OEKO-TEX®
OEKO-TEX/TESTEX
(
Scientific community
)
#SDGAction56248
Description
OEKO-TEX® is a globally recognised organisation that provides certification and testing for the textile and leather industries to ensure the safety, sustainability, and ethical production of their products. The OEKO-TEX® system offers a range of certification standards and services designed to support companies in achieving high environmental and social standards throughout their supply chains.
Key Certifications:
- STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®: Ensures that textiles are tested for harmful substances and are safe for human use. This certification is applicable at all stages of production.
- LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®: Specifically for leather products, ensuring they are free from harmful substances.
- MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX®: Combines STANDARD 100 or LEATHER STANDARD with a commitment to environmentally friendly production and social responsibility, offering full traceability of the product.
- STeP by OEKO-TEX®: Certifies sustainable textile and leather production facilities, focusing on environmental performance, occupational health and safety, and social responsibility.
- ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX®: Verifies that textile and leather chemicals, colorants, and auxiliaries meet specific ecological and toxicological requirements.
OEKO-TEX is a certification system for companies to review and improve supply chains. Certification is based on a modular system to cover the textile and leather value chain in terms of input, process and output control as well as supply chain management. The testing system is based on audits of production sites, testing in laboratories as well as evaluation of textile products.
OEKO-TEX® is committed to facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity building across the textile and leather industries through a variety of programs and initiatives. These efforts aim to empower industry stakeholders with the knowledge and tools needed to adopt sustainable practices, ensure product safety, and enhance overall industry standards.
1. Training and Workshops:
- Objective: Provide hands-on training and workshops for industry professionals on OEKO-TEX® standards, testing methods, and certification processes.
2. Webinars and Online Courses:
- Objective: Offer accessible learning opportunities through webinars and online courses.
3. Industry Collaboration and Partnerships:
- Objective: Foster collaboration and knowledge exchange through partnerships with industry associations, academic institutions, and sustainability organisations.
4. Resource Development and Distribution:
- Objective: Develop and distribute educational materials, guidelines, and toolkits to support sustainable practices.
OEKO-TEX® is governed by the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology, a consortium of 17 independent textile and leather research and testing institutes based in Europe and Japan. This structure ensures that OEKO-TEX® operates with a high level of expertise, impartiality, and reliability.
Key Governance Aspects:
- Member Institutes: These institutes are responsible for developing and updating the OEKO-TEX® standards based on the latest scientific research and regulatory requirements. They conduct testing, certification, and auditing of textiles and leather products.
- Executive Board: The executive board, comprised of representatives from the member institutes, oversees the strategic direction and policy decisions of OEKO-TEX®. This board ensures that the association's activities align with its mission and values.
- Advisory Council: Composed of industry experts, stakeholders, and representatives from various sectors, the advisory council provides insights and recommendations on market trends, regulatory changes, and sustainability practices.
Critical assessments of OEKO-TEX in terms of its impact measurement:
1. Comprehensive Testing: - Strengths: OEKO-TEX conducts extensive testing for harmful substances, which is crucial for ensuring product safety. The certification process includes rigorous checks for chemicals that can pose health risks to consumers. - Limitations: Some critics argue that the focus on harmful substances might overlook broader environmental impacts, such as water and energy usage in the production process.
2. Environmental Criteria: - Strengths: OEKO-TEX standards, like MADE IN GREEN, consider environmental criteria such as sustainable production processes and the use of eco-friendly materials. This helps in promoting more sustainable practices within the textile industry. - Limitations: The environmental criteria may not be as comprehensive as those in other certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), which includes stricter requirements for organic materials and overall environmental impact.
3. Traceability and Transparency: - Strengths: OEKO-TEX provides traceability and transparency through labels like MADE IN GREEN, which allows consumers to track the production process and verify compliance with environmental standards. - Limitations: While traceability is a strong point, the level of detail and transparency might vary between manufacturers, leading to inconsistencies in how well the impact is measured and reported.
4. Consumer Awareness: - Strengths: The OEKO-TEX label is well-recognised by consumers, which can drive demand for safer and more environmentally friendly products. This recognition helps in raising awareness about the importance of product safety and environmental sustainability. - Limitations: Consumer understanding of what OEKO-TEX certification entails can be limited. Greater efforts might be needed to educate consumers on the specific environmental and health benefits associated with OEKO-TEX-certified products.
