Durability testing and verification

Durability testing and verification is a process by which TÜV SÜD experts test textile, footwear, and apparel products to ascertain their longevity and maintain their usability in terms of purpose, functionality, and quality over time. These procedures involve different types of tests, including the durability test for garments and other types of textile testing. Getting a durability mark is a critical step in ensuring that products can withstand the test of time, thereby reducing waste and carbon footprint.

In a marketplace growing more competitive by the day, quality control has never been more crucial. Recent data reveals that global textile production has doubled between 2000 and 2015. Fashion goods are estimated to grow 63% by 2030, from 62 million tonnes to 102 million tonnes.

Therefore, companies that manufacture apparel, textiles and footwear feel the need to produce goods that incorporate sustainable design to ensure their products' longevity. More durable products mean less frequency of replacement, thus contributing to fewer discarded items, and playing a crucial role in waste reduction. This extension in product life not only allows for reuse, but also translates into savings for consumers, fostering a culture of sustainability.

Furthermore, having a durability mark from TÜV SÜD can strengthen the brand's reputation. When consumers know that a brand has invested in creating more sustainable products, they are more likely to perceive the company as responsible and forward-thinking.

TÜV SÜD provides a wide range of clothing, footwear, and apparel durability testing services. Our durability mark is a stamp of approval that your products are durable.

We design our durability testing and verification services for businesses that aim to minimise their environmental impact and contribute to protecting the planet’s future. We utilise our state-of-the-art laboratories to conduct comprehensive durability tests for apparel and other products. 

We provide the following clothing, footwear, and apparel durability tests:

• Stability to repeated launderings – Ensures usability after extended numbers of washing cycles.
• Fabric strength and seam strength – Measures the resistance of product to break, tear or rupture.
• Colourfastness tests – Ensures that colours of the products remain acceptable to wearers during its useful life.
• Abrasion resistance – Measures the resistance to wear from rubbing or abrasion and ensures long lasting of materials.
• Pilling resistance – Measures the resistance of fabric to form pills or fuzz on the fabric surface due to abrasion.
• Flexing resistance – Ensures the ability of footwear to flex with the foot during walking and running without becoming damaged.
• Resistance to hydrolysis – Measures the resistance of footwear material (PU) from degradation over a period of time.

We help businesses adapt to changing regulations in the textile sector such as the following.

European Green Deal by 2030

The European Green Deal forms a comprehensive strategy aimed at transitioning the European Union's economy towards a clean, circular, and sustainable model. It seeks to convert environmental and climatic challenges into opportunities that span various sectors, including but not limited to transport, energy, agriculture, buildings, and industries such as steel, cement, ICT, textiles, and chemicals. The goals include boosting the efficient use of resources, reducing pollution, and restoring biodiversity. The Commission’s 2030 Vision for Textiles within the scope of the European Green Deal:

• Every textile product introduced to the EU market should be durable, repairable, and recyclable. Predominantly, these products should be made from recycled fibers, and be free of hazardous substances. They should be produced with respect for social rights and the environment.
• The concept of "fast fashion" should be dismissed, enabling consumers to enjoy longer use from high-quality, affordable textiles.
• Profitable services for the reuse and repair of products should be widely accessible.
• The textiles sector should be competitive, resilient, and innovative. Producers should assume responsibility for their products throughout the value chain, ensuring significant recycling capacities and minimising incineration and landfilling.

Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP)

In March 2020, the European Commission enacted the new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), a crucial component of the European Green Deal. The CEAP is a comprehensive action plan that outlines initiatives encompassing the entire life cycle of products. The CEAP focuses on the design of products, advocating for circular economy processes and fostering sustainable consumption.

Moreover, it intends to minimise waste production and optimise the usage of resources, aiming to keep them within the EU economy for the longest possible duration. This strategic approach promotes a sustainable, efficient, and resourceful economy that aligns with the principles of the European Green Deal.