Getzner Textil has recently made the entire production chain transparent and is allowed to label its fashion fabrics "Made in Green by OEKO-TEX®". Sustainably produced products are increasingly in demand, especially in the shirting and corporate fashion sectors. "This label is an important unique selling point for Getzner on the market, because more and more companies are increasingly paying attention to sustainability when selecting their partners. Here we are seen as a benchmark," says Gerhard Leitner, Sales Manager of Getzner Textil's Shirting Business Unit, explaining this step, adding, "Incidentally, this is also the focus of our external appearance at the spring trade fairs."

With "Made in Green," Getzner is making its sustainability efforts visible for the first time through its products, not just in their production. In practice, this means, for example: Only high-quality extra long staple cotton - mainly PIMA and SUPIMA - is used for the entire shirting product range produced in Europe. Getzner sources the linen from France and also focuses here on quality as well as short distances. "Our great strength in the shirting sector lies primarily in the binding and finishing variants and their constant further development," explains Gerhard Leitner. "Right up to the finished product, we do everything in-house. This also gives us more opportunities in our hands to influence the production process."

In the spirit of sustainability, Getzner uses the latest technologies in its day-to-day operations and is constantly working to modernize and upgrade existing facilities and optimize its manufacturing processes. Current evidence of this comes from the textile finisher's raw material processing division. It follows the strictest requirements of environmental protection: "The product label makes it easier for fashion suppliers, designers and corporate fashion manufacturers to make an informed choice when selecting their suppliers. 'Made in Green' ensures transparency along the entire supply chain," Alexander Hofstadler, Business Manager of BU Shirting, is convinced.

To the end consumer, who is also more demanding of environmental awareness and social responsibility when buying their clothing, the label signals that the textiles have been tested for harmful substances in accordance with OEKO-TEX® guidelines and have been produced sustainably. "Made in Green" labeled items can be traced by the consumer back to the production plant using a product ID or QR code. "The careful use of resources has always been important to us, and now we are also showing this more to the outside world and making our work even more transparent for consumers," explains Alexander Hofstadler. The label is awarded for a period of one year.

The production process that high-quality textiles undergo naturally involves a high input of energy, water and chemicals, which complicates efforts to achieve greater sustainability. Despite this, fabric manufacturer Getzner, which hails from the Austrian textile region of Vorarlberg, has been working on its own initiative for years to continuously reduce heat, water and electricity consumption. With success: massive electricity savings, a district heating network for the region, and manufacturing that is uniquely environmentally friendly in the industry are the results.

Getzner's active environmental policy, which aims to secure the company's long-term future, shows that sustainable action is not just a fashionable trend. For example, Getzner has been able to reduce the specific heat requirement in production in Bludenz by a quarter since 2009 through targeted measures. In 2014, the company received the "klimaaktiv" award from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism as part of the climate protection initiative. With its own hydropower plants, the textile company generates more electricity than it needs annually and thus contributes significantly to the energy autonomy of the region. Getzner uses the waste heat from production to supply district heating to schools, kindergartens and other public buildings, as well as the public outdoor and indoor swimming pools. According to the company, the total CO2 savings achieved by the district heating network amount to around 1,000 tons per year. Getzner received another award for this in November 2018.

"Our 200-year-old traditional company has always remained true to its core values: Taking responsibility towards our employees, producing only in Europe while adhering to the strict production standards of Austria and the EU, and paying attention to the environment - these are among Getzner Textil's USP's today," Alexander Hofstadler emphasizes.

• bluesign®
• OEKO-TEX® Standard 100
• OEKO-TEX® STeP
• ECOPROFIT®
• Made in Green by OEKO-TEX®