5. Global Standards and Adaptation: - Strengths: OEKO-TEX standards are applied globally, ensuring a consistent approach to product safety and sustainability across different regions. This global reach is beneficial in setting a high bar for the textile industry worldwide. - Limitations: The effectiveness of OEKO-TEX standards can be influenced by regional differences in enforcement and compliance. In some areas, the implementation of these standards might not be as stringent, affecting overall impact.
6. Periodic Reviews and Updates: - Strengths: OEKO-TEX regularly reviews and updates its standards to keep pace with new scientific findings and regulatory changes. This ensures that the certification remains relevant and effective. - Limitations: The frequency and scope of updates might not be sufficient to address rapidly evolving environmental and health concerns, potentially leaving some gaps in impact measurement.
International Trade Centre, Go Blu, Social and Labour Convergence, Retraced, Sustainable Leather Foundation, ZDHC, UNECE, Textile Exchange, WRAP, Global Fashion Agenda, International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance
SDGS & Targets
Goal 8
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
8.1
8.1.1
Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita
8.2
Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors
8.2.1
Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person
8.3
Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services
8.3.1
Proportion of informal employment in total employment, by sector and sex
8.4
Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead
8.4.1
Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP
8.4.2
Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP
8.5
8.5.1
Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age and persons with disabilities
8.5.2
Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
8.6
8.6.1
Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment or training
8.7
Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms
8.7.1
Proportion and number of children aged 5‑17 years engaged in child labour, by sex and age
8.8
Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment
8.8.1
Fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers, by sex and migrant status
8.8.2
Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation, by sex and migrant status
8.9
By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
8.9.1
Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP and in growth rate
8.10
Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all
8.10.1
(a) Number of commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults and (b) number of automated teller machines (ATMs) per 100,000 adults
8.10.2
Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a bank or other financial institution or with a mobile-money-service provider
8.a
8.a.1
Aid for Trade commitments and disbursements
8.b
By 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization
8.b.1
Existence of a developed and operationalized national strategy for youth employment, as a distinct strategy or as part of a national employment strategy
Goal 10
Reduce inequality within and among countries
10.1
By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average
10.1.1
Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40 per cent of the population and the total population
10.2
By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
10.2.1
Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
10.3
Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard
10.3.1
Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed within the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law
10.4
Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality
10.4.1
Labour share of GDP
10.4.2
Redistributive impact of fiscal policy
10.5
Improve the regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions and strengthen the implementation of such regulations
10.5.1
Financial Soundness Indicators
10.6
10.6.1
Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations
10.7
Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies
10.7.1
Recruitment cost borne by employee as a proportion of montlhy income earned in country of destination
10.7.2
Number of countries with migration policies that facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people
10.7.3
Number of people who died or disappeared in the process of migration towards an international destination
10.7.4
Proportion of the population who are refugees, by country of origin
10.a
10.a.1
Proportion of tariff lines applied to imports from least developed countries and developing countries with zero-tariff
10.b
10.b.1
Total resource flows for development, by recipient and donor countries and type of flow (e.g. official development assistance, foreign direct investment and other flows)
10.c
By 2030, reduce to less than 3 per cent the transaction costs of migrant remittances and eliminate remittance corridors with costs higher than 5 per cent
10.c.1
Remittance costs as a proportion of the amount remitted
Goal 12
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
12.1
Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries
12.1.1
Number of countries developing, adopting or implementing policy instruments aimed at supporting the shift to sustainable consumption and production
12.2
By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.2.1
Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP
12.2.2
Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP
12.3
By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
12.3.1
(a) Food loss index and (b) food waste index
12.4
By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
12.4.1
12.4.2
(a) Hazardous waste generated per capita; and (b) proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment
12.5
By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
12.5.1
National recycling rate, tons of material recycled
12.6
Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle
12.6.1
12.7
Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities
12.7.1
Number of countries implementing sustainable public procurement policies and action plans
12.8
By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
12.8.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
12.a
Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
12.a.1
Installed renewable energy-generating capacity in developing and developed countries (in watts per capita)
12.b
Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
12.b.1
Implementation of standard accounting tools to monitor the economic and environmental aspects of tourism sustainability
12.c
Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities
12.c.1
Amount of fossil-fuel subsidies (production and consumption) per unit of GDP
