Oeko-Tex announces extra Leather Standard tests for chrome-free and metal-free
Independent textile research and testing organisation the Oeko-Tex Association has announced a series of new regulations for its leather standard. These will come into effect on April 1 after a three-month transition period.
Among the changes is one that means an additional lab test will now be required for companies wishing to present their leather as chrome-free or metal-free.
Oeko-Tex has said that if applicants want to have the terms “chrome-free tanned leather” mentioned in the scope of their Leather Standard certificates, they will need to show lab test results that confirm total content of chromium equal to or less than 0.1% of the dry weight.
To have “metal-free tanned leather” on the certificate will require lab tests showing total content of all tanning metals (chromium, aluminium, titanium, zirconium and iron) equal to or less than 0.1% of the dry weight.
There will also be changes in the limit values of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and salts from perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds, as well as PFOA-related substances.
