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Environmental Requirements |
Core Environmental Performance Characteristics |
3.1 Fitness for Purpose
Certified products should be good performers in their
intended application. Certain standards of quality and
durability are implicit in the Label and the manufacturer must
ensure that the product is fit for its intended purpose |
The nominated products are
produced in Thailand by an internationally recognised
manufacturer. The production site is ISO 9001 compliant and has
extensive experience in relation to production of commercial
fabrics. The production site employs a wide range of quality
control procedures extending from material and physical property
assessment of the raw materials upon delivery, to ongoing
production checks and records to final product inspection prior
to dispatch. The site has an internal quality inspection
laboratory that is not registered by the national registration
body. The list of tests and results generated by the internal
quality inspection processes demonstrates ongoing compliance to
the stipulated range of quality control parameters.
The manufacturing process also
incorporates a final inspection and repair process under
fluorescent light to ensure quality finish. |
3.1.2 Colourfastness Standards
3.1.2.1 Washing
The colour fastness to washing shall be at least level 3 to
4 for both colour change and staining measured using ISO 105 C06
(single wash, at temperature as marked on the product, with
perborate powder). |
The products are commercial
upholstery fabrics and are exempt from this criterion. |
3.1.2.2 Perspiration (Acid and
Alkaline)
The colour fastness to perspiration (acid and alkaline)
shall be at least level 3 to 4 for both colour change and
staining measured using ISO 105 E04 (acid and alkaline,
comparison with multi-fibre fabric). |
This criterion does not apply to
white products, to products that are neither dyed nor printed,
to furniture fabrics, curtains or similar textiles intended for
interior decoration. |
3.1.2.5 Light
For fabrics intended for furniture, curtains or drapes, the
colour fastness to light shall be at least level 5 measured
using ISO 105 B02. For all other products the colour fastness to
light shall be at least level 4. |
Test results for the Evolve
product range have been inspected which confirm that the
majority of products samples the average value was 6 as measured
by ISO - 105 - B02 - 1994. Some 30 samples were submitted for
this test result with the minimum results demonstrating a rating
of 5-6 against this standard.
The Harmony product line is
comprised of similar material and undergoes the same
manufacturing process. Due to this similarity the Evolve results
have been accepted as a suitable indicator of the quality of the
yarn, dyeing and finishing materials for this purpose of this
criterion. |
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3.1.3 Dimensional Stability
Standards Information on dimensional changes (%) shall be
stated on the care label, packaging and other product
information if the dimensional changes exceed: 2 % (warp and
weft) for curtains and furniture fabric that is washable and
removable, 6 % (warp and weft) for other woven products, 8 %
(length and width) for other knitted products or terry
towelling. |
Evolve and Harmony meet the
requirement of this criterion of the standard. |
3.2 Material Requirements
3.2.1 Natural Cellulosic Seed Fibres
Seed fibers must not contain more than 0.05 ppm (sensitivity
of the test method permitting) of each of the following
substances: Aldrin, captafol, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin,
heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorocyclohexane (total
isomers), 2, 4, 5-T, chlordime-form, chlorobenzilate, dinoseb
and its salts, monocrotophos, pentachlorophenol, toxaphene,
methamidophos, methylparathion, parathion, phosphamidon. |
The Evolve and Harmony contains no
natural Cellulosic Seed Fibres and so is exempt from this
criterion of the standard. |
3.2.2 Bast Fibres
Bast fibres shall not be obtained by water retting, unless
the waste water from the water retting is treated so as to
reduce the COD or TOC by at least 75% for hemp fibres and by at
least 95% for flax and other bast fibres. Bast fibres must also
not contain more than 0.05 ppm (sensitivity of the test method
permitting) of each of certain substances. |
The Evolve and Harmony contains no
Bast Fibres and so is exempt from this criterion of the
standard. |
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3.2.3 Keratin Fibres |
The Evolve and Harmony contains no
Keratin Fibres and so is exempt from this criterion of the
standard. |
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3.2.3 Regenerated Cellulose |
The Evolve and Harmony contains no
regenerated cellulose and so is exempt from this criterion of
the standard. |
3.2.4 Polyester
The antimony content of the raw fibres must not exceed 260
ppm, tested before any wet processing. The average annual
emissions of VOC into the air as a result of polymerisation must
not exceed 1.2 g/kg polyester produced. Solvent-based spinning
for the production of fibres must not be used. |
The nominated product range is
comprised of 100% polyester yarn. There are three primary yarn
suppliers for this fabric.
