Textile sustainability firmly in sight
BÖNNIGHEIM (ivs) In the age of climate change and environmental protection, the pressure on manufacturers, brands and retailers in the textile sector is growing. More and more consumers are calling for compliance with minimum social standards in the manufacture of their textiles. The OEKO-TEX® Association, together with Hohenstein as one of the founding members, has developed a comprehensive product portfolio to provide everyone involved in the textile value creation chain with the best possible security and extensive transparency.
The product label MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® in particular offers a clear statement: the textiles labelled with it are manufactured under environmentally friendly and socially acceptable production conditions and offer safety regarding potential harmful substances. Consumers can immediately find out in which production facilities and countries the finishing of the textile article took place via the product ID or QR code on the end product. But MADE IN GREEN also benefits retailers and businesses that are searching specifically for socially responsible partners and suppliers along the textile supply chain. Here the OEKO-TEX® Buying Guide facilitates the selection of MADE IN GREEN labelled products. It is available for free at www.oeko-tex.com/products.
The knitwear manufacturer Mattes & Ammann GmbH & Co. KG was one of the first companies to be found in the Buying Guide in the MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® section. This is no surprise as the principle of acting responsible with conviction is strongly anchored in the company philosophy of Mattes & Ammann. The family owned company from Swabia based in Meßstetten-Tieringen has made a name for itself as a manufacturer of fine knitted fabrics for the automotive industry and the mattress industry. “When it comes to certifications in the areas of quality, environmental protection, occupational safety and social matters, we are a true business of conviction,” reveals sales director Werner Moser, “and, most importantly, we live and breathe certifications.” Already in the summer of 2013, Mattes & Ammann was the first textile facility to be certified in the European Economic Area by Hohenstein according to Sustainable Textile Production STeP by OEKO-TEX® in order to be able to communicate their own sustainable production conditions to the outside world. In the summer of 2015, the company was one of the first companies in the B2B sector to receive MADE IN GREEN labels for its textile products for the hygiene market. In the meantime, the assortment of fabrics for the mattress industry has also been added. “We have practically doubled our production capacity in this area over the last years,” Moser adds. With currently around 270 employees and a total production area ofaround 36,000 square metres, Mattes & Ammann produces more than 46 million square metres of textile fabrics annually in circular knitting, round knitting and warp knitting - with sufficient scope for expansion. The traditional guiding principle is always in focus: “We set ourselves the goal of acting flawlessly in every respect. Alongside the quality concept, the environmental and social ethos also belong to this.” In fact, hardly any other supplier of the textile sector in Europe has certified its facility in the areas of quality, environment and operational safety so comprehensively. Moser explains: “It is our aspiration to always be one step ahead. For this reason, we always look for certification opportunities that suit us.” At Mattes & Ammann, one is convinced that the benefits of the certifications far outweigh the disadvantages. “Of course, you have to spend a lot of money to carry out a project like this, not to mention in-house infrastructure or work capacity requirements. However, for use, it has become clear that the certificates also pay off economically. It is not only the sales promoting aspect that comes into play, but also the potential to be able to account cost savings through the optimisation of in-house processes such as goods flows.” Furthermore, sales director Werner Moser assumes that in the medium term, consumer awareness will change regarding the manufacturing conditions of textile products. “Today one can clearly see how the demand for articles produced under fair conditions is growing from year to year. We, as a company, have already made our advance contribution and are well equipped.” In the future, Mattes & Ammann will by no means want to let up in their own efforts to do the right thing. Werner Moser emphasises: “For us, Hohenstein with the product label MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® is the right partner when it comes to showing business partners and consumers demonstrable product safety and comprehensible transparency regarding value creation.”
