Geneva (September 26, 2025) – SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has published SafeGuardS 142.25 to keep interested parties informed about the latest developments impacting textile waste requirements in Europe.

On September 9, 2025, the European Parliament gave final approval to the revised EU Waste Framework Directive. This directive introduces targeted measures to reduce waste and promote circularity in a range of products, including:
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Hats
- Footwear
- Blankets
- Bed linen
- Curtains

The new rules apply to all producers, including non-EU businesses selling via e-commerce platforms. They make producers responsible for the end-of-life management of their products, including costs associated with collection, sorting and recycling.

Member States are required to implement extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes within 30 days of the directive’s entry into force, although micro-enterprises are granted an additional 12 months to comply. Additionally, EU countries will have 20 months from the directive’s entry into force to transpose the new rules into national legislation.

SGS experts publish SafeGuardS to keep stakeholders informed about regulatory updates that will impact their business. SafeGuardS 142.25 contains further details on the EU Waste Framework Directive and its impact on businesses operating in the EU.

Stakeholders are encouraged to review SafeGuardS 142.25 for further details.

SGS softlines services
SGS has a worldwide network of over 40 state-of-the-art laboratories, including 10 in China, specializing in the testing of apparel, footwear, and home textiles. Their committed team is drawn from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, allowing them to conduct a comprehensive range of physical, chemical, and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products. SGS helps companies ensure quality, performance, and compliance with international, industrial, and regulatory standards worldwide. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s softlines services.

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full EU Parliament Adopts New Textile Waste Regulations SafeGuardS.

Subscribe today and receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information contact:

Dr. Min Zhu
Connectivity & Products - Softlines Senior Director
Technical Services & Operations, US & Canada
Tel: +19734611230
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines
LinkedIn: SGS Connectivity & Products

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).

Geneva (September 29, 2025) – SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has published SafeGuardS 143.25 to inform stakeholders about the European Union’s (EU) plan to revise requirements for microplastics under Annex XVII in Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 ‘Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).

On September 17, 2025, the World Trade Organization (WTO) circulated a draft regulation detailing the EU’s intention to revise entry 78 on synthetic polymer microparticles (SPMs), commonly referred to as microplastics. The notification states the current enacting terms do not accurately reflect the regulators’ intention to:
- Derogate all medicinal products, including those used in clinical trials
- Derogate uses for product and process-oriented research and development
- Clarify that SPMs permanently incorporated into a solid matrix are not derogated if intended to be frequently removed and replaced. This amendment specifies that paragraph 5, point (c) of entry 78 only applies where the end use is expected to last for one year or longer

SGS experts publish SafeGuardS to keep stakeholders informed about regulatory changes that may impact their business operations. SafeGuardS No. 143.25 provides further details on the EU’s draft amendment and includes a comparative table outlining paragraph 5, point (c) of entry 78 in Annex XVII of REACH versus the proposed changes.

Stakeholders are advised to review SGS’s original SafeGuardS 143.25 for more information.

SGS REACH services
SGS keeps interested parties informed about developments and changes to the REACH regulations. In addition, they offer comprehensive solutions to help businesses ensure their products remain in compliance with the latest requirements governing the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals in the EU. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s REACH Services.

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full EU Consults Over Revised Entry for Microplastics Under REACH SafeGuardS.

Subscribe today and receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information contact:

Dr. HingWo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel: +852 2774 7420
Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines
LinkedIn: SGS Connectivity & Products

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).

HONG KONG – September 23, 2025 – Robotech Solutions, a next-generation robotics company, today announced its official launch from stealth mode, unveiling a breakthrough approach to integrating humanoid robotics into global logistics and supply chain operations.

At the core of Robotech Solutions’ offering is a strategic supply contract with AgiBot, one of China’s leading humanoid robot manufacturers. By combining AgiBot’s world-class humanoid hardware with Robotech’s proprietary AI-driven task programming, the company is creating a scalable platform to transform warehouse and factory operations worldwide.

Robotech’s humanoids are designed to load and unload boxes, restock shelves, and serve as flexible temporary workers capable of adapting quickly to dynamic environments. This Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model allows logistics providers, manufacturers, and e-commerce giants to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and address chronic labor shortages while maintaining operational agility.

“The logistics industry is under unprecedented pressure to scale with speed, precision, and flexibility,” said Wei Qiang, CEO of Robotech Solutions. “By combining advanced humanoid robotics with intelligent task programming, we are unlocking a future where human-shaped automation seamlessly integrates into environments designed for people.”

With global logistics and warehousing facing rising labor constraints, Robotech Solutions positions itself at the intersection of robotics, AI, and enterprise scalability. The company’s solution eliminates many of the barriers that have historically slowed automation adoption, offering businesses the ability to deploy humanoid robots in real-world operations immediately.

Robotech Solutions is currently engaging with logistics companies and global supply chain operators for pilot programs, with plans to scale commercial deployments in 2026.

