Mogens Stibolt
Ecolabelling Denmark
2009-08-10
Changes in the new version of the criteria document for textiles.
In this document the current version of the criteria document for textiles (of 15 May 2002) has been
compared to the new version (of 9 July 2009) and the changes have been listed.
Please note that the list contains most of the changes but might lack a few minor changes. For this
reason the document cannot be used as a checklist for all the changes.
Please study the latest version of the criteria document (2009/564/EC of 9 July 2009) for a full list
of criteria.
Product group definition
1. Acrylic
2. Cotton and other natural cellulosic seed
fibres
3. Elastane
4. Flax and other bast fibres
5. Greasy wool and other keratin fibres
Changes in the new version
It has been specified that mats and rugs are included in the product
group.
Wall to wall coverings and wall coverings are still excluded.
Durable non woven is also included in the product group.
No change
Testing for pesticides shall now be done for each lot of cotton or two
times a year if more than two lots of cotton per year are received.
A minimum of 3% of organic cotton have to be used on an annual
basis.
No change but a clarification of the criteria.
No change.
5 (b) (now 5.2): Ethion and pirimphos-methyl have been added to the
list.
5 (d) (now 5.4): Dicyclanil has been added to the list.
6. Man-made cellulose fibres
7. Polyamide
8. Polyester
9. Polypropylene
10. Auxiliaries and finishing agents
11. Biocidal or biostatic products
12. Stripping or depigmentation
13. Weighting
14. Auxiliary chemicals
5 (e) (now 5.5): The maximum COD content in waste water treated
on-site has been increased from 5 g/kg greasy wool to 45 g/kg greasy
wool. And the wool scouring plant shall describe, in detail, their
treatment of the scouring effluent and continuously monitor the CODlevels.
No change.
No change.
No change but a clarification of the criteria.
No change.
10 (c) (now 10.3): The content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAH) in the mineral oil proportion of a product shall now be less
than 3% by weight. In the previous version it was 1% by weight.
Biocides in the end product has to be included in Annex IA of
Directive 98/8/EC, where this substance confers to the textiles
additional properties directly aiming at protecting human health (e.g.
biocidal products added to textile nets and clothing to repel
mosquitoes and fleas, mites or allergens) and where the active
substance is authorised for the use in question according to Annex V
of Directive 98/8/EC.
No change.
No change.
The title has been changed to “All chemicals and chemical
Mogens Stibolt
Ecolabelling Denmark
2009-08-10
15. Detergents, fabric softeners and
complexing agents.
16. Bleaching
17. Impurities in dyes
18. Impurities in pigments: Insoluble colour
mater without fibre affinity
19. Chrome mordant dyeing
20. Metal complex dyes
21. Azo dyes
22. Dyes that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or
toxic to reproduction
23. Potentially sensitising dyes
24. Halogenated carries for polyester
25. Printing
26. Formaldehyde
27. Waste water discharges from wetprocessing
28. Flame retardants
29. Anti felting finishes (former title: Shrink
resistant finishes)
30. Fabric finishes
(former title: Finishes)
31. Fillings
32. Coatings, laminates and membranes
33. Energy and water use
34. Dimensional changes during washing and
drying
preparations”.
Surfactants in detergents and fabric softeners have now got to be
ultimately aerobically biodegradable.
Chlorine agents are excluded for bleaching yarn, fabric and end
products.
This requirement does not apply to the production of man-made
cellulose fibres.
No change.
No change.
No change.
No change.
2.4-Xylidine and 2.6-Xylidine has been added to the list of aromatic
amines that the azo dyes may not cleave to.
No change.
No change.
No change.
No change.
The levels of permitted formaldehyde in Flower labelled products
have been changed. The new levels are:
Products for babies and young children – 20 ppm
Products that come into direct contact with skin – 30 ppm
All other products – 75 ppm
The highest allowed COD concentration in waste water after
treatment has been lowered from 25 g/kg textile to 20 g/kg textile.
Only reactive flame retardants may be used. Reactive flame retardants
are excluded.
Loose scoured wool has been added to list of products where the
criterion is relevant.
The term “finishes” has been defined more clearly.
No change.
The following requirement has been added; the VOC emissions to air
shall not exceed 10 g C/kg.
Data for water and energy use shall be provided for manufacturing
sites involved in wet processing.
This has been voluntary until now but in this version of the criteria it
has been made mandatory. However there are no limits for the water
and energy use.
New levels:
The dimensional changes after washing and drying shall not exceed:
- Plus or minus 2% for curtains and for furniture fabric that is
washable and removable.
-
35. Colour fastness to washing
36. Colour fastness to respiration (acid,
alkaline)
37. Colour fastness to wet rubbing
38. Colour fastness to dry rubbing
39. Colour fastness to light
40. Information appearing on the Ecolabel
More than minus 8% or plus 4% for other woven products
and durable non woven, other knitted products or for terry
towelling.
No change.
No change.
No change.
No change.
No change.
The three sentences in Box 2 have been changed:
Mogens Stibolt
Ecolabelling Denmark
2009-08-10
Box 2 of the Ecolabel shall contain the following text:
 Encouraging the use of sustainable fibres
 Durable and high quality
 Hazardous substances restricted