Information has been sourced
from each of the fibre suppliers confirming compliance. No
independent testing has been performed in relation to these yarn
characteristics as all suppliers are major commercial operations
supplying extensively in the region. A declaration on company
letterhead has been made as suitable compliance. |
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3.2.5 Polyamide |
The Evolve and Harmony contains no
polyamide and so is exempt from this criterion of the standard. |
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3.2.6 Acrylic |
The Evolve and Harmony contains no
acrylic and so is exempt from this criterion of the standard. |
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3.2.7 Polypropylene Lead
based additives (e.g., pigments, stabilisers) shall not be used. |
The Evolve and Harmony contains no
polypropylene and so is exempt from this criterion of the
standard. |
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3.2.8 Polyvinylchloride |
The Evolve and Harmony contains no
polyvinylchloride and so is exempt from this criterion of the
standard. |
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3.2.9 Elastane Organotin
compounds shall not be used. The emissions to air of aromatic
diisocyanates during polymerisation and spinning, expressed as
an annual average, shall be less than 5 mg/kg of fibre produced. |
The Evolve and Harmony contains no
elastane and so is exempt from this criterion of the standard. |
3.3 Hazardous Materials
3.3.1 Prohibited Processes
Chrome mordant dying Weighting yarns or fabrics using cerium
or its compounds Halogenated carriers (e.g., for polyester)
Pickling using metals or metal salts |
The dyeing process comprises of
dyes and additives that have been assessed during the site
assessment and during the audit. The manufacturing process uses
a dye bath process comprised of up to 3 dyes and 3 alcohol based
carriers. The Evolve and Harmony are manufactured in processes
that meet the requirements of this criterion of the standard. |
3.3.2 Prohibited Substances
The following substances shall not be used at any stage of
textile or filling production: Alkylphenolethoxylates (APEOs)
Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) Bis(hydrogenated tallow
alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride (DTDMAC) Distearyl dimethyl
ammonium chloride (DSDMAC) Di(hardened tallow) dimethyl ammonium
chloride (DHTDMAC) Ethylene diamine tetra acetate (EDTA) or
ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid Diethylene triamine penta
acetate (DTPA) |
The production, dyeing and
finished process are all performed at their facility. All
chemical ingredients used in the production process have been
identified during the assessment and checked post audit. The
ingredient list comprises of three dye stuffs and three
additives. An inspection of the individual ingredients of all
additives confirms compliance to this criterion. The
manufacturer has also issued a statement that the manufacturing
process complies to this criterion. |
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3.3.3 Pigments, Dyes and
Printing |
The audit process identified three
dyes and three additives used in production. These are:
Dyes:
Dianix Yellow AC-E New
Dianix Blue AC-E
Dianix Red AC-E 01
Additives as carriers:
SUNSOLT RX-3308
CIBAFAST HLF
ALBEGAL ALBAFLOW FFA - 01
The dyehouse formulation was
inspection and the chemical register of relevance for the
products identified. An inspection of the material MSDS's have
demonstrated compliance to all of the requirements of 3.3.3.
