OEKO-TEX® Strengthens Its Governance And Prepares For The Future
From 27 September 2026, stricter rules against greenwashing and higher requirements for sustainability labels will take effect in the European Union.
OEKO-TEX® has taken the new provisions as an occasion to further develop its governance structure.
In doing so, OEKO-TEX® not only meets the requirements of the EU Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (EmpCo, EU 2024/825) but also prepares itself for future regulatory developments.
The OEKO-TEX® labels of the certification scheme concerned therefore remain legally compliant beyond the entry into force of the national implementing legislation.
The EmpCo Directive strengthens the protection of consumers against misleading environmental claims.
It requires sustainability labels to be based on certification schemes, whereas the schemes requirements are verified by independent third parties.
At the heart of the reorganisation is a clear separation of standard setting and conformity assessment, through which OEKO-TEX® anchors the independence of its system institutionally.
Key measures include the conversion of the existing GmbH into a public limited company (AG), a new Statute of Independence with an Independence Council and an anonymous whistleblowing system, an accreditation agreement aligned with international standards (ISO/IEC 17065), ISO/IEC 17025 accredited certification bodies, and a new decision-making structure with a Board of Directors as the highest governing body.
For customers and partners, nothing will change in day-to-day business: testing, auditing and certification continue unchanged.
What is strengthened is the demonstrable independence of the system.
The global OEKO-TEX® system with its accredited certification bodies remains in place and emerges strengthened from the reorganisation.
About OEKO-TEX
OEKO-TEX® is a global certification scheme for textile and leather sustainability with accredited certification bodies in Europe and Japan that are represented in more than 70 countries. The certification body conducts both laboratory tests and company audits in accordance with our global guidelines.
We believe good governance means input from every part of our community — customers, accredited certification bodies and independent experts alike.
Our governance structure is built on this principle, working together to keep OEKO-TEX® strategically as well as operationally sound, and above all, independent and impartial.
This framework consistently separates standard setting and conformity assessment, anchors independence institutionally, and strengthens the global certification system in the long term.
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Altrincham – Cheshire – August 2926 – Friedmans Ltd, a UK-based textile manufacturer and digital printing specialist, has announced the expansion of its wholesale stretch fabric and digital printing services, offering designers, brands, and businesses an accessible route to fully customised fabric solutions with low minimum order quantities and fast turnaround times.
Frankfurt, Germany – August 2026 – Heimtextil, one of the world's leading trade fairs for home and contract textiles, has announced its return to Messe Frankfurt GmbH from 12 to 15 January 2027.
The event will once again transform its iconic home base into a showcase of the finest in woven, stitched, and draped textiles, reaffirming its position as the definitive gathering point for the global textile industry.
Rooted in the philosophy that everything starts at home, Heimtextil's return to Messe Frankfurt is a celebration of origins — both for the fair itself and for the broader world of interior textiles.
Derby – Derbyshire – UK – August 2026 – Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd is pleased to announce that EBI Creative Print (Easibind International Ltd) has acquired not one, but two Veloblade Nexus cutting systems, reinforcing its position as one of the UK's most comprehensively equipped print facilities.
The purchase was made in partnership with Soyang Europe.
Goyang-si, South Korea – August 2026 – BARBIERI electronics, a leading innovator in colour measurement solutions, is set to exhibit at K-Print Korea, where the company will demonstrate its flagship Spectro LFP qb spectrophotometer at Booth L502.
Cape Town – South Africa – August 2026 – NUtec Digital Ink has announced that its Quartz Q50-HYB UV-curable hybrid ink has been awarded GREENGUARD Gold Certification and is now listed in the UL Spot database.
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Tirana, Albania – August 2026 – Kridia ArtPrinting Solutions, an Albanian print and interior décor specialist, has announced its adoption of Roland DG's Dimense textured printing technology, positioning the company as the only provider of locally produced, custom embossed wallpaper in Albania.
By integrating the Dimense DA-640, the Dimense Module, and Roland DG Connect Designer into its production workflow, Kridia has significantly improved design efficiency, creative output, and turnaround times across its interior décor projects.
Echbolsheim – France – August 2026 – Caldera has announced that its Direct-to-Film software now supports the Brother DTRX100, one of the most advanced integrated direct-to-film (DTF) production systems available on the market today.
The development extends Caldera's growing portfolio of compatible DTF devices, offering print professionals greater flexibility in their choice of production hardware.
The Brother DTRX100 is a 32-inch roll-to-roll DTF printer engineered for high-volume, continuous production environments.
Rock Hill - SC – August 17, 2026 – SDL Atlas, a global leader in textile testing instruments, has announced the launch of the Vortex Elite, the most advanced instrument in its trusted Vortex series of AATCC Monograph wash testing equipment.
Building on the proven performance of the Vortex M6 and Vortex Plus, the Vortex Elite delivers high-precision, automatic dispensing of multiple liquid components, setting a new benchmark for accuracy, repeatability, and efficiency in textile wash testing.
Birmingham, UK – August 2026 – Epson has announced its participation in The Print Show and The Sign Show 2026, taking place from 29 September to 1 October at the NEC Birmingham.
Visitors to the Epson stand will have the opportunity to explore the company's latest professional printing technologies through live demonstrations, gaining direct insight into how UV, Direct-to-Film (DTF), dye-sublimation and signage solutions can unlock new revenue streams and support business growth.
Raleigh – NC – Aigust 2026 - North Carolina State University has been chosen to lead a 10-year Department of War initiative aimed at modernizing textile manufacturing in the United States to support the defense industry.
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London, UK – August 2026 – UK-based sign and graphics specialist Signs Express has successfully delivered a striking retail installation for the England World Cup Fanatics Shop Experience on London's iconic Carnaby Street, using a range of printable media and laminates from global adhesive media manufacturer Drytac.
