Labels & Legislation News
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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.… -
Wednesday, 29 July 2020Tax reforms may reduce textile environmental impact
AMSTERDAM – The textile industry can take the lead in tax reforms that target natural resources and pollution rather than labour. A move that could enable job creation and help to reduce overconsumption associated with the ‘take-make-waste’ model,… -
Friday, 24 July 2020Countries urged to back EU's Cambodia action
PHNOM PENH – Today, 33 civil society organisations including the Fair Labor Association (FLA), Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) and Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) have urged national governments including those of the United Kingdom,… -
Tuesday, 21 July 2020Multi-stakeholder initiatives 'failing' - report
BERKELEY - Global multi-stakeholder initiatives - including those in the apparel industry - are failing to effectively detect and remedy human rights abuses, according to the conclusions of a decade-long research project. The MSI Integrity human… -
Thursday, 16 July 2020Mulesing legislation hangs in the balance
NEW SOUTH WALES – Woolgrowers have been urged to have their say on proposed amendments to the POCTA (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Act in New South Wales, as the state’s Legislative Council looks to fast-track new laws that could see pain relief… -
Monday, 13 July 2020Trump urged to address PPE confusion
WASHINGTON – The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) has written to the US President’s administration, and other authorities in the country, urging that harmonised guidelines be published if retail workers are to be protected amidst the… -
Tuesday, 07 July 2020EU recommits to textile reform despite COVID-19
COPENHAGEN – In an ongoing live webinar hosted by the Global Fashion Agenda, Virginijus Sinkevičius, the EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to deliver on flagship initiatives, such as the European… -
Wednesday, 01 July 2020Views sought on new ecolabelling proposals
STOCKHOLM - Nordic Swan Ecolabel, the official ecolabel of the Nordic countries, is appealing for input into proposed new criteria for the ecolabelling of textiles. The organisation behind the symbol - known to nine out of ten Nordic consumers and… -
Wednesday, 24 June 2020Post-Brexit deals 'must be aligned with climate goals'
LONDON - Leading businesses including IKEA and Marks & Spencer are calling on the British government to ensure that any post-Brexit trade deals are aligned with climate and environmental goals. The Aldersgate Group, an alliance of dozens of business… -
Wednesday, 24 June 2020PODCAST: How tax can help save the planet
WAKEFIELD – Femke Groothuis, founder and president of The Ex'Tax Project, explains the potential power of tax reform to transform the apparel industry at the scale and pace required. Groothuis, whose thinktank calls for the shift of taxation from… -
Wednesday, 24 June 2020AAFA calls for digitised product labelling
WASHINGTON – The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has written to the US Federal Trade Commission urging that it provides a timely update to its decades-old product labelling regulations to better leverage digital solutions. “Technology… -
Friday, 19 June 2020Trump sanctions Xinjiang forced labour
WASHINGTON – US president Donald Trump has signed new legislation which sanctions the repression of Uyghur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region, as widespread reports and mounting evidence suggest millions in this minority are held in detainment camps… -
Wednesday, 10 June 2020Los Angeles backs California worker wage bill
CALIFORNIA – Los Angeles County supervisors have thrown down their support for a new draft state bill in California designed to protect garment workers from wage theft. LA employs an estimated 45,000 garment workers – made up largely of migrants –… -
Thursday, 28 May 2020EU's COVID-19 fund to have green strings
BRUSSELS - The European Union has confirmed that its proposed €750 billion (US$830bn) package to help the bloc recover from the coronavirus crisis will be linked to environmental commitments, with a quarter of all funding set aside for action on… -
Friday, 22 May 2020California Senate backs garment worker protections bill
CALIFORNIA – The California State Senate Committee has approved a new bill which, if passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee, would expand wage theft liability in California’s garment manufacturing industry and make it essential that brands… -
Tuesday, 19 May 2020US Senate bill addresses China forced labour
WASHINGTON D.C. – The US Senate has approved a bill to sanction Chinese government officials responsible for forced labour camps in the western region of Xinjiang, where it’s believed millions of Uyghur Muslims are held against their will and forced… -
Wednesday, 06 May 2020Patagonia and Columbia link up against Trump
WASHINGTON DC - Outdoor clothing companies Patagonia and Columbia Sportwear have joined forces in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s effort to roll back former President Obama's Clean Power Plan. The two brands filed an amicus 'friend… -
Friday, 01 May 2020Fashion associations look to bolster US financial support
WASHINGTON D.C. – Three associations representing the apparel and travel goods industries have written to the US Congress with recommendations for future stimulus measures for American businesses post-pandemic. While President Donald Trump passed… -
Wednesday, 22 April 2020Textile Standards & Legislation 2020 – in press
WAKEFIELD – The latest edition of the 96-page Textile Standards & Legislation booklet which details over 72 environmental and social standards related to the textile and apparel industries is now in press. Fully updated and revised since it was last…
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