Since its founding, the International Verband der Naturtextilwirtschaft (IVN) has pursued one goal: raising awareness for eco-friendly textiles among consumers, press and the retail trade.  Providing facts about ecology in textiles supports a deliberate choice for eco-friendly textiles.  Our focus is on the inherent quality of eco-friendly textiles on the strength of our conviction that quality is the strongest selling argument.

IVN's first step was to define and implement specific criteria pertaining not only to ecology and social accountability in production processes but also to high quality standards in the finished product.  Products labeled with the quality seal NATURTEXTIL clearly demonstrate that it is eminently possible to produce modern, truly eco-friendly, socially accountable and high quality textiles. The association continues to broaden its range of activity.  A new quality seal – NATURLEDER – has been initiated and is Europe’s only quality standard for sustainable leather. We continue to deal with cutting edge issues pertaining to eco-friendly textiles such as CO²-balance, fair production, animal welfare issues, and allergenic potential.

Preserving our environment with its people, its animals and its plants is not merely a passing fashion. For more than 100 IVN member companies, sustainability, respect and responsibility for our environment is a basic principle of life. Our common goal is to apply this principle to all stages of production and commerce and to communicate this to as many people as possible.