bluesign®

Evaluation Tool

bluesign®

Tool Category

Standards, Certifications & Labels

At a Glance

bluesign® is an independent textile industry standard. Its goal is to improve environmental, health and safety conditions as well as improve resource efficiency along the whole textile supply chain. The standard supports compliance with new national and international legislative standards and aims to do this without compromising functionality, quality, or design. It is used by raw material and component suppliers that manufacture yarns, dyes, and additives, as well as textile manufacturers. Brands can select bluesign® certified fabrics, textiles and accessories for use in their manufacturing processes.

Tool Website(s)

www.bluesign.com/

Tool Owner/Sponsor

bluesign® Technologies AG

Product Stage of Life Evaluated

Raw materials, manufacturing, consumer use, end of life

Tool Description

The bluesign® standard brings together the entire textile manufacturing chain; all input streams are analyzed (from raw materials to chemical components to resources). Components are then evaluated according to their EHS impacts and placed into three categories:

A blue rating means that components, production processes, and technologies have met the criteria for the bluesign® standard and may be used for all applications;

A grey rating means that components, production processes, and technologies may be used under one or more pre-conditions following the Best Available Technology as defined in the EU Directive 96/61/EC (which minimizes pollution from various industrial sources throughout the European Union);

A black rating requires elimination from the manufacturing process.

In addition to criteria for the bluesign® standard, bluesign® also provides specific criteria for textile manufacturers, production sites, and chemical suppliers, and provides a bluesign® standard substances list (BSSL) that specifies the restrictions for consumer safety that are enforced by the bluesign® standard. Retailers using bluesign® approved fabric, textiles, and accessories can have the final product bluesign® safety certified.

Product Categories

Apparel/Footwear/Outdoor Industry; Furniture; Textiles

Tool Requirements

Chemical Suppliers

- provide detailed chemical and toxicological data

- on-site audit to verify the handling of chemicals and EHS management

Manufacturers

- provide EHS and general production data covering one year

- evaluation of inputs, production processes, EHS, outputs, and compliance

- implementation of action plan to comply with bluesign® criteria

- products can be certified after checking production recipes and performing spot tests of potential risks

Brands

- complete questionnaire on EHS and supply chain

- implementation of action plan to comply with bluesign® criteria

- work with supply chain to convert to bluesign® system

Re-screenings and re-audits are required every three years to ensure the bluesign® standard continues to be met.

Cost of Tool

Membership fee: An annual system partnership fee is required, depending on the type and size of the company. Certification costs depend on complexity of the factory/factories and kind and number of chemicals used.

Evaluation Frequency

The standard is updated periodically when new chemical components and processes are introduced.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths: The bluesign® standard supports compliance with international legislative standards, without compromising functionality, quality, or design. It helps suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, and brands work together to reduce the environmental footprint of a product and foster a responsible textile industry.

Weaknesses: Allows chemicals given a “grey” rating to be used without specifying what the grey chemicals are.

Examples of Retailers That Use It

Patagonia, REI, North Face, Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC)

Similar Tools that Serve the Same Industry or Product Category

Oeko-tex® Standard 100, Global Organic Textile Standard

For More Information

bluesign® technologies ag: 

bluesign® technologies ag

Phone: +41 71 272 29 90

Fax: +41 71 272 29 99

info@bluesign.com