Leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company SGS has been officially approved as the first third-party laboratory member of The Microfibre Consortium (TMC).

As a result, it will soon be extending its fibre fragmentation testing services to consortium member organisations and the wider textile and apparel industry.

The issue of fibre fragmentation and its potential as a serious environmental polluter has become increasingly acknowledged. The goal of the TMC, founded in 2018, is to facilitate the development of practical solutions for the industry to minimise the fragmentation of fibres and the release of microfibres into the environment from textile manufacturing and product life cycles.

The collaboration with SGS will provide TMC’s brand, retail and supplier members with bespoke support and standardized testing services. Utilising its global network of testing laboratories, including those in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei City, members will gain access to extensive testing services to help them understand requirements, whilst demonstrating their environmental responsibility and improving sustainability along the supply chain.

“We are delighted to become TMC’s first approved third party laboratory and welcome the opportunity it brings to work collaboratively with TMC members and the wider textile and apparel industry to support them in taking the practical steps needed to accelerate reductions in fibre fragmentation,” said SGS Softlines vice president Yvonne Tse.

With more than 89,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

www.sgs.com/softlines