Oeko-Tex® Standard 1000

The first version of the Oeko-Tex® Standard 1000 appeared back in 1995. The Oeko-Tex® Standard 1000 is published by "Oeko-Tex International — an association for the assessment of environmentally-friendly textiles", headquartered in Zurich and a consortium of independent European textile testing institutes. The Standard 1000 is a logical continuation of the Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, which has been going for almost ten years now.

The Oeko-Tex® Standard 1000 includes, as well as human ecology, the production conditions of the textile, i.e. an investigation is carried out into the extent to which a textile company produces environmentally compatible products and the extent to which production methods are as environmentally friendly as possible. In terms of content, it is about the elimination of certain environmentally harmful additives, colourants and production methods. The standard has stringent requirements regarding wastewater, waste air purification, energy usage, noise and dust, as well as safety in the workplace. It also stipulates adherence to fundamental aspects of an environmental management system within the company and contains the social criterion of the prohibition of child labour.

The Oeko-Tex® Standard 1000 is a test, auditing and certification system that textile and clothing companies can sign up to on a voluntary basis. Applications are to be directed to a test institute of "Oeko-Tex® International" (ÖTI, Vienna).

Product marking is also an issue. Anyone wanting to mark textile products must provide verification that conformance to the criteria in the standard by all of the businesses involved in the production of a product, i.e. the entire production chain, is seamless. Authorisation for this product mark initially applies for a period of one year.

Many textile companies in Europe have invested considerable sums in operational environmental protection. In the Oeko-Tex® Standard 1000, they are given the opportunity to express their environmental commitment to consumers