 11 February 2021New bid to reduce audit and standard fatigue
ZURICH – A new initiative to reduce audit and standard fatigue has been announced jointly by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) and the International Apparel Federation (IAF). The Standards Convergence Initiative (SCI) was… -
Wednesday, 10 February 2021Labs approved to test for GM cotton
AMSTERDAM – A total of 14 laboratories worldwide have now been approved to carry out a global test for the presence of genetically modified (GM) cotton throughout the organic cotton value chain. Laboratories in China, Germany, India, the Netherlands… -
Friday, 05 February 2021EEB responds to European textiles roadmap
BRUSSELS - Europe's largest network of environmental citizens' organisations is urging the European Commission to acknowledge that a sustainable textiles industy is not possible under existing business models. The European Environmental Bureau (EEB)… -
Friday, 05 February 2021Brexit deal blocks textile waste exports
NORTH SHIELDS - Some textile recyclers in Britain are struggling to export used clothes to Europe over confusion caused by the UK's new trading relationship with the European Union (EU) outlined in Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. Some countries are… -
Thursday, 04 February 2021Textile Exchange licenses standards to new Bangladeshi partner
DHAKA – Industry organisation Textile Exchange has announced Bangladeshi certification services provider GSCS International as its latest member. The pair are now formalising a licensing agreement that will entitle the Dhaka-based firm to accredit… -
Thursday, 04 February 2021Hohenstein approved for Green Button testing
BÖNNIGHEIM – Textile testing provider Hohenstein has been authorised to verify brands' compliance with Germany's Grüner Knopf (Green Button) government-run certification for sustainable textiles. The German Ministry of Development (BMZ), which set… -
Tuesday, 26 January 2021Eurofins Chem-MAP develops vegan apparel test
NORTHAMPTON - Chemical management testing company Eurofins Chem-MAP has developed a vegan apparel and footwear verification testing programme that has been registered with the Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark. The verification test will give… -
Thursday, 21 January 2021Green Button scheme responds to criticisms
BERLIN – Germany's Grüner Knopf (Green Button) government-run sustainability scheme has responded to criticisms from NGOs that it is failing to meet its promises on ensuring brands address social and environmental concerns. Two NGOs, the Swiss… -
Friday, 15 January 2021Call to stop brands destroying unsold clothing
DENVER - The US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) federation of non-profit public advocacy groups has launched a campaign for action to stop fashion companies from destroying unsold clothing. US PIRG says much of the clothing and textiles sent… -
Thursday, 14 January 2021US bans cotton imports from Xinjiang
WASHINGTON DC - The US has banned imports of all cotton products from China’s Xinjiang region - which provides more than a fifth of global supplies - over forced labour concerns. The move comes days after the UK government announced steps to block… -
Wednesday, 13 January 2021Europe seeks feedback on plans for textiles
BRUSSELS - The European Commission is inviting feedback after publishing a roadmap on its plans to boost the textiles industry post-COVID and to transform textile waste collection, sorting and recycling across member states. The European Green Deal,… -
Tuesday, 12 January 2021Britain to act on Xinjiang forced labour
LONDON - Britain is to seek to block the import of goods suspected of being made using forced labour in China’s Xinjiang province where up to two million Uyghur Muslims are being held in so-called 're-education camps'. It is the latest international… -
Tuesday, 12 January 2021
Green Button scheme accused of 'deficiencies'
BERLIN – Germany's Grüner Knopf (Green Button) government-run sustainability scheme has been accused of failing to meet its promises to deliver clothes and textiles made in line with social and environmental standards. Two NGOs, the Swiss… -
Monday, 11 January 2021Bangladesh 'drops bid for US trade deal'
DHAKA - Bangladesh has reportedly dropped its plea to the US to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) deal - because it is not ready to meet demands on areas including workers' rights. The Bangladeshi government was seeking an FTA to ease the burden on… -
Tuesday, 05 January 2021Oeko-Tex tackles recycled fibres, carbon and water
ZURICH – As part of the regular annual updates to its testing criteria and limit values, Oeko-Tex has included an approach to integrate recycled materials as part of its Standard by 100 along with the systemic integration of the carbon and water… -
Tuesday, 15 December 2020TÜV SÜD launches vegan certification mark
MUNICH - The TÜV SÜD technical testing organisation in Germany has launched a vegan product certification for producers of apparel, footwear and home textiles wanting to show off their animal welfare credentials. The certification ensures that the… -
Monday, 14 December 2020GOTS partners with UK Organic Trade Board
STUTTGART – Global Standard, the organisation which created the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), has partnered with the UK’s Organic Trade Board (OTB) to promote the benefits of certified products via new campaigns. GOTS certification is a… -
Friday, 20 November 2020Recycled Material Standard goes out to consultation
CHARLOTTESVILLE – Environmental non-profit GreenBlue in partnership with US product testing and certification organisation NSF International has gone out to consultation on the proposed new Recycled Material Standard (RMS). The RMS, which aims to… -
Friday, 30 October 2020Call for Swiss to back mandatory due diligence
BERN - The IndustriALL global trade union movement is urging Swiss people to vote for the Responsible Business Initiative, which would make Swiss companies responsible for what happens in their supply chains, in a national referendum next month. The… -
Thursday, 15 October 2020SAC responds to leather industry Higg concerns