which included an assessment of sub-ingredients for each
formulation. GECS has in addition received OEKO-Tex compliance
from the Dye manufacturer and a statement from the manufacturer
that the process complies to this criterion. |
3.3.4 Treatments
3.3.4.1 Stripping or De-pigmentation
Heavy metal salts (except of iron) or formaldehyde shall not
be used for stripping or de-pigmentation. |
No heave metal salts of
formaldehyde based agents are used in the processing of Evolve
and Harmony yarn or during manufacture. |
3.3.4.2 Detergents, Fabric
Softeners and Complexing Agents
At each wet-processing site, at least 95% by weight of the
detergents, at least 95% by weight of fabric softeners and at
least 95% by weight complexing agents used must be sufficiently
biodegradable |
None of these materials are used
at the production site. |
3.3.4.3 Bleaching agents
In general, AOX emissions in the bleaching effluent shall be
less than 40 mg Cl / kg. In the following cases, the level shall
be less than 100 mg Cl/kg |
None of these materials are used
at the production site. |
3.3.4.4 Flame Retardants
No use is allowed of flame retardant substances or of flame
retardant preparations containing more than 0.1% by weight of
substances that are assigned or may be assigned at the time of
application any of certain risk phrases |
None of these materials are used
at the production site. |
3.3.4.5 Finishes, Coatings,
Laminates and Membranes
Finishes, coatings, laminates and membranes shall not be
produced using plasticisers or solvents, which are assigned or
may be assigned at the time of application any of certain risk
phrases |
None of these materials are used
at the production site. |
3.3.4.6 Auxiliaries and
Finishing Agents for Fibres and Yarns
At least 95 % (by dry weight) of the component substances of
any sizing preparation applied to yarns shall be sufficiently
biodegradable or eliminable in wastewater treatment plants, or
else shall be recycled. At least 90 % (by dry weight) of the
component substances of spinning solution additives, spinning
additives and preparation agents for primary spinning (including
carding oils, spin finishes and lubricants) shall be
sufficiently biodegradable or eliminable in waste water
treatment plants |
Polyester is a melt spun fibre
which incorporates a simple melting and extrusion process. The
Evolve and Harmony meet this criterion of the standard. |
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3.3.4.7 Biocidal or Biostatic
Agents |
Polyester does not require these
ingredients for effective Biocidal treatment. |
3.3.5 Emissions and Toxins
3.3.5.1 Waste Water Discharges from Wet-processing
Waste water from wet-processing sites (except greasy wool
scouring sites and flax retting sites) shall, when discharged to
surface waters after treatment (whether on-site or off-site),
have a COD content of less than 25 g/kg, expressed as an annual
average. |
The facility treats all water from
web processing sites on site prior to discharge to a communal
industrial zone waste water facility. Water treatment plant
inspection was carried out during the site assessment and
results indicate emission requirements well below the permits
issued for the site.
Water emission results are
generally tested by an external laboratory every 2 weeks.
Additional water emission
results were sourced for the communal industrial waste water
facility and emissions prior to discharge to surface waters. The
industrial zone is however an extensive development on a major
port servicing Bangkok and there is no viable framework for
assessing proportionate loads of the facility to the final
outlet rates. The final industrial outlet test results do
however comply with government permit restrictions for the final
point of discharge. |
3.3.5.2 Formaldehyde
The amount of free and partly hydrolysable formaldehyde in
the final fabric shall not exceed 30 ppm for products intended
for direct contact with skin, and 300 ppm for all other
products. Testing should be in compliance with AATCC 112-2003,
ISO 14184.1 or equivalent. Products which are certified
according to the most recent Oeko-Tex Standard 100 are
considered to have passed the requirements of this criterion. |
No formaldehyde based ingredients
are used in the production process. Oeko-Tex certification has
been supplied for one of the yarn manufacturers. |
3.3.5.3 Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons
The content of poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the
mineral oil proportion of a product shall be less than 1.0 % by
weight. |
A VOC air emissions test result
has also been submitted by the Australian distributor confirming
that air emission levels were classed as very low and did not
contain any chemicals of concern. |
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3.3.6 Fillings |
The Evolve and Harmony contains no
filling materials. This criterion is not applicable. |
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3.3.7 Packaging Requirements
Chlorinated or halogenated plastics must not be used in product
packaging. Used packaging shall be able to be recycled by local
recycling systems. |
The packaging used with the Evolve
and Harmony is standard LDPE plastic packaging. This material is
readily recyclable in Australia. |
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