Production facilities have a key role to play in achieving the sector’s targets to reduce water use and carbon emissions by 30% by 2031.

Consumers and brands are increasingly choosing products and companies that demonstrate action and commitment on key environmental issues of water use and climate change.

The STeP by OEKO-TEX® certification system is a well-established, fully functional programme that is constant evolution to anticipate industry trends.

What challenge does the OEKO-TEX® Carbon Footprint Tool seek to solve?

More than 120 brands recently signed the UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. This demonstrates the industry’s intention to contribute to the UN Paris Agreement commitments to limit global warming to 1.5°. To achieve this, the fashion industry has set out to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2030.

A recent CDP report highlights the lack of monitoring and reporting on water impact in the fashion industry compared to other sectors, a trend which increases the pressure on every stakeholder within the textile value chain to measure, understand, report and improve their climate impacts.

Industry challenges highlight the need for a carbon and water footprint tool

OEKO-TEX® has included the two most critical elements of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach in STeP certification.  Production facilities can now measure their carbon emissions and the impact of their use of water resources.

The carbon and water footprint tool will help the fashion industry to become more sustainable, allowing textile production facilities to

• Identify major carbon emissions and water impact from materials they use and produce during their production processes.
• Share their carbon and water footprint results with customers, investors, brand partners and other stakeholders.
• Take steps to improve operations and maintain their competitive advantage.

What are the benefits of incorporating this tool into STeP?

The Carbon and Water Footprint Tool is free for manufactures participating in the STeP by OEKO -TEX® certification.

It provides plants with an initial measurement of their carbon emissions and water use without having to do a full Corporate Footprint, saving time and money.

Facilities that choose to share their Carbon and Water Footprint results with customers and brands demonstrate leadership and gain a competitive advantage.

Brands can work with their STeP by OEKO-TEX® production facilities to incorporate the results into their sustainability reporting process.

How can the results be used?

The tool helps OEKO-TEX® offer STeP-certified facilities the opportunity to understand their total production-related carbon emissions and water use at the plant and per kg of material produced.

The tool helps manufacturers demonstrate their leadership on climate action and strengthen their customers’ trust through transparent reporting, to help grow their business.