Intertek has recently expanded its consumer goods testing laboratory in Tirupur to offer enhanced chemical management and analytical laboratory services for the textile and apparel industry customers in order to comply with environmental standards. The expansion of the laboratory, which has served the region since 1998, is in direct response to the growing demand to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals in the supply chain from our customers in the region, including textile manufacturers, suppliers and exporters, for efficient, cost-effective quality and safety testing to enable them to meet increasingly stringent international environmental standards and regulations. The lab can test textile products according to product safety regulations including REACH, SvHC and CPSIA, as well as customers’ own restricted substances lists to ensure banned chemicals are not being used in production. The location of the lab is in close proximity to manufacturing sites and buying offices, facilitating quick response.
“Known as the knitwear capital of India, Tirupur is the ideal location to invest in the expansion and enhancement of our textile and apparel testing laboratory capabilities. There is a real need in the region to manage and reduce waste in the form of hazardous chemicals, dyes and other water pollutants, and Intertek can help ensure compliance with global environmental standards to create a more sustainable textile industry in Tirupur,” said Paul Yao, Chief Executive of Intertek’s Consumer Goods Business Line. “In addition, the location better aligns Intertek to support and promote the business of our leading global retail customers that have sourcing operations here.”
Intertek’s expanded 37,000-square-foot laboratory draws upon the experience and resources of the company’s vast network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices in over 100 countries to bring to the region unparalleled knowledge and expertise on all global regulations and trends related to textiles and apparel. The expanded laboratory is ISO17025 accredited and fully functional in delivering testing, inspection and social responsibility services with highest level of integrity.
The lab is even more relevant today as the Tirupur industry has been under fire for environmental issues over the past year and it is important to communicate to the buyers the preparedness of the industry to comply by all international standards in environment norms. The lab has facilities for state-of-the-art Restricted Substances Testing, where RSL testing for banned substances like Azo, PCP/TeCP/TCP, Chromium VI, Phthalate, Lead, Cadmium and Heavy Metal are done.
Intertek provides innovative services to ensure compliance with environmental standards, as well as regulatory requirements across the globe, including fibre identification, flammability, care label instruction, performance testing and eco-textile certification. Intertek will continue to provide intensive training programs that focus on the various nuances of audits (BSCS, WRAP, SA 8000, Sedex) pertaining to the textile industry in Tirupur.
