Oeko-Tex updates Leather Standard with extra chemical restrictions
04/01/2018
It said the amendments mean it is increasingly aligned to the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) initiative and the Detox Campaign.
“Oeko-Tex is able to strengthen awareness concerning responsible handling of potentially hazardous substances in leather products throughout the leather manufacturing chain and to play a pioneering role in contributing to effective consumer protection,” it said.
Changes include:
• A reduction in chemical residues, specifically: Bisphenol A limit value for all product classes: 0.1 %; and Aniline limit value for all product classes: 100 mg/kg
Bisphenol A is included in the substances of very high concern list by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and is used in some softener chemicals. Aniline is “suspected of causing cancer” and “suspected of causing genetic defects” by ECHA.
• New restricted substances in the ‘Surfactant, wetting agent residues’ category include heptylphenol and pentylphenol, both of which are “substances of very high concern”
• The limit value for short-chain chlorinated paraffins has been lowered to 100 mg/kg
• Special regulations for preservative agents ortho-phenylphenol (OPP) and 4-chloro-3-methylphenol (CMC) have been determined
• Five extra dyes – solvent yellow 1, solvent yellow 3, direct brown 95, direct blue 15 and acid red 114 – have been classified as carcinogenic. While they have been banned for years, the mention of these dyes reportedly enables customers to make easier comparison with RSL lists from NGOs and retail chains
• Quinoline and phenol are “under observation” and will be randomly tested for
• Only skins that are included on an accepted list can be certified.
More information can be found on the Oeko-Tex website.
Image: Natuzzi Italia
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