bluesign®
The independent bluesign® standard is the response to the dramatically increasing demand for textiles that are more sustainable and better for people, businesses, and the planet.
The goal of bluesign® is to link suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, and brands together to foster a healthy, responsible, and profitable textile industry.
The bluesign® standard is built around five principles: resource productivity, consumer safety, air emission, water emission, and occupational health and safety.
bluesign® System Partner
In January 2013 Isbjörn of Sweden became bluesign®System Partner. As a bluesign®System Partner, we receive knowledge and help with our work to become even more environmentally friendly.
It is ongoing progress to produce new materials which are better for the environment without losing function and quality.
Today over 80% of our materials are bluesign® certified with the goal to become even better.
The five principles of the bluesign® system
What is the meaning of a sustainable textile business? It means to conserve valuable resources, to minimize environmental impact, and to drive innovations. Industrial partners will in particular have to examine all their components and processes on the basis of clear principles. In this spirit, the textile industry will be able to guarantee sustainability to both consumers and the environment.
- Resource productivity – sustainable use of energy and raw materials
Resource productivity defines the ecological and economical willingness to produce textiles of maximum quality and added value by minimizing the consumption of resources as well as reducing the environmental impact.
Using as few resources as possible during the complete process automatically involves cost efficiency. The environmental impact decreases while the added value of the products increases. Finally, the textile companies reduce their ecological footprint consisting of energy and material input per kilogram of manufactured textile products. In other words: The bluesign® system helps optimize the process efficiency by minimizing both energy and material input.
2. Consumer safety – responsibility to people and the environment
Today, discriminating consumers not only ask for quality and a good prize performance. They are also sensitive to the conditions under which a product has been manufactured. Therefore, consumer safety has to include both: the promise of high-quality textile products without health risks as well as the compliance that sustainability is implemented in each step of the production process.
Due to its holistic approach, the bluesign® system meets the highest requirements to provide consumers with ecologically high-quality textiles as well as a clear conscience. During the complete production process chain only components and technologies are applied that have the lowest possible impact on human health and the environment. As a result, proactive manufacturers are able to meet the requirements of their customers for sustainable and reliable products – even before legal obligations will force them to act.
3. Water emission – improved protection of the natural circulation
Water emission control includes the return of purified water into the water cycle and reducing of the aquatic environment impact to a minimum. Among the effective ways are the use of sustainable components, the optimization of production, and the use of wastewater treatment technology.
The bluesign® system specifies the requirements regarding water pollution control. An intelligent selection of process components helps to minimize the amount of harmful substances in wastewater. As a consequence, the basic contamination of sewage can be reduced. Manufacturers are requested to install a well-functioning wastewater treatment.
Permanent compliance controls in combination with strict sewage limit values ensure the waste water quality. Taking account of local conditions, the bluesign® system helps only water re-entering the natural circulation of water that complies with its criteria.
4. Air emission – less air pollution for a better climate
Each process step of textile production causes air emissions. The reasons why this so includes the effects of the deployed raw fabrics, the chemicals, or other resources. Moreover, the factory’s facilities or the energy production are also factors. The bluesign® system effects on all areas and process steps by directly targeting the basis: the selection of the raw materials and the chemical products.
It specifies the strict selection criteria for substances and components having an emission impact. The aim is to reduce CO2 emissions within the company’s sphere of influence as well as during the subsequent process steps. Exhaust air has to be cleaned and recycled by adequate environmental technology. This is the essential condition in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to make an active contribution to climate protection.
5. Occupational health & safety – improve working conditions
The health and safety of employees in the textile industry have to be safeguarded by strict guidelines. Localized problems have to be detected. Safety measures according to the risk potential of deployed chemical substances are mandatory.
When using chemicals during the textile production process, careful and safe handling with regard to the employees’ health is vital. Therefore, the bluesign® system makes training programs for employees concerning the storage and handling of harmful substances obligatory. Occupational health and safety also include protection against environmental pollution such as dust and noise.
With the bluesign® system, the working conditions on site can be evaluated according to precise safety guidelines. If necessary, appropriate measures will be stipulated.