Since January 2018, PFI, as a member institute of the OEKO-TEX® community, has been entitled to test not only leather materials according to the LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®, but now also leather-like products, associated textile and non-textile materials according to the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®. This means that shoe manufacturers can obtain all testing processes from PFI from a single source.

Global commitment

The successful global distribution of the STANDARD 100 with more than 16,000 valid certificates annually and the long-standing cooperation with more than 10,000 companies illustrates the serious commitment of the textile industry to work together on a uniform pollutant safety. The extensive criteria catalogue of the standard is updated year after year and proactively takes into account trends in legal developments worldwide.

Avoiding duplicate testing

For many years now, companies for consumer products of all kinds - from clothing to home and household textiles, technical textiles to car interiors - have benefited from cooperation with OEKO-TEX®-certified articles from the textile preliminary stage and accessories.

OEKO-TEX®-certified articles, be they haberdashery, membranes, reinforcement nonwovens, linings, spacer fabrics, woven fabrics, knitted or knitted goods, have also been processed in the leather and shoe industry for years.

The STANDARD 100 OEKO-TEX® system makes it possible to avoid double testing because it significantly reduces testing costs by including certified starting materials. This represents an important cost advantage, especially for complex articles such as shoes and clothing.

If there is no corresponding proof, PFI can now also test and certify leather-like products or products with mainly textile components according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®. Manufacturers of shoes, bags or leather clothing and accessories as well as their suppliers now receive all testing processes from PFI from a single source.

This also offers advantages for the uniform labelling of collections with a diverse material mix. In the case of products made of both leather and textiles, the main component decides which certification and which label the product receives: STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® or LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX® - these two certification systems, however, always examine the complete product.

STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® Supplement Special articles

Examples of special articles include: suitcases, bags, backpacks, orthopaedic aids, saddles and chairs and loungers for indoor and outdoor use. For these product groups, construction elements can be removed from the certification process because they have no foreseeable chemical influence on the article or on the immediate environment.

The basic prerequisite is that the materials used meet all legal requirements. During the testing process, the materials are tested according to the extensive catalogue of criteria that are the focus of the two standards. In this way, companies can make their care with regard to chemicals used and their commitment to human ecological safety visible to consumers.

For example, it is about the labelling options for leather covers, including upholstery, which are used in the furniture industry. All OEKO-TEX® contract documents and supplement documents for special articles can be found on the PFI website.

Jutta Knels will be happy to advise and support you in all matters relating to certification and auditing of current OEKO-TEX® services and products.

To LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®-certificate

To STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®-certificate
 

Dipl.-Ing. Jutta Knels 
Research Assistant at the PFI Certification Body
E-Mail: jutta.knelspfi-germanyde  
Phone: +49 6331 2490 807 | Mobil: +49 151 27044303 | Fax: +49 6331 2276 09