Jeans in Ökotest: 15-pants a cancer’s active material, also in brand-name products

The Jeans is probably the most popular piece of clothing in the world. According to Öko-Test, most blue Jeans are not recommended, however. The reason for this is the lack of transparency in the supply chain: Many manufacturers do not indicate where the cotton for the Jeans comes from, where the fabrics are dyed or Jeans will eventually be sewn – and as such, you can ensure fair conditions in the production.

But also toxic ingredients, which are used in production or to be used, criticises consumer magazine. In the Test, a harmful substance fell to the weight Of a dye ingredient of aniline, which is suspected to be carcinogenic.

Öko-Test has looked at the 21 ladies Jeans in more detail, including four Jeans fair brands and 17 conventional Jeans. With brands such as H&amp were;M or Levi’s, as well as the Fair Fashion label, Armedangels, and Hess Natur. The price ranged from 10 to 150 euros.

Where is the Jeans?

A special focus is on the Tester laid this Time on the production conditions. They wanted to know: Where’s the Jeans? How about wages, safety and environmental protection along the supply chain?

First the good news: Fair brands such as Armedangels, and Hess Natur cut in the transparency and credibility very well. Both producers are members of the Fair Wear Foundation, better working conditions and social standards in the textile production is trying to enforce, among other things, the payment of living wages. The Fair Wear Foundation verifies in this regard, the entire organization – sets, but no environmental standards.

High environmental standards ensured for the GOTS certification, which also carry both a fair pair of Jeans. GOTS is one in terms of Ecology to the highest standards of the textile industry, from the cultivation of organic cotton. Also Öko-Test recommends that a guideline when jeans buy, especially at these two Labels.

Why Öko-Test fair Jeans devalues

In spite of the good results of the credibility and transparency of the two fair pair of Jeans received in the Test, only a grade of “satisfactory”. The testers you put on a par with conventional manufacturers that use no or only Pro rata with organic cotton and the achieved at the point of credibility and transparency to a worse result. The reason: Öko-Test found in the Jeans Armedangels and Hess Natur aniline and depreciated the Jeans, therefore, the test result of ingredients equal to four notes.

The cancer suspicious color component is derived from the synthetic dye Indigo, the blue Jeans, the distinctive color gives. A statutory scheme, it is not there, because only there is a suspicion that the substance is a carcinogen. The GOTS seal of approval sets a limit for certified Jeans. Accordingly, in GOTS-certified Jeans may be included to a maximum of 100 milligrams per kilogram.

To do this, you need to know: GOTS prohibits the use of free aniline, which can come through the fabric on the skin. However, the aniline as a decomposition product may be formed – because it is not possible to exclude Occurrence of the chemical, therefore, there is the limit.

Already in 2017, hessnatur had to get in a Test of children’s jeans to a bad result, because Eco had found the Test of aniline in a pair of pants. At the time, Öko-Test was able to demonstrate five milligrams of aniline per kg. In the current Test, Öko-Test also found in the Jeans Armedangels five milligrams per kilogram. A value that is far below the limit of GOTS.

The Problem with aniline

The chemical aniline is a contact poison that is absorbed through the skin. A taz-report to the children’s jeans-Test of 2017, according to but it is only problematic if it is freely available. According to a press release from the IVN of 2017, in the case of GOTS-certified Jeans is not the case. It says: “aniline compounds are substances component of synthetic dyes and, in General, in the basic structure of the dye is firmly bound.”

Öko-Test does not make a difference but, apparently, and GOTS evaluates certified and conventional Jeans alike, when aniline was regardless found in any Form.

Conventional denim Jeans are not recommended

The most conventional pair of Jeans received the grades “unsatisfactory” and “unsatisfactory”. Öko-Test also criticizes here the pollutants (aniline, and halogen organic Compounds) and lack of transparency and credibility. Many manufacturers can or want to put your supply chain, only a little or not at all open. The Ten-Euro-Jeans “H&M” received, among other things, therefore, the grade of “deficient”, the branded jeans of Levi’s is even “inadequate”.

In spite of Öko-Test: Fair Jeans are better!

Looking at the results of Eco-Test, it makes no difference whether you decide on a fair or a conventional pair of Jeans. Intensely dealing with the results, but it is clear that Fair is better. Alone already, if you look at the disastrous conditions of the conventional jeans production: What can actually be Jeans, organic, fair, or vegan?

Fair Jeans were devalued in the Test only because the dye is aniline so strong – Öko-Test moved in the same four grade points. Aniline is problematic, Yes. Nevertheless, fair Labels, try all the same, the Occurrence of the pollutant to prevent – for instance, by letting your Jeans GOTS-certified, whereby the substance may not be used.

Organic Jeans: you can pay attention

In contrast to conventional Jeans manufacturers sustainable Labels are committed to a fair, environmentally friendly production. You try to be credible, to improve the conditions for workers and enterprises along the entire supply chain – and therefore, more desirable than conventional manufacturers.

When you purchase: pay particular attention to the GOTS seal, it ensures an environmentally friendly production along the entire supply chain and minimum social standards. The Label is also a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, reign Supreme at least in the production of fair conditions.

This article was written by Stefanie Jacob

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*The post “Jeans in Ökotest: 15-pants a cancer’s active material, also in brand-name products” came from Utopia. Contact with the executives here.