Sustainability pioneer to speak at OEKO-TEX 'The Next 20'

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the award-winning environmental advocate and author, will deliver the keynote address to open the event. “The Next 20” will be held on November 14, 2012 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at The Glass Houses, 545 W. 25th Street in New York City.

Tom Chappell is widely respected for his genuine, long term commitment to all-natural products and sustainable, respectful business practices. Tom’s of Maine, founded in 1970 with wife, Kate, developed a dedicated consumer following with their high quality, natural ingredient products such as phosphate-free detergent and aluminum-free deodorants.

The company’s commitment to respectfully-sourced components, no animal testing, and information transparency continues to set the highest standard in the personal care industry.

In 2009, the Chappells transferred their passion for sustainability to the apparel industry. They created Ramblers Way, a sustainable apparel company that uses 100% American grown Rambouillet worsted wool that is naturally colored with plant-based dyes and manufactured completely in the USA.

Chappell will share his expertise in developing sustainable business models and speak to the value they generate for company stakeholders, the environment, and society.

“We are delighted that Mr. Chappell will be sharing his incredible vision for the American wool apparel industry at ‘The Next 20’”, says Jean-Pierre Haug, Secretary General for the International OEKO-TEX Association. “His dedication to the principles of sustainability is inspiring and will impact the apparel industry as positively as Tom’s of Maine affected personal care.”

“The Next 20” is presented to celebrate the International OEKO-TEX Association’s twentieth anniversary. Founded in 1992 in response to consumer concerns about hazardous substances in textile products, the International OEKO-TEX Association is a collaboration of 15 highly regarded textile testing and research institutes with 60 offices in 65 countries.

The Association created and administers the global OEKO-TEX Standard 100 which certifies that textile products are tested to be free from harmful levels of more than 300 dangerous chemicals like pesticides, carcinogenic dyestuffs, lead, formaldehyde, and residual surfactants.

More than 11,000 certificates are issued globally each year as manufacturers, brands, and retailers work to make textiles and the industry’s supply chain safer and cleaner. The Association also offers the OEKO-TEX Standard 1000 certification for environmentally and socially responsible textile manufacturing facilities.

In addition to “The Next 20”, OEKO-TEX will concurrently host its annual General Managers meeting in New York City. 

OEKO-TEX Association