bluesign® supporter statements

The textile business is a truly global business. Within the entire production chain, several partners work hand-in-hand, operating with different standards to achieve one common goal – satisfy customer requirements. We strongly believe that the establishment of the bluesign® standard with its holistic approach will lead the way and be most beneficial to all parties involved, i.e. industrial partners, retailers and brand owner as well as the end consumer. It serves as a unique platform for all participants to economically develop and source, manufacture and market products. Furthermore it does also include a strong focus on health & safety issues as well as reasonable resource consumption. And this is exactly the mindset that also drives Product Development at Clariant worldwide.

Thomas Winkler, Head of Textile Business, Clariant International Ltd, Switzerland

“DyStar has always been committed to the highest standards of product safety. We are committed to supporting textile producers apply the technology needed for efficient and sustainable production to meet the quality and ecology expectations of leading retailers and brands. In recent years we have expressed this commitment through our econfidence™ programme. Bluesign offers an independent global platform for leading companies who have demonstrated a long-term commitment to best available technology and ecological compliance on textiles. DyStar is therefore happy to support Bluesign as a technology partner and we particuarly welcome the recent steps that Bluesign has taken to allow greater transparency in the operation of the scheme. We are confident this will contribute to maintaining the highest possible standards of product integrity along the whole of the supply chain from chemical manufacturer to retailers and brands.”

Background information DyStar GmbH
DyStar is a leading provider of colors and effect chemicals for the textile and leather industry. Through its econfidence™ and color communication programmes, DyStar is taking time out of the textile supply chain and helping retailers meet ecology standards. DyStar has about 2700 employees in more than 50 countries and runs 21 production facilities in 13 countries.

Bart van Kuijk, Chief Marketing Officer DyStar Group

Textile Effects has been actively involved in developing the bluesign® standard from the outset. Huntsman places high value on practising product stewardship in a fully integrated manner. This starts with the approach to innovation of processing solutions as well as effect ingredients and continues through to the disposal of the final textile article. We see the concept of sustainability as the interdependence of ecological responsibility, economic development and social responsibility. The bluesign® standard represents the ideal platform to ensure a proper balance of these different criteria and serves as a compass through the complex textile value chain ensuring that in the end the consumer can expect safe and quality textile products.

Dr. Peter Otto, vice president marketing and innovation, Huntsman Textile Effects

Chemical industry and environment don’t go together? Rudolf GmbH shows they do. The family business is a supplier that has long been an established part of the globally producing textile finishing industry. Main area is the client-friendly development of new textile auxiliaries and specialty chemicals. Already for 13 years a sustainable and considerate production has been important to Rudolf. Protecting the environment has always been on top of the list for the internationally recognised corporate group.

“To us, protection of resources for a better future has always played an important role in our thinking and acting“, says Rüdiger Gross, Rudolf GmbH, and explains further: “For our customers we process over 500 raw materials turning them into over 500 different products. Our strength is the close relationship with our clients. We develop the ideal solution for each individual request.“ A strong and sustainable collaboration with bluesign technologies therefore was the logical step – in the form of the “bluesign^® supporter agreement“. “For us the bluesign^® standard is not just a stamp“, says Gross. “the bluesign^® standard stands for a sustainable system that helps our clients to protect the environment while saving costs in production.“  

Background information Rudolf GmbH
For over 80 years Rudolf has been a family business. Out of this tradition a globally playing group of companies formed with over 20 corporations worldwide and approx. 30 divisions with headquarters in Geretsried near Munich, Germany. Rudolf GmbH is a supplier that has long been an established part of the globally producing textile finishing industry. Main area is the client-friendly development of new textile auxiliaries and specialty chemicals.  

Rüdiger Gross, Rudolf GmbH

Skiers, cross country skiers, and snowboarders love it: Toko, the wax specialist from Switzerland, that opted for taking a sustainable step towards conservation in cooperating with bluesign technologies. With its new product line “Eco Care Line“ Toko produces special eco- and user-friendly detergents and impregnations with which athletes can maintain their apparel and gear without harming the environment: bluesign® certified products contain no bleach, phosphates or optical brighteners that irritate the skin. The detergents’ washing active substances on the basis of sustainable raw materials are chosen carefully. They are biodegradable and effective even at lower temperatures. Also sleeping bags and clothing containing down feather- and synthetic fillings can be washed environment-friendly with the new eco-line. Sustainable advantage: All packaging is entirely recyclable.  

Background information Toko, Mammut Sports Group AG
Wax specialist Toko emerged from a home cleaning supplies company that was founded by Jakob Tobler in Altstätten, Switzerland in 1916. The first wax was developed and produced in 1933. Since then Toko Wax is known and loved by skiers, snowboarders and cross country skiers. Today Toko is part of the Mammut Sports Group AG.

Judith Glück, Manager Development, Toko