EU Eco-label Best Practice Textiles

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EU Eco-label Best Practice Textiles
Andreas Scherlofsky Energon GmbH
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This presentation

• Textile Situation
• Basic documents and Info materials
• Criteria
• Cooperation strategy
• How to use the label successfully
• The Lenzing example

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European Textile/Clothing Industry

• Longstanding tradition and leadership
• still one of Europes major industrial sectors,
  first major player in textile exports and third
  in clothing
• highly specialised technology and a myriad of
  different consumer and industrial products
• EUR 215 bio. annual turnover, 2,6 mio. Total
  workforce, in EU 110.000 companies (95 SMEs)

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Challanges

• Labor cost disadvantages compared to low-wage
  countries
• Trade barriers in certain important export
  markets
• Growing shortage of qualified human resources
• Strict environmental and safety legislation

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Strategy Make sustainability a USP

• In a world with limited resources and limited
  resistance of nature ...
• ... economy needs to become more and more
  sustainable (env., soc., econ.).

• Real prices and social wages which include
  indirect environ-mental and health costs ...
• ... need communication and argu-mentation to
  being accepted

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Communication ? Acceptance

• If consumers know why and if they are sure of
  getting real eco-quality ...
• ... they are willing to pay higher prices
• not all consumers but enough, and not any price
  but i.e. 10 more

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Textile Ecolabels and similar(selected)

• Self awarding
• Ecolabels with independent audits
• Tests

Consumer organisations
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EU Ecolabel and OEKO-TEX
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EU Ecolabel and OEKO-TEX
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EU Ecolabel and OEKO-TEX
OEKO-TEX 100
OEKO-TEX 1000
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Textile Criteria LCA
Limitation of the use of substances harmful to
health and environment

• Performance and durability

Limitations of toxic residues in fibres
Reduction of pollution (air, water) during
production
LCA .. Life Cycle Assessment
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Licence holders

• 118 awarded products
• from 70 companies
• from 17 countries
• mostly final products
• some fibres

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Criteria

• Limited use of substances harmful to environment
  and health
• Reduced water and air pollution
• Textile shrink resistance during washing and
  drying
• Colour resistance to perspiration, washing, wet
  and dry rubbing and light exposure
• for more details http//europa.eu.int/ecolabel

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EU Ecolabel on Textiles Regulation

• Commission Decision 1999/178/EC
• Commission Decision 2002/371/EC
• ... Revision (AFNOR)

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Objectives of the Revision

• Increase success of the Textile Ecolabel and
  convince textile industry to get more envolved
• Update and complete the criteria
• Take into account new regulations and standards
• Establish synergy between Ecolabel and Oekotex
  (facilicate application!)

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EU Ecolabel on Textiles Information for Consumer

• Websites EU Ecolabel Product catalogue
• Consumer Brochure - general
• Consumer flyer textiles and shoes
• Promotion of DG Env. national CBs
• Promotion on product and P.O.S. of the companies

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EU Ecolabel on Textiles Consumer
brochureEcolabel Products
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EU Ecolabel on Textiles Consumer
brochureClothing and Footware
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EU Ecolabel on Textiles Information for Industry

• Application pack with User guide
• Online application form
• Websites of DG ENV. and CBs
• Business Fact sheet

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EU Ecolabel on Textiles Business fact sheet
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EU Ecolabel on Textiles Steps to application
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example Lenzing fibres

• high quality, eudermic, long-lasting and most
  environmentally friendly products
• made from renewable resources
• environmentally sound production
• easier Eco-labeling for producers of textiles
  made from these fibers!

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example Lenzing fibres
EU Ecolabel was the PR key theme 2006
about 80 fairs world wide
21.9.06 Paris Lenzing press conference with
textile press from UK, USA, FR, DE, PT, ES etc.
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How to successfully use the label

• Press work (awarding,..)
• Labels on the product and packaging
• On promotion flyers
• Product website
• Point of sales (crowners, displays,..)
• Advertisment
• Events
• Give aways

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Thank you
EU Ecolabel Marketing