Organic Textile Tests: Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Products

What is Organic Textile? Why Should It Be Preferred?

What is Organic Textile?

Organic textiles are products produced with materials obtained from plants grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMO) and other harmful chemicals during agricultural production. Organic textile products are generally produced from ecological, biodegradable and sustainable materials. These products are obtained through environmentally friendly production processes and processing methods.

Importance of Organic Textile Tests

Verifying the environmental friendliness of organic textiles is not only important for ethical production, but also for consumers to make informed choices. Organic textile tests guarantee that products do not contain chemicals harmful to health and are produced without harming the environment. In addition, these tests show that the products comply with sustainability and quality standards.

Organic Textile Test Methods

Different tests are applied to verify that organic textile products are environmentally friendly and sustainable. These tests aim to prove that harmful chemicals and environmentally damaging production methods are not used by quality control of organic products.

a. Audit of Organic Certificates

Independent audits are conducted to verify that organic textiles are produced in accordance with specific certification schemes. For example, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 are the most common certifications awarded to organic textiles. These certifications guarantee that the products are made with organic materials and that the production processes are environmentally sound.

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): GOTS is the most common standard used to certify organic textiles worldwide. GOTS requires the use of at least 70% organic materials and the application of environmentally friendly production methods in the production process.
OEKO-TEX® Standard 100: This certification guarantees that all components used in textile products are materials that do not harm health and the environment. The OEKO-TEX® test checks whether the chemicals used in textile products are toxic.

b. Chemical Tests

Chemical testing to determine that organic textiles are safe for health and environmentally friendly assesses the safety of dyes, auxiliary chemicals and processing agents used in the products. These tests specifically target the following chemicals:

Azo Dyes: Azo dyes are potentially carcinogenic chemical compounds used in some textiles. This test is performed to verify that azo dyes are not used in organic textile products.
Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde can be found in some adhesives and dyes used in textiles. Formaldehyde can cause allergic reactions and health problems, so organic textiles should be free of this chemical.
Heavy Metals (Cadmium, Lead, etc.): The presence of heavy metals in organic textiles is harmful to the environment and human health. Therefore, the presence of such substances is checked in organic tests.

c. Biodegradability Test

Another indicator that organic textiles are environmentally friendly is to test whether the materials used are biodegradable. This test checks whether the product dissolves in nature without harming the environment when it becomes waste. Biodegradability tests minimize the negative impact of organic textiles on the environment.

d. Water and Energy Consumption Test

The use of water and energy-saving methods in organic textile production is also of great importance. Measuring water consumption and energy use is another test that shows the impact of production on the environment. Sustainable textile production is realized by properly managing water and using energy efficient methods.

e. Waterproof and Water Flammability Test

Water resistance can be another indicator that organic textiles are environmentally sound and sustainable. The water resistance test assesses the ability of the textile material to retain water. The waterproof properties of the materials used in organic products are achieved without chemical coatings.

Advantages of Organic Textile Products

Organic textiles have many advantages of being environmentally friendly and sustainable. These advantages are as follows:

Environmental Sensitivity: Organic textile production is done without harming nature, without using chemical fertilizers, pesticides or synthetic materials. This helps maintain soil, water and air quality.
Health Friendly: Organic textiles do not contain chemicals that can often cause allergic reactions. Therefore, products in direct contact with the skin are safer for health.
Sustainability: Organic textiles are based on sustainable production methods. This ensures not only the production of environmentally friendly products, but also the conservation of natural resources.
Biodegradability: The biodegradability of organic textiles allows products to be recycled and dissolved without harming nature.

Nanolab Laboratories Group continues to provide services within the scope of Organic Textile Tests. We also provide services in Textile Allergen Tests.

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