About Robotech Solutions

Robotech Solutions is a Hong Kong–based robotics company pioneering the integration of humanoid robotics into global logistics. Through a strategic supply contract with AgiBot and proprietary AI-driven programming, Robotech delivers humanoid solutions that load/unload boxes, restock shelves, and act as flexible temp workers across warehouses and factory floors.

Media Contact:

Press Office – Robotech Solutions

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

San Diego, California – September 23rd, 2025 -  The Law Office of John Dalton, a firm dedicated exclusively to employment law, continues to champion the rights of employees facing workplace discrimination throughout California. With offices serving clients in San Diego, Indio, Lancaster, Palm Springs, Irvine, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Orange County, and Temecula, the firm is committed to providing strong legal representation for individuals subjected to unfair treatment in the workplace.

Discrimination in the workplace can take many forms and leaves employees feeling powerless against corporations and those in positions of authority. The Law Office of John Dalton recognizes these challenges and fights to ensure every voice is heard. The firm represents clients experiencing:

• Unfair treatment due to race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin;
• Harassment that creates a hostile work environment;
• Denial of reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities or medical conditions; and
• Retaliation for reporting misconduct or participating in workplace investigations.

“Too often, those in power abuse their role, leaving employees vulnerable and afraid to speak out,” said John Dalton, founder of the firm and a former CIA officer. “Our mission is to stand beside those individuals, to give the unheard a voice to fight with, and to ensure they have the legal support they need.”

With years of dedicated experience, John Dalton’s firm focuses solely on discrimination , harassment and retaliation in the workplace. The firm’s exclusive focus means clients receive representation tailored to the complexities of workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, and other employment-related disputes.

What sets The Law Office of John Dalton apart is its unwavering commitment to the individual, not the corporation. By concentrating efforts on employees rather than businesses, the firm ensures that those who have been wronged have a chance to pursue justice. The attorneys approach each case with compassion, determination, and a deep understanding of how devastating workplace discrimination can be for an employee and their family.

The firm offers free case reviews to anyone facing workplace issues, providing an opportunity for individuals to share their story without financial pressure. It doesn’t matter if someone has been denied promotions due to age, harassed because of their gender, retaliated against for speaking up, or otherwise mistreated, the attorneys are ready to step in and advocate aggressively on their behalf.

From San Diego to Los Angeles and across Southern California, The Law Office of John Dalton has been a voice for the voiceless for almost 30 years. If you or someone you know is experiencing workplace discrimination, contact The Law Office of John Dalton today at (858)720-8422 for a confidential consultation and learn how an experienced employment attorney can help you reclaim your rights.

SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has issued SafeGuardS 135.25 to inform stakeholders of a new technical guide published by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Healthcare (EDQM) regarding cork materials and articles intended for contact with food.

The first edition of the guide, “Cork Materials and Articles for Contact with Food – A Technical Guide for Manufacturers and Regulators”, supplements Council of Europe Resolution CM/Res(2020)9 on the safety and quality of materials and articles for food contact. It also supersedes the Council of Europe’s policy statement on cork stoppers and other cork materials intended for food contact (version 2, 2007).

The technical guide applies specifically to food contact cork materials and articles. It defines cork as the protective bark layer harvested from the trunk and branches of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) and lists applications such as cork stoppers, trays, placemats and fruit bowls. Materials other than cork, as well as coatings, paraffin waxes and silicones, are excluded from the scope and must comply with applicable national or European legislation.

Food contact cork materials must comply with the general safety requirements in the Resolution and the list of evaluated substances and their specifications provided in the guide. The guide provides detailed instructions on testing conditions and methods to verify compliance.

For analysis, the guide specifies the use of simulants and conditions from Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 and the European Commission Joint Research Center guidance for kitchenware. It details how to express specific migration values and overall migration values and references EN 1186-1:2002, EN 1186-3:2022 and ISO 10106:2021 for testing cork stoppers. Established limit values from the Resolution appendix are to be applied, and Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 provides rules for assessing compliance.

SGS publishes SafeGuardS to help industry stakeholders stay informed about regulatory and compliance developments. SafeGuardS 135.25 highlights EDQM’s technical guide for cork materials and articles for food contact. Stakeholders are advised to review SafeGuardS 135.25 to stay informed about the requirements and ensure compliance with the technical guide.

SGS Food Contact Material Services
SGS’s technical experts have extensive experience testing materials and articles in contact with food. They can ensure that your products meet the appropriate regulations for food contact materials and pave the way for compliance. SGS offers the full range of testing, including migration tests, along with expert advice on emerging regulations, compliance issues and documentation review. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested.

Learn more about SGS’s Food Contact Material Services. SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full EDQM Publishes Technical Guideline for Food Contact Cork Materials. Subscribe today and receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information contact:
Dr. Hingwo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel: +852 2774 7420
Website: www.sgs.com/cp
LinkedIn: SGS Connectivity & Products

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.