2015 Edition OEKO-TEX New Standard And Limit Value

At the beginning of this year, according to convention, OEKO-TEX international environmental protection. Textile Association The latest version of OEKO-TEX Standard 100 eco textile testing standards and limit requirements were released. After 3 months of transition, the new standard will come into effect on April 1, 2015.

The new standards refer to various international laws and regulations. Through the addition of new substances and strict control of the limited value, OEKO-TEX is fully supporting global brands and retailers in practical action, eliminating hazardous chemicals in the production process before 2020, and achieving the goal of "zero emissions of harmful chemicals (ZDHC)".

Compared with the 2014 edition, the 2015 edition of the new OEKO-TEX Standard 100 standard has seven changes.

First, for all 4 product grades, the limit values of the sum of nonylphenol (NP), octyl phenol (OP), nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (NP (EO) 1-20) and octyl phenol polyoxyethylene ether (OP (EO) 1-20) will be significantly reduced, and the upper limit of the limit will be reduced to 250mg/kg from the 250mg/kg in the 2014 edition. OEKO-TEX has been tightening the limited value of the project for 3 years, which has made all enterprises in the OEKO-TEX system realize that additives containing such problems will cause serious damage to the environment. OEKO-TEX is actively promoting the use of nonylphenol (NP), octyl phenol (OP) and alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (APEOs) in textile production to achieve the common environmental goals of the global textile industry.

Second, the limit unit of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) also changed from mg/kg to g/m2. For the 4 product levels, the limit conditions are uniformly reduced to <1.0 g/m2. In the 2014 edition of the standard, the first level limit is 0.05mg/kg, the second level and third level limit value is 0.1mg/kg, and the fourth level limit value is 0.5mg/kg. This ensures that the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 standard can cover a current regulation issued by Norway on perfluorooctanoic acid usage restrictions in textiles, carpets and other coated consumer products. Because the standard limits not only the perfluorooctanoic acid itself, but also the various salts and esters of perfluorooctanoic acid, therefore, in the list of hazardous substances in the standard OEKO-TEX Standard 100, it is not simply to record the CAS number of perfluorooctanoic acid, but to include all the related substances. In addition, the limit for perfluorooctane sulfonyl compounds (PFOS) is reduced from less than 1 to g/m2 <1.0 to g/m2.

The limit of third, sixth valence chromium will be different for leather and other materials. For leather material testing, in the EN ISO 17075 standard which attaches great importance to the matrix effect, and the new European regulations (EU301/2014) and REACH regulations (EC1907/2006), the limit value of the six valence chromium is set to 3.0mg/kg. Therefore, the limit of six valent chromium for leather material is <3.0mg/kg (below the limit) in all grades of OEKO-TEX Standard 100. For other materials, the requirements of current <0.5mg/kg will continue to apply.

As the first level to third level has already been implemented, in the future, in the fourth level (decorative materials) products, only the flame retardant products that are recognized by current technical standards as harmless to health and are included in the OEKO-TEX approval list can only be used. To make it more clear, all the banned flame retardants originally listed in the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 limit value list will be listed in the list of hazardous substances. At the same time, 9 new banned flame retardants are added to the table. These measures ensure that OEKO-TEX Standard 100 covers substances listed in the SVHC highly concerned substance list and meets current regulatory requirements in the United States and Canada.

Fourth, for all product levels, the limit value of cadmium content in the sample was reduced to 40mg/kg (the previous limit is the first level: 50 mg/kg; second to fourth level: 100mg/kg). This ensures that the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 standard meets the requirements of the "CSPA" for the cadmium content in Washington state, which is the most stringent requirement in the field.

Fifth, formamide as a new detection substance is included in the column of "residual solvents". It is suitable for investigating compressed foam and foamed plastics, such as EVA and PVC. The 4 product level limits are 0.02% =200mg/kg. The addition of formamide is due to the SVHC's highly concerned list of substances contained in the list, while taking into account the relevant legal provisions for specific materials / articles in France. The footnotes of aromatic amines are changed to "all remaining chemicals" in the column "suitable for all polyurethane containing materials or other free carcinogenic aromatic amines." Material Science "Here, we mention the free carcinogenic aromatic amine, which makes the labeling more clear. The certified products can not contain free carcinogenic aromatic amines listed in the list of hazardous substances.

Sixth, o-hexyl two carboxylic acid two hexyl ester, branched chain and straight chain (CAS number 68515-50-4) and two hexyl ester (CAS number 71850-09-4) were included in the study of two o-benzoic acid esters, 4 product levels were included. This is due to the consideration that two hexyl phthalate, two branched chain and straight chain (CAS number 68515-50-4) belong to SVHC highly concerned substances.

Seventh, C.I. pigment red 104 (molybdenum chrome red) and C.I. pigment yellow 34 (Ge Huang) were included in the list of prohibited substances for carcinogenic dyes. These two dyes have belonged to the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 test items years ago and are strictly prohibited. Due to REACH law SVHC highly concerned about the addition of this dye in the list of substances, the new standard clears the dye in the list of harmful substances more clearly.

Related links

What is OEKO-TEX Standard 100?

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is a product certification in the field of textiles. It tests toxic and harmful substances for all products in the textile supply chain. The scope of certified products includes: textile raw materials such as fiber, yarn, Fabric Clothing, home textiles, non textile accessories, production and processing technology such as dyeing, printing, finishing and other processing technology, special textiles and so on.

　 What does the detection of harmful substances include?

The harmful substances detected by OEKO-TEX Standard 100 include prohibited substances, substances regulated by law, and well-known chemicals that are hazardous to health (but not yet included in the scope of legal supervision). These standards are aggregated together, and the strictness of OEKO-TEX Standard 100 has exceeded the existing national laws.

How to classify product categories?

OEKO-TEX detection of hazardous substances is always located in the actual use of textiles. The closer the product is to skin contact, the more stringent human ecology requirements are required.

　　 It is divided into four product categories:

The first level is textiles (clothing, toys, bedding, towels, etc.) for infants and children under 3 years of age.

The second level is direct contact with skin textiles (underwear, T-shirt, bedding, etc.).

The third level is not directly exposed to skin textiles (jackets, coats, etc.).

Fourth level family decoration materials (carpet, mattress, etc.).