Lost in “green” textiles? Heard of GOTS, Oeko-Tex, NOP, FLO or ILO but not sure what’s behind it all? The Eco-Textile Labeling Guide provides valuable information about the latest organic textile standards and eco-textile certification including a number of ethical and fair trade standards. It is designed for manufacturers of textiles, apparel retailers and brands who want to find out which eco standards are most suitable for them and how to source products that have a minimal negative effect on the environment.

The Guide was researched, written and edited by Mowbray Communication Limited (MCL), publisher of Ecotextile News and published in partnership with Messe Frankfurt.

“Exhibitors and visitors at Texworld and Interstoff keep asking questions such as ‘What kind of eco labels are there?’; ‘What is the difference between them?’; ‘Can I sell my organic cotton shirts in Europe and the US?’; ‘What are the basic certification procedures?’ ‘What does it all cost’?” says Detlef Braun, Member of the Board of Management at Messe Frankfurt. “This book is a real reference tool which answers all these questions. To my knowledge it is the most comprehensive publication about eco-textile certification to date.”

The guidebook is divided into four main sections.

Obligatory Organic Textile Standards
This chapter outlines the main legal standards for organic textiles in the USA, EU and Japan, e.g. USDA National Organic Programme (NOP), EU: 2092/91, Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS).

Optional Organic Textile Standards
These organic standards are voluntary but have to be in accord with the obligatory standards outlined above. Standards like GOTS, OE 100 Blended, IWTO organic wool and others belong to that group.

Eco-Textile Standards
These standards do not incorporate organic standards but focus on textile production processes and consumer safety such as Oeko-Tex, Bluesign, Cradle to Cradle and other.

Ethical Production and Fair Trade
Environmental friendly production and social aspects often cannot be separated from each other. This chapter deals with social standards like ILO Labour Standards, FLO (Fairtrade labelling organisation), SA8000, Fairwear Foundation etc.

Also, the guidebook introduces important certification companies such as Control Union, IMO, OneCert Inc and others. A glossary at the end of the book explains technical terms. Tables and bullet points enable the reader to receive an overview at a glance and to easily compare the standards.

The guidebook will be available for the first time in North America at Texworld USA, February 3 – 5, 2009 for the price of $15 US.

To order bulk copies of the “Eco-Textile Labeling Guide” please contact the publisher MCL / Ecotextile News at info@ecotextile.com

About Texworld USA
An international business platform offering a wide array of highly innovative and creative fabrics, Texworld USA provides designers and buyers access to exquisitely designed, high-quality fabrics made globally, and also showcases the latest trends. Texworld USA returns to New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center February 3 - 5, 2009.

Lenzing Innovation continues to partner with Messe Frankfurt for the fifth edition of Texworld USA. The show is an expansion of their successful fabrics trade fair, Innovation Asia (formerly TENCEL New York Inc.). The Lenzing Innovation Pavilion will again be a highlighted aspect of the event, showcasing Lenzing customers and their products.

For further information, please visit www.TexworldUSA.com.

About Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is Germany’s largest trade fair organizer, with 423 million euros in sales and more than 1,400 employees worldwide. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 14 subsidiaries, five branch offices and 48 international Sales Partners, giving it a presence for its customers in more than 150 countries. In 2007, Messe Frankfurt organized 113 trade fairs in 30 cities in Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East. Messe Frankfurt also operates one of the world’s largest exhibition grounds in Frankfurt. The North American headquarters in Atlanta produces nine trade shows in the USA, Canada and Mexico across various industries. For more information about Messe Frankfurt, please visit our website at www.messefrankfurt.us.

Messe Frankfurt textile trade fairs around the world:
Group of Interstoff

• Texworld
  (9 - 12 February 2009), Paris, France
• Interstoff Asia Essential − Spring
  (18 - 20 March 2009), Hong Kong
• Intertextile Beijing Apparel Fabrics
  (29 – 31 March 2009)
• Yarn Expo Spring
  (30 March - 1 April 2009), Shanghai, China
• Intertextile Pavilion at Shenzhen International Apparel Fair
  (9 – 11 July 2009) Shenzhen, China
• Texworld USA
  (14 – 16 July 2009), New York, USA
• Interstoff Asia Essential − Autumn
  (7 - 9 October 2009), Hong Kong
• Texworld India
  (10 – 12 October 2009), Mumbai, India
• Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics
  (20 - 23 October 2009), Shanghai, China
• Yarn Expo Autumn
  (21 - 23 October 2009), Shanghai, China


Press Contact:
Stephanie Everett
Messe Frankfurt, Inc.
+1 770 984 8016, ext 424
stephanie.everett@usa.messefrankfurt.com

International Press Contact:
Stephanie Keukert
+49 (0)69 7575 6619
Messe Frankfurt Exhibitions GmbH
stephanie.keukert@messefrankfurt.com