Textile dye and chemical supplier DyStar has opened a testing laboratory, Texanlab Bangladesh Private Limited, in Dhaka to support the industry in reducing the use of harmful chemicals in the supply chain and create a cleaner environment.
The textile laboratory will serve Bangladesh’s export industry with testing services and provide end-to-end solutions in the supply chain, from raw materials to final products.
Formed in 1984, Texanlab is one of the oldest independent third party textile testing institutes in Asia. It offers a catalog of testing facilities for textiles, dyes and auxiliaries, and leather and footwears, as well as toys, food and water conducted to all major international standards. Texanlab works with more than 50 global brands and retailers, and has tested more than 350,000 restricted substance list (RSL) parameters since its inception.
Testing facilities include areas such as organic textiles, such as GOTS standards, ZDHC manufacturers restricted substance list (MRSL), U.S., and Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act and European Union REACH regulations. Tests can be performed on dyes and chemicals, textiles, accessories and fully assembled products.
Eric Hopmann, CEO and head of global sales and marketing at DyStar Singapore Pte Ltd., said the expansion into Bangladesh is important because the country is growing in sourcing stature.
“It is a key country for garments, textile exports, and you need to meet all the standards of the retailers,” Hopmann said. “Texanlab has the expertise, to know what to do, how to test and gives confidence to the retailers.
Now with Texanlab facilities in India and Bangladesh, he said “we would be looking to set up Texanlab in Turkey, Vietnam, maybe in Pakistan, because these are key countries for the textile industry. Also, we have a further future plan to set up more labs in the region.”
Texanlab is a service company of DyStar Group and collaborates with other groups, including Sustainable Textile Solutions and Colour Solutions International.