Reken – Germany – August 2026 – FabricVision GmbH, a textile and fabric solutions company, has announced a significant operational milestone, marking nearly one year of intensive infrastructure development with the installation of a sign outside its warehouse facility.
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Mexico City, Mexico – August 2026 – HP Graphic Arts has announced its participation in FESPA Mexico 2026, taking place from 10–12 September at Centro Banamex, Mexico City.
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FESPA Mexico is one of Latin America's foremost events for the print and visual communications industry, drawing together professionals, partners, and businesses seeking to stay ahead of an increasingly competitive market
Bracknel – Berkshire - August 2026 – UFABRIK, a leader in high-performance textile solutions, today highlights one of its latest innovation: the UFabrik Opaque Textile ECO.
Engineered for retail, events, exhibitions, banners, and soft signage applications, this groundbreaking blockout textile sets a new standard for sustainable, high-quality print media.
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SOUTH NORMANTON, UK – August 2026 – Sun Chemical, a leading producer of printing inks, coatings, and supplies, has announced its participation in the 27th International Advertising Industry and Digital Printing Technologies Exhibition, SIGN İstanbul.
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Soyang Europe has strengthened its hardware team with the appointments of Andy Webb as Commercial Director and Ian Windebank as Wide-Format Print Specialist.
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Milano, Italy – August 2026 – Viscom Italia, the leading international trade fair for visual communication and the sign industry, has announced that Hyper Personalisation 2.0 will be a defining theme at its upcoming 2026 edition.
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Liverpool – UK – August 2026 – Hobs Repro, the UK's largest independent print network, has selected Razar, produced by Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd, as part of its continued commitment to innovation and industry-leading service delivery.
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El Reno, Oklahoma – August 2026 – Trans-Tech, LLC, an AAR-M-1003 compliant railroad graphics manufacturer and the largest user of premium vinyl in the Southwest, has built its reputation on a straightforward promise: same-day railcar markings, every day.
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Hanover, Germany – August, 2026 – ColorGATE has announced its participation in the DIPA Workshop – Digital Manufacturing Toolbox, taking place on 15 September 2026 at Kursaal Stuttgart.
The half-day workshop, running from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, will bring together leading experts from across the digital manufacturing value chain ahead of Surface in Motion 2026.
Faversham – Kent - August 2026 – Prinfab, a UK-based print-on-demand textile company, has revealed how the industrial Monna Lisa ML-8000 printer sits at the heart of its high-quality, fast-turnaround production model.
By leveraging one of the textile industry's most advanced digital printing systems, Prinfab is removing the barriers that have long prevented independent designers and entrepreneurs from accessing commercial-grade fabric printing.
Nottingham – UK – August 2026 – Tennants UK, a specialist number plate manufacturer, has announced the installation of a second VeloBlade Nexus digital cutting system, significantly expanding its in-house production capabilities.
The investment is designed to meet growing demand from dealership groups, increase manufacturing capacity, and strengthen supply chain resilience.
Spilsby, Lincolnshire,- August 2026 - Countryside Art, a producer of premium bags and kitchen textiles, has announced its commitment to printing exclusively onto 100% cotton across its entire product range.
Central to this commitment is the Mimaki TX330, a high-performance textile printer that delivers the colour consistency and vibrancy that both the brand and its customers demand.
Green Bay, Wis. — August 2026 — BW Converting will introduce textile manufacturers to the capabilities of its Baldwin TexCoat® G4 precision spray finishing system at the 33rd Apparel Sourcing Show, taking place Aug. 18–20 at the Tikal Futura Convention Center in Guatemala City.
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Soyang Europe, a leading manufacturer and distributor of digitally printable wide-format and superwide-format media, surface coverings and advanced print production hardware solutions, has underlined its long-term commitment to its partnership with Platinum Technologies LIYU by making a major investment in new customer facilities and technical expertise.
Frankfurt am Main – August 2026 – Heimtextil, the world's leading trade fair for home and contract textiles, is set to reveal its highly anticipated Trends 27/28 forecast in a digital live premiere on 7 September 2026 at 14:00 (CEST).
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Nanjing – China - August 2026 - The company’s integrated solution portfolio combines digital printing equipment, high-performance printing consumables, and workflow integration to help print providers improve production efficiency across DTF, UV, and sublimation applications.
Driven by shorter production runs, growing demand for personalized products, and increasing sustainability requirements, the printing industry is transitioning from traditional analog production toward more intelligent and integrated digital manufacturing systems.
Hanrun Paper, a global digital printing solutions provider, helps drive this transformation by integrating hardware, consumables, and production workflows into a more connected, efficient, and flexible digital manufacturing ecosystem
Leicester – UK – August 2026 - VeriVide Limited, a leading authority in colour assessment and quality control, has announced the availability of the NCS Exterior Fan Deck, a comprehensive colour tool designed specifically for outdoor environments.
Comprising 322 carefully selected colours, the Fan Deck is tailored for professionals working across architecture, landscaping, property development, and exterior product manufacturing.
Dorking UK – August 2026 – The FESPA Foundation has announced a landmark initiative to unite the global print community under a shared commitment to education, sustainability, and meaningful social impact.
Guided by its "Print for Good" principle, the Foundation is calling on industry stakeholders worldwide to contribute to a movement that positions print as a force for lasting, positive change.
Telford, UK – August 2026 – China Print Supplies UK Ltd today features the availability of the Graphtec CE8000-130 1300mm Vinyl Cutter Plotter, a high-performance cutting solution designed to meet the demands of the sublimation, sign writing, and sticker and label creation markets.
Priced at £3,495.00 + VAT and backed by a one-year warranty, the CE8000-130 represents a significant step forward in cost-effective cutting plotter technology.