10 Years of OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT: How ATEXCO Turned Chemical Compliance into a Competitive Advantage

For the past decade, OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT has helped chemical manufacturers demonstrate that their products meet strict requirements for safety, sustainability and regulatory compliance. Since its launch, the certification has supported greener chemistry from the very start of the textile supply chain, giving brands and manufacturers greater confidence in the chemicals, colourants and auxiliaries used to create textile products.

To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT, we spoke with Hangzhou Honghua Digital Technology Stock Co. Ltd. Brand name ATEXCO, an ECO PASSPORT certified customer of Shirley® Technologies since 2018. ATEXCO have experienced first-hand how certification has supported both its sustainability ambitions and business growth.

Founded in 1992, ATEXCO has become one of the world's leading providers of digital textile printing solutions. Today, the company ranks among the top three globally and is China's largest manufacturer of textile digital inkjet printing equipment.

While digital textile printing is already a more sustainable alternative to traditional printing methods, ATEXCO believes its role goes beyond manufacturing equipment. The company is committed to driving sustainability through innovation, developing printers that use 20 - 30% less energy, reduce water consumption during maintenance and feature modular designs that minimise electronic waste. Its drop-on-demand printing technology also cuts chemical waste by around 80% compared with traditional screen printing. Alongside this, ATEXCO develops inks in line with ZDHC requirements and is creating a connected digital ecosystem to improve material traceability and support a more circular textile industry.

When asked what motivated the company to pursue ECO PASSPORT certification in 2018, the answer was simple.

ATEXCO wanted to help customers control harmful substances from the very start of production, encourage wider adoption of greener dyes and auxiliaries, protect both human health and the environment, and support compliance with global market regulations and supply chain requirements.

ATEXCO had already been investing in environmental certifications for its ink products but recognised that OEKO-TEX® certification carried significant trust and recognition throughout the textile industry.

For ATEXCO, ECO PASSPORT has become far more than a certificate. It describes certification as both a passport to global markets and a strategic business tool - driving greener research and development, creating greater supply chain transparency and strengthening quality management systems to compete successfully in international markets.

Rather than focusing purely on performance, ATEXCO now places compliance at the earliest stages of product development. Potential restricted substances are assessed before formulation begins, while alternative chemistries are investigated early to reduce the risk of future regulatory changes.

Customer confidence in the safety of its ink products has strengthened long-standing business relationships, particularly with brands operating in premium markets where chemical safety is a key purchasing consideration.

According to ATEXCO, customer expectations have changed dramatically since 2018.

Where businesses once focused simply on meeting regulatory limits, today's customers increasingly expect complete transparency throughout a product's lifecycle.

Questions now extend beyond whether products comply with regulations. Customers want to understand raw material composition, production processes, carbon footprint, recyclability and the presence - or absence - of substances such as PFAS.

Chemical safety has become one of the key purchasing criteria, standing alongside product performance and price when procurement decisions are made.

For manufacturers considering ECO PASSPORT certification, ATEXCO's advice is clear: start compliance at the very beginning.

Understanding chemical regulations during formulation, selecting compliant raw materials and reviewing every stage of production before certification can significantly simplify the approval process.

As OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT celebrates its 10-year anniversary, its role within the textile industry has never been more relevant.

Growing regulatory requirements, increased consumer awareness and higher expectations around transparency mean chemical safety must begin long before a garment reaches the production line.

ATEXCO's journey demonstrates how certification can support not only compliance, but innovation, customer confidence and long-term business success.

At Shirley®, we are proud to have supported ATEXCO's ECO PASSPORT certification journey and look forward to continuing to help chemical manufacturers create safer, more sustainable products for the next generation of textile production.