Südwolle has earned Class I Oeko-Tex certification indicating its yarns meet the most stringent requirements for products intended for infant use as well as Class II certification for textiles and apparel. The group says Oeko-Tex certification is part of its comprehensive sustainability and product quality program that has distinguished the company in the yarn market.

The Südwolle Group is an independent family owned company with six principal brands: Biella Yarn, a producer of yarns for flat knitting; Yarn In Motion, a specialist producer of circular knitting yarns in wool for the production of outdoor and functional clothing; Richter a leading supplier of speciality yarns for hosiery; Stöhr, a specialist supplier of technical yarns for the automobile industry, for upholstery and other specifications; Südwolle, a specialist in the production of weaving yarns; and Soey, a supplier of OE rayon yarns.

The group produces locally wherever customer demand dictates, and specialises in quick response from production facilities in Germany, Poland, Romania and China. A worldwide sales network working in close proximity with its customer base feeds an annual spinning capacity of around 21,000 tons of yarn, 60 % of which is produced in Europe and 40 % in Asia.

"Nature is our supplier," says Goetz Giebel of Südwolle Group. "We rely on Oeko-Tex testing and certification to ensure our yarns retain that purity through all of our production steps, from the farm though to spinning and dyeing. Our customers, as well as their retailers and consumers, have high expectations for our fine wool yarns and we are committed to exceeding them. Oeko-Tex is one important component of that promise."

Oeko-Tex Standard 100

For twenty years, the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 has been a signal to textile products manufacturers, retailers, and consumers that certified products are safe for human use and are free from harmful levels of dangerous substances such as pesticides, formaldehyde, lead and other heavy metals, and carcinogenic dyestuffs.

Oeko-Tex's list of dangerous substances has grown from 100 to more than 300 over the past two decades and its limit values and testing methods have been recognized as satisfying the EU's Annex XVII of REACh and the USA's CPSIA requirements for children's products.

"Südwolle is a role model in sustainability and environmental responsibility," says Dr. Sam Moore who represents Oeko-Tex in North America.

"Their voluntary use of independent, third party certifications like the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 adds to the company's credibility. Their customers know that Südwolle products are of the highest quality and that they do not pose health concerns for the people who interact with them whether it's in the manufacturing facility, in the store, or at home."  

In addition to Oeko-Tex certification, Südwolle Group participates in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) which provides guidelines for responsible reporting of environmental and sustainability metrics. The company also publishes its Ecobalance annual report detailing its environmental, social responsibility, and sustainable manufacturing initiatives around the world.

Südwolle Group will be participating in the IWTO Congress (International Wool Textile Organization) in New York City, May 7-9. This year's event is entitled ‘Wool in the City' - www.iwto.org