The Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 is a globally uniform testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of production.

The tests for harmful substances comprise substances which are prohibited or regulated by law, chemicals which are known to be harmful to health, and parameters which are included as a precautionary measure to safeguard health.

A tested textile product is allocated to one of the four Oeko-Tex® product classes based on its intended use. The more intensively a product comes into contact with the skin, the stricter the human ecological requirements it must fulfil.

Manufacturers are entitled to mark successfully tested products or article groups with the Oeko-Tex® label and to advertise in other forms as long as it has been proven within the extensive laboratory tests that all components, including accessories, comply with the specified test criteria without exception. A certificate which is issued applies for one year and can be renewed as often as required.

Certification according to Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 offers companies in the textile and clothing industry who wish to offer their customers products which are safe to their health a range of advantages:

This added transparency provides significantly improved product security and time savings, in particular for companies with extremely short production cycles and complex internal quality assurance systems.

More information at www.oeko-tex.com

The production of TENCEL® is revolutionary. The production process is based on a solvent spinning process and represents the greatest accomplishment in cellulosic fiber technology. The unique closed loop production process makes TENCEL® the fiber of the future: eco-friendly and economical.

The closed loop production process of TENCEL® has received awards from the European Union (EU).

The revolutionary thing about the production process of TENCEL® is the almost complete recovery of the solvent. Close to 100% of the solvent is recovered and the remaining emissions are broken down in biological water treatment plants. This manufacturing process was presented with the “European Award for the Environment” by the European Union.

A non-toxic solvent which belongs to the amine oxide family and is also used in toiletries is used in the TENCEL® production process. The harmlessness of the solvent has been proven in dermatological and toxicological tests.

Another important environmental aspect is the consumption of water. To grow cotton 100 times more water is required as in the production of TENCEL® including pulp production. This gentle way of dealing with water will undoubtedly gain significance in the future.

TENCEL® absorbs excess liquid and quickly releases it again into the atmosphere. The true nature of TENCEL® can be found in this perfect interaction. If that does not constitute the dawning of a new age, then what does? The plant root system ensures that the plants absorb water as well as help the entire vegetation store water in the soil, which is vital for life. This is a principle mirrored by fibers from Lenzing. Thus the moisture management of TENCEL® functions according to the same system. TENCEL® uses nanofibrils to absorb excess moisture and distribute it evenly in the fiber.

Fibrils are tiny components (little "hairs") which make up the fiber. The unique structure of the fibrils allows the production of textiles which, until now, could only be dreamed of. This is the first cellulose fiber whose functionality is based on this innovative structure. The controlled and regular arrangement of these tiny fibrils leads to new functional properties. The fibrils are hydrophilic and optimize the absorption of moisture with excellent cooling properties.

More information at www.lenzing.com/en/fibers/tencel.html