• Prohibited Amines in Azo dyes
• Chlorinated Phenols
• Formaldehyde
• Extractable Heavy Metals
• Residual Pesticides
• Allergic dyes
• Chlorinated Benzene & Toluene compounds
• Phthalates
• Organo Tin compounds

 

The presence of above chemicals beyond certain prescribed limits are banned in textiles meant for civilian use. With reference to the above banned chemicals certain parameters have been fixed by various stipulating bodies. Eco labels are products being produced adhering to the above parameters. There are many organizations in different part of the world specify certain criteria for importing textile goods from other exporting countries. The following organizations are some of important ones in this list.

 

Government organizations	Commercial Organizations
Eco Mark - Japan	Okeo Tex 100, Germany,  Austrea
Green Seal - USA	Tox Proof _TUV, Germany
Flower - EV	GuT, Carpets, Germany
EKO-Seal (Holland)	Steilmann
Environmental Choice (Canada)	Otto Versand
Green Mark (China-Taiwan)	Hess Natur
Eco-Mark (India).	Green Cotton

 

The following regulatory laws prevail in Germany concerning ecology of Textiles.

 

Food & Consumer Products  law  - Allergic disperse dyes and chromium IV

Consumer Products Ordinance - Flame Retardants, Azo dyes, Nickel and Formaldehyde

Chemical Prohibition Ordinance - DDT, Dioxins and Furons, Mercury, PCB, PCT, PCP, Flame retardants & Azo dyestuffs.

There are 2 types of criteria for eco labels:

 

• Product Based: - pertains to the limits of harmful chemicals with vary with the intended use of textiles.

  • Group -I Baby wear - The limits (stringent) are the lowest for the clothes and textiles for babies below age 3.

  • Group -II Material in direct skin contact, worn next to skin, eg., underwear, bed sheets and night dresses.

  • Group -III Materials not in direct skin contact - textiles worn as second layer dresses, coats, articles with linings.

  • Group -IV Furnishing articles and accessories for decorative purposes. eg., Table wear, upholstery, curtains, textile flooring and mattresses.

• Process Based:- These are recommendations for processes to be avoided such as:
  • Bleaching with Hypochlorites
  • Use of chlorinated organic compounds as carriers in polyester dyeing.
  • Optimum use of water and energy

Dyestuffs when exhausted on fiber are fixed only to the extent of 50 to 90%; the unfixed exhausted dye along with additive chemical impurities contaminate the effluent, hence there is a need to ensure that the dyestuff and dye additives that are used in the dyeing process are eco friendly.

 

Ecological norms for the dye are considered assuming its concentration up to 10% on textiles and 2% dye diluted to 1:2500 in effluent.

Fastness properties of dyes on finished textiles also form part of eco norms considering their possible transfer on the skin.