Goal 13
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
13.1
Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
13.1.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
13.1.2
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
13.1.3
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
13.2
Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
13.2.1
Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
13.2.2
Total greenhouse gas emissions per year
13.3
Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
13.3.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
13.a
Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
13.a.1
Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025
13.b
Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities
13.b.1
Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Goal 17
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
17.1
Strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through international support to developing countries, to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue collection
17.1.1
17.1.2
17.2
Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments, including the commitment by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of ODA/GNI to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries; ODA providers are encouraged to consider setting a target to provide at least 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries
17.2.1
17.3
Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources
17.3.1
Additional financial resources mobilized for developing countries from multiple sources
17.3.2
17.4
Assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability through coordinated policies aimed at fostering debt financing, debt relief and debt restructuring, as appropriate, and address the external debt of highly indebted poor countries to reduce debt distress
17.4.1
17.5
Adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for least developed countries
17.5.1
Number of countries that adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for developing countries, including the least developed countries
17.6
Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism
17.6.1
Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, by speed
17.7
Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed
17.7.1
Total amount of funding for developing countries to promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies
17.8
Fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries by 2017 and enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology
17.8.1
17.9
Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the Sustainable Development Goals, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation
17.9.1
Dollar value of financial and technical assistance (including through North-South, South‑South and triangular cooperation) committed to developing countries
17.10
Promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization, including through the conclusion of negotiations under its Doha Development Agenda
17.10.1
17.11
Significantly increase the exports of developing countries, in particular with a view to doubling the least developed countries’ share of global exports by 2020
17.11.1
Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global exports
17.12
Realize timely implementation of duty-free and quota-free market access on a lasting basis for all least developed countries, consistent with World Trade Organization decisions, including by ensuring that preferential rules of origin applicable to imports from least developed countries are transparent and simple, and contribute to facilitating market access
17.12.1
Weighted average tariffs faced by developing countries, least developed countries and small island developing States
17.13
Enhance global macroeconomic stability, including through policy coordination and policy coherence
17.13.1
17.14
Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development
17.14.1
17.15
Respect each country’s policy space and leadership to establish and implement policies for poverty eradication and sustainable development
17.15.1
17.16
Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing countries
17.16.1
Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
17.17
Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships
17.17.1
Amount in United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships for infrastructure
17.18
By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts
17.18.1
Statistical capacity indicators
17.18.2
17.18.3
Number of countries with a national statistical plan that is fully funded and under implementation, by source of funding
17.19
By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product, and support statistical capacity-building in developing countries
17.19.1
17.19.2
Proportion of countries that (a) have conducted at least one population and housing census in the last 10 years; and (b) have achieved 100 per cent birth registration and 80 per cent death registration
SDG 14 targets covered
Deliverables & Timeline
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
Feedback
Action Network
Share
Timeline
Entity
Region
- Africa
- Europe
- Asia and Pacific
- North America
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- West Asia
Geographical coverage
Other beneficiaries
Textile and Fashion Manufacturers
- Benefits: Improved access to sustainable practices, certification standards, and knowledge sharing platforms.
Brands and Retailers
- Benefits: Assurance of sourcing from certified and sustainable supply chains, which can enhance brand reputation and consumer trust.
Consumers
- Benefits: Greater transparency and assurance regarding the safety and sustainability of textile and leather products.
Industry Professionals and Workers
- Benefits: Access to training, educational resources, and capacity-building initiatives.
Environmental and Social NGOs
- Benefits: Collaboration and alignment with industry initiatives to promote sustainability and ethical practices.
Policy Makers and Regulators
- Benefits: Reliable data and insights from certified organisations to inform policy and regulatory decisions.
Academic and Research Institutions
- Benefits: Opportunities for research collaboration, access to industry data, and participation in joint initiatives.
The Environment
- Benefits: Reduction in the use of harmful substances, improved resource efficiency, and promotion of sustainable production practices.
Global Community
- Benefits: Contribution to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to responsible consumption and production, climate action, and decent work and economic growth.
More information
Countries
Contact Information
Lucy Murphy , Head of Brand Partnerships