IVN

Sustainability, respect and responsibility towards people, aniamls and plants

The IVN demands and promotes holistic environmental protection and nature conservation in production.

The International Association of Natural Textile Industry e.V. {https://naturtextil.de/en/home/} (IVN) understands environmental protection and nature conservation, i.e. the interaction of people with each other as well as with animals and plants, which is determined by sustainability, respect and responsibility, as a fundamental attitude towards life: For the economy, this means that companies should implement this along the entire process chain and thereby make it accessible to as many people as possible.

Setting standards that lead the way worldwide

The IVN is concerned with setting very concrete standards, which is why it has established quality labels for two ecologically produced products, namely natural textiles and natural leather – both labels have become pioneering for the industry with their guidelines.
The IVN is also a co-owner of the „Global Organic Textile Standard“ (GOTS), which defines globally recognised basic requirements for the manufacturing processes of natural textiles at industrial level.

Ecological expertise along the entire process chain

Franziska Kuntze was elected Chairwoman of the IVN Board in 2018 – she is responsible for the departments “Leather”, “Politics” and “Cooperations” in this association. The IVN currently has around 100 members from the craft, industry and trade sectors: including suppliers, prepress companies, producers and brand owners, retailers and service providers.
The aim is always to provide a comprehensive network with ecological expertise for all phases of garment production. In this context, the IVN focuses on the use of chemical substances in production and their impact on humanity and the environment.

Pollutant-free from the beginning

Starting with fibre production, through the manufacture of yarns and fabrics or leather tanning, to dyeing, printing and finishing or coating, there is always the option of choosing rather harmless chemicals instead of polluting ones – otherwise it can never be ruled out that pollutants are absorbed by the human body via the skin or enter the environment via the washing water and cause damage.
Companies certified by the IVN therefore consistently refrain from using leathers in which chrome or heavy metals are used for tanning.