Increasing raw material prices, the need to protect the environment and the global shortage of resources such as water are some of the challenges faced by the textile industry. Being successful in the marketplace means that you need to take responsibility when it comes to environmental and consumer protection, which in turn means prioritizing your ecological footprint.
The bluesign® standard offers an independent approval system for the textile industry, taking into account the whole production process, minimizing the impact on the environment and safeguarding human health. It also helps to decrease your production costs, increase your competetiveness and innovation, benefiting your business.
Consumers are increasingly aware, not only of their own impact on the environment, but also that of the products and businesses they use. As a result consumers are looking to your products to offer transparent value chains, high quality, harmless and environmentally safe credentials.
bluesign® screening tackles the problem at its root. Instead of focusing on testing your finished product, it looks at all input streams – from raw materials, to chemical components, to water and energy resources. Every component is assessed, eliminating potentially harmful substances before you even begin production.
The Principles of bluesign®
The standard is built around five principles:
- Resource productivity
- Consumer safety
- Air emissions
- Water emissions
- Occupational health and safety
Resource productivity
Aims for maximum quality and added value for your product using minimum resources and the least possible environmental impact.
Consumer safety
Consumer safety includes not only that your textiles need to be of high quality and without health risks, but also the assurance that you apply all the principles of sustainability during your production process.
Air emissions
Air emissions need to comply with strictly controlled limits along your entire production chain. Using low emission components and optimizing energy use reduces your CO2 load.
Water emission
Water emission control aims to feedback purified water into the natural cycle, causing the least possible pollution of rivers, lakes and seas. You can achieve this by using ecologically harmless components and by optimizing production and waste water treatment processes.
Occupational health and safety
This involves the health and safety of your employees in the textile industry. It means that weak points that might exist locally can be detected and improved in line with regulations.
Three Steps to Achieving bluesign® Standard
Screening
Screening is the first step to implementing the bluesign® standard. Experts carry out a full bluesign® screening of your company. This evaluation enables you to not only eliminate hazardous materials and other environmental risks, but also establishes the most economical use of your resources.
Implementation
This stage involves resolving problems highlighted during screening. This stage is tailor-made to your business, offering you an individual implementation plan.
Certification
During this final stage of the process we carry out tests and inspections so that your individual products and product groups can be certified.
With the global seal of approval for environment, health and production safety, the bluesign® standard helps you and your suppliers to establish environmental standards for textiles without compromising functionality, quality and design.