Fujifilm inks approved by Soil Association

Fujifilm has announced that over 50 products from three of its Sericol screen printing textile ink ranges have been approved by the Soil Association Certification to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) for use in organic textile processing. Fujifilm is the first company to have products approved under the Soil Association Certification’s new ‘Approved Inputs for Textiles Scheme’. This new scheme will help organic textile and garment manufacturers to source low-impact textile processing chemicals, the Soil Association reports.
 

Fujifilm has undertaken an extensive research and development programme focused on developing inks with performance characteristics that meet the Soil Association Certification guidelines. The research involved carefully balancing print performance characteristics with the toxicological and ecological requirements that were necessary to meet the approval criteria. The products approved are from three of the Sericol screen printing textile ink ranges: Texiscreen Aqua AJ, a water based ink for direct printing; Texcharge TC, a water based discharge ink for printing dark garments; and Pioneer Ultra YC, an opaque PVC-free and phthalate-free plastisol ink for printing line and process colours together with a range of special effects including high build, puff and suede.

The Soil Association played a leading role in the development of the Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) and is a quarter owner of Global Standard GmbH which manages the GOTS standards. The Soil Association has been working in organic textiles for over ten years. In 2010 Soil Association textile licensees saw an impressive 35 % growth in sales. Francis Blake, Soil Association policy advisor and member of the GOTS International Working Group, said: “The increasing range of approved chemical inputs available to almost 3000 GOTS certified textile and garment businesses worldwide demonstrates that certified organic textiles represent an exciting and buoyant market sector. It is increasingly clear that it is possible to produce modern, fashionable textiles in a way that is kinder, cleaner and better for people and planet.”

Soil Association