E-Toile SA becomes the first OEKO-TEX® STeP certified facility in Madagascar

What is your philosophy and strategy for sustainable production?

As a subsidiary company of the Alsico Group, we want to contribute to an economy that respects the planet’s boundaries and guarantees basic social rights. We want to take this responsibility by systematically including ecological, social, and economic considerations in our daily policy.

What are your reasons for becoming OEKO-TEX® STeP certified?

OEKO-TEX® STeP certification embodies a commitment to responsible textile production, prioritizing social and environmental standards. This certification ensures comprehensive management of environmental impact and chemicals, while promoting fair working conditions and worker safety. By emphasizing continuous improvement, STeP certification drives efficiency and resource optimization, advancing sustainable practices in production processes.

How does the OEKO-TEX® certification scheme help you in communicating your success in sustainable production?

Being OEKO-TEX® STeP certified strengthens our position as a sustainable producer, But we still need support from TESTEX / OEKO-TEX® to structure our communication on this matter effectively.

What innovative technologies are installed in your facility to enhance production efficiency, save resources, reduce consumption, encourage circularity and reduce costs?

We use the latest energy-efficient sewing machines, equipped with LED lights. Our factory is fully outfitted with LED lighting, and most importantly, we have installed solar panels and batteries to move toward energy independence. Additionally, our use of OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 recyclable fabrics supports the circular economy.

What were the major challenges in getting your facility STeP certified, and how did you overcome these?

The biggest challenges in Madagascar’s context were Environmental Management and Quality Management. However, thanks to the OEKO-TEX® audit, the support from the Alsico Group, and our commitment to continuous improvement, we have made significant progress in both areas.

Does the management see the positive changes after the introduction of the OEKO-TEX® STeP system in your facility?

Yes, management recognizes the positive changes in the management system, which have led to improved productivity. Additionally, our continuous improvement strategy has contributed to a higher quality score.

How do you rate OEKO-TEX® STeP compared to other assessment instruments in the industry?

OEKO-TEX® STeP is a highly stringent certification that offers the advantage of integrating multiple modules, eliminating the need for multiple separate certifications, such as various ISO standards.

What are the next steps for your sustainable production journey in terms of the 6 STeP modules?

The next steps are to maintain and enhance our scores across all modules, with a particular focus on significantly improving the two most challenging ones.

What was your experience in working with TESTEX in this STeP certification?

TESTEX’s support throughout the certification process gave us quite a good experience.

Have you used the Impact Calculator before and if so, what benefits does it offer your manufacturing facility?

Yes, we used the impact calculator for the certification, which helped us gain a clearer understanding of where we need to intensify our efforts, particularly in reducing gas emissions.

TESTEX acknowledges that in 2022, E-Toile S.A. was involved in a dispute with a former employee and Malagasy trade unionist relating to working conditions at E-Toile S.A. However, on carrying out the OEKO-TEX STeP audit on-site and having performed interviews with workers during this audit for OEKO-TEX STeP certification in 2024, E-Toile S.A. fulfilled all requirements to our complete satisfaction.