The webinar series of The Partnership for Sustainable Textile and the Green Button on upcoming legislation under the EU Textile Strategie goes into the second round.

Join the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and the Green Button on 23rd of October 2023 for the second session of the webinar series to learn more about the EU’s Green Deal and how it will affect the textile and garment sector. Hear from experts and stakeholders about what’s coming and how to be best prepared.

In late 2019, the European Commission published its European Green Deal, the EU’s new growth strategy to make the EU climate neutral by 2050 and to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy. In March 2022, the publication of the Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles followed, setting out a vision to ensure that: “By 2030 textile products placed on the EU market are long lived and recyclable, to a great extent made of recycled fibres, free of hazardous substances and produced in respect of social rights and the environment.”

Under these strategies, the EU Commission has put forward several far-reaching legislative initiatives, many of them are expected to enter into force from 2025 and 2026 onwards. Introducing far-reaching new design requirements, greenwashing regulation, rules to prevent overproduction and overconsumption, and rules to handle textile waste more responsibly, these initiatives will completely overhaul the rules for production, consumption, sale, and disposal of textiles in the EU.

You want to know more about the legislative framework under the EU Green Deal and how it could initiate change and affect your business? Join us for the next webinars on upcoming legislation under the EU Green Deal and the EU Textile Strategy!

The webinar series will provide you with:

• an introduction to the wider EU policy landscape and how upcoming legislations relate to international obligations
• a deep dive into specific legislative initiatives that will transform the textile and apparel sector in the coming years
• a better understanding of how these initiatives will likely impact companies and global supply chains.

Please click here for more information on the series.

For four years, the government-run certification label Green Button has been showing which companies are fulfilling their responsibility for people and the environment in their supply chains and has been marking their sustainable products – with increasing success:

• 47% of people in Germany are familiar with the Green Button and, at 67%, trust in the label is particularly high. [1]  
• From socks to hats, from cooking aprons to tents, products with the Green Button can now be found in numerous product categories and for every budget. Since the Green Button was introduced in 2019, well over 300 million labeled products have already crossed the counter. [2]
• The Green Button has also set standards in private and public procurement. In fan shops, hospitals, hotels, at the supermarket checkout or on the train - it's hard to imagine the public sphere without the Green Button.

Four years after its market launch, Christine Moser-Priewich and Florian Tiedtke therefore assess the label's performance positively. Both have been jointly managing the Green Button Secretariat since July 1st, 2023. Florian Tiedtke emphasizes the credibility of the label: "The Green Button is run by the state, which creates trust. Two out of three people who know about the Green Button have already consciously put a product with the certification label in their shopping basket. This shows that the Green Button is really used as an orientation when shopping." Christine Moser-Priewich adds: "It is particularly pleasing that more than 40 companies have already successfully completed the more comprehensive audits under the stricter standard version, the Green Button 2.0."  The Green Button 2.0 also takes into account the fibers and materials used and requires companies to take first steps towards living wages. "The success of the Green Button shows that consumers want to buy more sustainable products and that at the same time companies are focusing more on their own responsibility in the supply chain", Moser-Priewich continued.

The Green Button is not only the first certification label that evaluates due diligence requirements, it is also considered very comprehensive because it sets requirements on two levels: First, it checks whether companies are working in a way that better protects people and the environment in their supply chains. Additionally, it must be proven by recognized labels that the products carrying the Green Button have been produced socially and ecologically.

The Green Button certification bodies are independent and are monitored by the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS). The DAkkS has also certified that the audits are carried out uniformly and that results are comparable. This shows the reliability of the label’s certification system and further contributes to its credibility.

Background

Many textiles are produced in countries of the Global South, mostly by women and often under inhumane conditions. The environment also suffers. To change this, companies must fulfill their due diligence obligations. The government-run certification label Green Button shows which companies meet their due diligence obligations and which products have been produced sustainably. The label is issued by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which is thus further promoting the protection of people and the environment in global supply chains.

Contact:
Green Button Secretariat
Potsdamer Platz 10
10785 Berlin, Germany
T +49 30 / 338 424 - 777
info@gruener-knopf.de
www.gruener-knopf.de

[1] Results of a representative survey conducted by the Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung GfK on behalf of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), July 2023.

