170 years of Elmer & Doubt: Sustainability in the textile industry is celebrating success!

170 years of Elmer & Doubt: Sustainability in the textile industry is celebrating success!

Gebr. Elmer & Doubt GmbH & Co. KG is celebrating its 170th anniversary this year. The company was founded in 1855 in Bempflingen, Württemberg, and has since established itself as one of the few family-run textile companies in Germany. The focus is primarily on organic cotton and sustainable production, which is of great importance in today's textile industry.

Roland Stelzer, the sixth generation managing director, emphasizes the company's long-term responsibility for quality, people and nature. His vision led to significant change in the 1990s, starting with the processing of organic cotton in 1995. The Cotonea brand was founded in 2003, focusing on the company's ecological focus. Cotonea offers high-quality fabrics, home textiles and a small clothing collection.

Sustainability and quality in focus

The company controls all steps of the textile supply chain, from cultivation to assembly, which ensures transparent and responsible production. The organic cotton cultivation projects have existed in Kyrgyzstan since 2004 and in Uganda since 2009. Cotonea meets high ecological and social standards, including the IVN Best and GOTS standards, which are committed to ecological and socially responsible production. Loud Resource Textiles IVN stands for the highest level of socially responsible production, which guarantees that no child or forced labor takes place and that working conditions are safe and fair.

In addition, the company opened its own sewing factory in 2013 to ensure quality and standards. In this sewing shop, emphasis is placed on the principles of sustainability, which go beyond the usual legal requirements. Cotonea has carried out comprehensive CO₂ and energy analyzes of 460 substances to further optimize their products. These measures set international standards in the textile industry and demonstrate the claim to act in an environmentally conscious and socially responsible manner.

A look at certificates and standards

Certification of textiles according to various standards, such as GOTS or Naturtextil IVN Best, contributes to the credibility and trust of consumers. These standards ensure that products are manufactured taking environmental and social criteria into account. Brand and supply chain certifications are crucial because they guarantee that the operating conditions meet the specified requirements. The advantages of such certification lie in standardized communication and third-party validation, which promises quality.

Gebr. Elmer & Doubt GmbH & Co. KG has thus developed into a pioneer in the area of ​​sustainable textile production and shows how innovative approaches and a strong commitment to ecological values ​​can initiate positive change in the industry. The company is an example of how tradition and modern approaches in the textile industry can be harmoniously combined to meet both the needs of consumers and the requirements of sustainable development.