A revised care labelling standard has now been published in Europe. The new standard, EN ISO 3758:2012 Textiles — Care Labelling Code Using Symbols, has been issued and will now replace the previous version of the standard.

One of the main changes in the new standard which will effect retailers and brands is the revision of the appearance of the ‘Do not bleach’ symbol. The previous version of the symbol used a blackened triangle with a St Andrews Cross.  However, in the 2012 version of the standard this has now reverted back to a lined version.

‘Do not bleach’ symbol

From EN ISO 3758:2012	Previous ’Do not bleach’ symbol

Care labels provided by many retailers and brands, which are used to inform consumers about the optimum cleaning procedures to be followed to help to maintain appearance and fit of garments, may need to be revised to incorporate the change.

Your Challenge
Care labels have been developed to provide guidelines to consumers about the best cleaning procedures to be used for that particular combination of fabric, thread, decoration and construction techniques. Following the instructions on the care labels provides assurance that the appearance and fit of the garment will be maintained after repeated cleaning treatments.

Our Solutions
Through our extensive network of global laboratories, Intertek is ideally place to support you and your business. We are able to provide the testing and technical support to ensure that care labels placed on your product are understandable for consumers and apparel caregivers, while simultaneously meeting the national and international requirements required.