[2] GIZ survey among Green Button licensees, August 2023.

The Partnership for Sustainable Textile and the Green Button launch joint webinar series on upcoming legislation under the EU Textile Strategie. 

Join the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and the Green Button on 21^st of September 2023 for the kick-off of its upcoming six-month webinar series to learn more about the EU’s Green Deal and how it will affect the textile and garment sector. Hear from experts and stakeholders about what’s coming and how to be best prepared.

In late 2019, the European Commission published its European Green Deal, the EU’s new growth strategy to make the EU climate neutral by 2050 and to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy. In March 2022, the publication of the Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles followed, setting out a vision to ensure that: “By 2030 textile products placed on the EU market are long lived and recyclable, to a great extent made of recycled fibres, free of hazardous substances and produced in respect of social rights and the environment.”

Under these strategies, the EU Commission has put forward several far-reaching legislative initiatives, many of them are expected to enter into force from 2025 and 2026 onwards. Introducing far-reaching new design requirements, greenwashing regulation, rules to prevent overproduction and overconsumption, and rules to handle textile waste more responsibly, these initiatives will completely overhaul the rules for production, consumption, sale, and disposal of textiles in the EU.

Six-months webinar series is launching now

You want to know more about the legislative framework under the EU Green Deal and how it could initiate change and affect your business? Join us for a series of six webinars on upcoming legislation under the EU Green Deal and the EU Textile Strategy!

The webinar series will provide you with:

• an introduction to the wider EU policy landscape and how upcoming legislations relate to international obligations
• a deep dive into specific legislative initiatives that will transform the textile and apparel sector in the coming years
• a better understanding of how these initiatives will likely impact companies and global supply chains.

Please click here for more information on the series.

21^st of September 2023 10am – 12pm

Kick-off and deep dive into the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

This kick-off session will set the scene for the upcoming webinars, provide an overview of the policy landscape, and dive into one of the initiatives at the heart of the Green Transition: The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). We will look into the details of the CSDDD proposal and its likely implications for the textile sector, both for brands and retailers as well as for suppliers. We will focus on critical issues, the different positions of stakeholders, and learn about where the policy process stands.

Register here.

More certification labels have successfully passed the benchmarking process and are thus established as recognised certification labels for production process requirements (meta-label approach) under Green Button 2.0.

From now on, the following certification label will be accepted for certain fibres and materials on the level of raw material extraction

• OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100: for the use of recycled fibres and materials (sub scope 3 and 7)
• OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 „organic“: for the use of organic cotton (sub scope 5)
• OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON: for the use of organic cotton (sub scope 5)

For OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN, the requirements in the scope of fibre and material use can be met by OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 or OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON for the sub-scopes mentioned.

An OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN product may, fulfil the fibre requirements of the Green Button. This always requires a verification of the underlying OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 or OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON certificate and the material composition of the product.

These newly evaluated certification labels complement the recognised certification labels published in the last months:

• bluesign®PRODUCT: For the recognition scope wet processes. For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of virgin polyester and down.
• Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based fibres
• Fairtrade Cotton: For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based fibres
• Fairtrade Textile Standard: For the recognition scope manufacturing
• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based and animal fibres and for the use of man-made fibres greater than 10% and less than 30%
• Global Recycled Standard (GRS): For the recognition scope wet processes in combination with Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and for fibre and material use for the use of recycled man-made and plant-based fibres
• Naturtextil IVN zertifiziert BEST: For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based and animal fibres
• Organic Content Standard (OCS): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based and animal fibres as well as regenerated fibres
• OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN: For the recognition scope manufacturing and wet processes. For the recognition scope of fiber and material use for the use of virgin polyester (product class 1-3)
• OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100: For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of virgin polyester (product class 1-3)
• Recycled Claim Standard (RCS): For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of recycled man-made and plant-based fibres
• Responsible Down Standard (RDS): For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of down.
• Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS): For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of animal fibres
• Responsible Wool Standard (RWS): For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of animal fibres
• SA8000: For the recognition scope manufacturing

This document lists all fibres and materials approved for the Green Button 2.0, combined with the respective recognised certification labels. All certification labels recognised for Green Button regarding the supply chain levels wet processing and manufacturing can be found here. The list will be further supplemented at a later date.

