Berlin – The German federal state of Bavaria and its businesses will in future only purchase textiles that have been sustainably produced and certified with labels such as the Green Button.

German Development Minister Gerd Müller on the motion now approved by the Bavarian State Parliament’s Committee on Economic Affairs:

‘The federal state of Bavaria is showing international solidarity in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. I’m delighted to see Bavaria leading the way and opting for sustainable textile procurement. This is the only way to show our solidarity with those who most urgently need it, namely the seamstresses and dyers in the countries where our textiles are produced. The Green Button represents high minimum social and environmental standards. It makes responsibility visible for consumers and procurement agencies. I hope that many of Bavaria’s local authorities, public institutions such as hospitals and businesses will follow this example.’

Many companies and indeed hospitals are already employing the Green Button label. Greiff Mode, a traditional Bamberg-based business, for instance, offers Green Button-certified workwear. The University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein in Lübeck, the largest of its kind in northern Germany, purchases certified bed linen. And just a few days ago, the Dorint hotel chain announced that it would be switching its textiles to the Green Button system.

The Green Button is the government-run certification label for sustainable textiles. 46 stringent social and environmental criteria must be met, covering a wide spectrum from wastewater to forced labour. What is special about the Green Button is that the entire company is audited, not just individual T-shirts or textiles. Offering individual products for show is not enough. The entire company must operate in a sustainable manner. 40 companies have already undergone Green Button certification since the label was launched in 2019 and offer certified products such as shoes, fashion wear, bed linen, towels, backpacks and tents.

(Source: http://www.bmz.de/20200703-1 (German only))