OAKLAND - The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) has rejected a plea to suspend the use of the score it applies to leather in its Higg Materials Sustainability Index (MSI) over claims that it is unfair. In a formal letter, 13 trade bodies… -
Friday, 09 October 2020Israel outlines intention to ban fur trade
JERUSALEM – Israel says it intends to become the first nation globally to ban the buying and selling of animal furs. Environmental protection minister Gila Gamliel described the trade of such products “immoral” and has stated that new rules will… -
Tuesday, 06 October 2020EAC to hold new inquiry into UK fashion industry
LONDON - The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has announced it is to hold another inquiry into the environmental impact of the fashion industry and working conditions in UK garment factories. The new probe will follow up the EAC's 2018 inquiry,… -
Friday, 02 October 2020France commits to outlawing mink farming
PARIS – The French government has outlined plans to end mink fur farming in the country by 2025. The country follows the Netherlands in making such a commitment. Animal rights group PETA has expressed concern that the distant deadline means… -
Tuesday, 29 September 2020GMAC files complaint over handling of EBA suspension
PHNOM PENH – The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) has filed a complaint with the European Court of Justice against the European Union (EU), asking that the country’s partial suspension from the Everything But Arms (EBA)… -
Thursday, 24 September 2020PFI introduces Recycled Material Certification
HONG KONG – Testing, inspection and auditing organisation PFI has launched a new third-party certification system for recycled content, which it calls the Recycled Material Certification (RMC). The company introduces both RMC and RMC Blue, with the… -
Thursday, 17 September 2020Green Button label celebrates first anniversary
BERLIN – Germany's Grüner Knopf (green button) label, a government-run textile certification mark, has marked its first anniversary by revealing how much ground it has covered over the last 12 months. As many as 52 companies have joined the scheme… -
Tuesday, 15 September 2020SBTi to develop global standard on net-zero
LONDON - The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has launched a programme to develop the first science-based global standard for corporate net-zero target setting. SBTi has published a new paper which lays out the conceptual foundations for… -
Tuesday, 15 September 2020US blocks Xinjiang cotton and apparel
WASHINGTON DC - The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced five Withhold Release Orders (WRO) blocking imports from the Xinjiang region of China over forced labour fears. The WROs direct CBP officers at all ports to withhold the… -
Wednesday, 09 September 2020
US to block Xinjiang cotton over forced labour
WASHINGTON DC - The US is reportedly set to block key exports from China's Xinjiang region - including cotton - over allegations that they are produced using forced labour by Uyghur Muslims. Up to 1.8 million Uyghurs, and other Turkic groups, have… -
Friday, 04 September 2020Oeko-Tex registers progress despite COVID-19 set-back
ZURICH – Swiss certifications authority Oeko-Tex says that despite the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, it was able to increase the number of certificates and labels it’s issued in the past financial year by 13 per cent. In total, the… -
Wednesday, 02 September 2020NGOs press EU on supply chain legislation
BRUSSELS - Eleven NGOs, including the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), have published a joint statement on proposed EU legislation requiring European businesses to carry out due diligence on human rights and environmental impact in every country in… -
Friday, 28 August 2020German supply chain law delayed by wrangling
BERLIN - German proposals to introduce legislation that would that make companies legally responsible for human rights and environmental issues throughout their supply chains have been delayed by political wrangling. The proposed Supply Chain Act,… -
Wednesday, 26 August 2020Fashion Positive launches circularity guidelines
OAKLAND - The Fashion Positive initiative has launched its first ever Circular Materials Guidelines which are designed to help manufacturers and brands build a more resilient fashion industry. The non-profit's Circular Materials Guidelines 1.0… -
Tuesday, 25 August 2020Microsoft executive joins Higg Co as VP
SAN FRANCISCO - Higg Co, the tech company behind the Higg Index sustainability measurement platform, has appointed ex-Microsoft executive Josh Henretig as its new vice president of global partnerships. Henretig joins Higg after 17 years at Microsoft… -
Tuesday, 25 August 2020Archroma awarded EcoVadis Gold rating for CSR
REINACH - Speciality chemicals business Archroma has been awarded the EcoVadis Gold rating in corporate social responsibility (CSR) for 2020. The company, which aims to provide sustainable solutions in colour and specialty chemicals, says the award… -
Wednesday, 12 August 2020Two more Sateri mills now EU-BAT compliant
SHANGHAI - Two more mills owned by cellulosic fibre producer Sateri have been confirmed as compliant with the emissions and wastewater discharge limits of the European Union's Best Available Techniques (EU-BAT) directives. It means the company,… -
Wednesday, 12 August 2020Biotech creates new test for insects in dye
LUGO - Spanish biotechnology company AMSlab - in conjunction with animal rights group PETA - has developed a test to tell whether garments have been made with the use of dyes made from crushed insects. The test for carmine, a red dye made from dried… -
Monday, 10 August 2020
EOG welcomes German supply chain proposals
BERLIN - The European Outdoor Group (EOG) trade body has welcomed German proposals to introduce legislation that would that make companies legally responsible for human rights and environmental issues throughout their supply chains. Two German… -
Friday, 31 July 2020Myanmar election candidates seek to address workers’ rights
YANGON – In Myanmar, eleven aspiring election candidates have outlined their intentions to challenge for seats in order to give a voice to workers and farmers which, under the current government, face oppression when speaking out on rights issues.…
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