To meet the Green Button requirements for production processes and to be able to label products, companies must demonstrate recognised certification labels for all three areas (fibre and material use, wet processes, manufacturing). Prior to this, companies must demonstrate compliance with the requirements for corporate due diligence processes within a Green Button audit.

Recognition of the aforementioned certification labels is the result of a recognition process outlined in this fact sheet as well as in Green Button Standard 2.0: Process and Requirements for the Recognition of Certification Labels. Newly recognised certification labels were assessed prior to their recognition to determine whether they met the content requirements of the Green Button Standard as well as the eligibility requirements, which include requirements for their credibility. The recognition of the certification labels issued by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is valid until the next revision of the Green Button. The recognition of the certification labels issued by the BMZ is valid until the next revision of the Green Button. Should the certification label itself undergo changes, it is to be reviewed in accordance with the Green Button Standard whether the recognition needs to be elicited in a new benchmarking.

Documents for download:

• Guidance to the list of approved fibres and materials including recognised certification labels (this list will be continuously updated and added to)
• Overview recognised certification labels (this list will be continuously updated and added to)

More certification labels have successfully passed the benchmarking process and are thus established as recognised certification labels for production process requirements (meta-label approach) under Green Button 2.0.

From now on, the following certification label will be accepted for manufacturing:

• Fairtrade Textile Standard

From now on, the following certification label will be accepted for wet-processes:

• Global Recycled Standard (GRS) (in combination with OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100)

From now on, the following certification label will be accepted for certain fibres and materials on the level of raw material extraction, predominantly focusing on the use of down (sub-scope 10):

• bluesign®PRODUCT

These newly evaluated certification labels complement the recognised certification labels published in the last months:

• bluesign®PRODUCT: For the recognition scope wet processes. For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of virgin polyester
• Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based fibres
• Fairtrade Cotton: For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based fibres
• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based and animal fibres and for the use of man-made fibres greater than 10% and less than 30%
• Global Recycled Standard (GRS): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of recycled man-made and plant-based fibres
• Naturtextil IVN zertifiziert BEST: For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based and animal fibres
• Organic Content Standard (OCS): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based and animal fibres as well as regenerated fibres
• Oeko-Tex Made in Green: For the recognition scope manufacturing and wet processes. For the recognition scope of fiber and material use for the use of virgin polyester (product class 1-3)
• Oeko-Tex Standard 100: For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of virgin polyester (product class 1-3)
• Recycled Claim Standard (RCS): For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of recycled man-made and plant-based fibres
• Responsible Down Standard (RDS): For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of down.
• Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS): For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of animal fibres
• Responsible Wool Standard (RWS): For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of animal fibres
• SA8000: For the recognition scope manufacturing

This document lists all fibres and materials approved for the Green Button 2.0, combined with the respective recognised certification labels. All certification labels recognised for Green Button regarding the supply chain levels wet processing and manufacturing can be found here. The list will be further supplemented at a later date.

To meet the Green Button requirements for production processes and to be able to label products, companies must demonstrate recognised certification labels for all three areas (fibre and material use, wet processes, manufacturing). Prior to this, companies must demonstrate compliance with the requirements for corporate due diligence processes within a Green Button audit.

Recognition of the aforementioned certification labels is the result of a recognition process outlined in this fact sheet as well as in Green Button Standard 2.0: Process and Requirements for the Recognition of Certification Labels. Newly recognised certification labels were assessed prior to their recognition to determine whether they met the content requirements of the Green Button Standard as well as the eligibility requirements, which include requirements for their credibility. The recognition of the certification labels issued by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is valid until the next revision of the Green Button. The recognition of the certification labels issued by the BMZ is valid until the next revision of the Green Button. Should the certification label itself undergo changes, it is to be reviewed in accordance with the Green Button Standard whether the recognition needs to be elicited in a new benchmarking.

Documents for download:

• Guidance to the list of approved fibres and materials including recognised certification labels (this list will be continuously updated and added to)
• Overview recognised certification labels (this list will be continuously updated and added to)

As part of the meta-label approach, the Green Button defines requirements for production processes at selected supply chain levels. Companies demonstrate these through recognised certification labels. Alongside the requirements for corporate due diligence processes, they are the basis for a product to be labeled with the Green Button.

In the Guidance to the list of approved fibres and materials it is defined for which fibres and materials recognised certification labels are required, which quantity limits apply, if any, and which fibres and materials may only be used under specific exception rules and which evidence has to be provided for these exceptions. The mentioned guidance is an extension of the list of approved fibres and materials.
Based on the exchange with our stakeholders, the scheme owner, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has decided on the following changes regarding the requirements for fibre and material use to make the implementation of the Green Button 2.0 requirements more feasible.

These changes take effect with the adaptation of the standard. However, we would like to point out again at this point that alternatively, products can continue to be awarded according to the production requirements of Green Button 1.0 until 31.07.2024.

The following changes are to be implemented:

1. Extension of the general exception rule for the use of virgin man-made fibres from artificial polymers (70/30 - rule)

Normally, certified recycled fibres should be used in the Green Button 2.0. Since this is not always possible, we have formulated exceptions that allow the use of virgin man-made fibres, such as the 70/30 rule.

What is new is that this 70/30 rule is now not only triggered by using at least 70% recycled fibres, but also by cotton and regenerated fibres with a recognised certification label. So now it is possible to use up to 30% virgin man-made fibres for textiles that consist of 70% sustainable cotton, regenerated fibres and/or recycled fibres with a recognised certification label each, as long as their use is generally allowed in the Green Button.

Special regulations apply to virgin polyester and elastane, and newly also to elastolefin, i.e. elastolefin may now also be used up to a maximum of 10%, yet without certification. 

2. Inclusion of an exception rule for polyamide

Polyamide is currently only permitted with a recognised certification label, i.e. recycled. It is planned to allow the use of virgin polyamide also in exceptional cases, namely for protective clothing in accordance with EU Regulation 2016/425. Evidence is to be provided via the CE marking on the product. 

3. Evidence of exception regarding personal protective equipment (PPE)

In the area of PPE, the form of evidence is to change.

Thus, it is no longer mandatory to provide evidence in the form of individual, function-related standards (ISO/EN) in order to claim exceptions for certain fibres and materials. In future, the CE marking on the product in accordance with EU Regulation 2016/425 can be used as evidence for exception for PPE.

Exceptions for PPE apply to the use of the following fibres and materials: aramid, carbon fibres, modacrylic (MAC), (new) virgin polyester and (new) polyamide.

4. Evidence for exception rules for industrial laundry suitability - virgin polyester

Virgin polyester may only be used in exceptional cases. In addition to the 70:30 rule, we therefore have defined selected business and application areas. For exceptions regarding home and contract textiles, that are suitable for industrial laundry, as well as workwear, we have now updated the forms of evidence, that are to be provided. There will be the additional option of submitting a self-declaration as evidence of the industrial laundry suitability of textiles.

The Green Button secretariat will provide a respective template, which will be accessible via the online portal.

In addition, in the workwear sector, both a reference to ISO 15797 on the product and the Pro-Label (ISO 30023) can be used as proof.

5. Further exception rules for the use of virgin polyester

Furthermore, an exception regarding virgin polyester can in future be applied to surgical clothing and drapes via DIN EN 13795-1 and 2. Here, proof of conformity will be provided in accordance with DIN EN 13795-1 and -2.

A further exemption rule will also be introduced for PPE in accordance with EU Regulation 2016/425.

On April 24, 2013, the Rana Plaza building collapsed, causing the deaths of more than 1,000 people. This tragic incident brought attention to the downside of global textile supply chains. 

In response, Bangladesh adopted the International Accord on Fire and Building Safety (ACCORD), an agreement to strengthen safe workplaces for workers in the textile industry. In Germany, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has, among other things, launched the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and the government-run certification label Green Button.

Where does the textile industry stand 10 years after the catastrophe? To answer this question, the BMZ invites to the event Towards decent work for all - Asia's textile industry 10 years after Rana Plaza. The Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr. Bärbel Kofler, will discuss together with experts the improvements in the textile industry and the remaining challenges.

When. Tuesday, April 25, 2023 | 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (CEST)
Where. Hybrid event. Digital participation via Livestream.