SG–The Test Mark
for low pollutant
Leather Products
Version 09/2006
Responsibility
Natural materials such as leather and fur have to be tanned and dyed
to achieve the desired characteristics. Chemicals are also used for
preservation purposes while the materials are being transported or in
storage.
Chemicals are indispensable for the production of leather goods –
today and in the future.
For the protection of consumers, chemical substances may however
still be used to an extent that does not pose a risk to health.
Therefore it is extremely important to check that they are used
correctly during production, that the auxiliaries are suitable and that
the materials contain only low amounts of harmful substance or even
better – none at all.
Only then can products be manufactured that do not pose a risk to
health.
Health
Responsible manufacturers and retailers of shoes, leather goods,
leather clothing and the materials required for production, know about
the above mentioned risks to human health and act accordingly.
To document that their products have been manufactured with
exceptional care, they label them with the label „Tested for harmful
substances“, (German: Schadstoffgeprüft) in short SG-Mark.
This mark is awarded to those products only, which meet the
stringent limit values and parameters for harmful substances set forth
in the SG test criteria catalogue.
All SG limit values are in general much lower than the statutory
specifications.
The SG mark confirms that there is no danger to health according to
present-day knowledge.
And this gives the consumer confidence with regards to the product’s
safety.
Testing
The SG catalogue of test criteria was developed by experts of the
participating institutions on the basis of the latest scientific findings.
The necessary tests depend on the materials used, the auxiliaries
and the production processes. They guarantee reliable detection of
relevant harmful substances.
The test results are supplemented by a legally binding manufacturer’s
declaration pertaining to the basic materials and the production
process.
The manufacturer’s own quality control system guarantees consistent
quality.
All finished products and materials labelled with the SG-Mark are
subject to spot checks on a regular basis.
All certificates awarded are recorded in a data bank.
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 Partners
Requirements
Three widely accepted institutes with many years of experience and
When a product is labeled with the SG mark, the consumer can be expertise stand for safety and consumer friendliness:
sure, that is has been manufactured with exceptional care, for
instance: TÜV Rheinland Produkt und Umwelt GmbH
- Dyes, that can release carcinogenic amines, Dr. Karl Sander
- carcinogenic and allergizing dyes, Am Grauen Stein
- Chromium-VI compounds and 51105 Köln
- Tributyltin compounds (TBT) Telefon: 02 21/806-29 58
Telefax: 02 21/806-28 82
are not detectable and E-Mail: karl.sander@de.tuv.com

- The limits for formaldehyde are below the declaration limit of SGS Institut Fresenius GmbH
the Cosmetics Ordinance, Gabriele Göttsch
- The pesticide limits established for food are not exceeded. Im Maisel 14
- The contents of PCP and other chlorophenols are far below 65232 Taunusstein-Neuhof
the limit values of the Ordinance on Banned Chemicals. Telefon: 0 61 28/744-151
Telefax: 0 61 28/744-201
If the articles are intended for use by infants or toddlers, especially E-Mail: gabriele.goettsch@institut-fresenius.de
stringent criteria are applied.
Prüf- und Forschungsinstitut Pirmasens e.V.
Dr. Kerstin Schulte
Marie-Curie-Straße 19
66953 Pirmasens
Telefon: 0 63 31/24 90 33
Telefax: 0 63 31/24 90 60
E-Mail: kerstin.schulte@pfi-pirmasens.de

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Test criteria for the SG-Mark 09/2006
Parameter Components made of Components made of Components made of Components made of Adhesives Test method / standards applied
leather, fur textiles leather fibre cardboard, paper,
materials- wood, cellulose, cork
(Lefa) [1]
Limit values Limit values Limit values Limit values
adults/children [2] adults/children [2]] Limit values adults/children [2] adults/children [2]2]
adults/children [2]2]
Odour Note 3 [3] Note 3 [3] Note 3 [3] Note 3 [3] Note 3 [3] SNV 195 651:1968
Flame-retardant finishing not used not used not used not used Manufacturer’s declaration
[13] [13]
Colour fastness / fastness to rubbing at least 3 at least 4 at least 3 - 4 at least 3 - 4 Leather: DIN EN ISO 11640:1998
[4]
100 rubbing cycles dry as well as 50
rubbing cycles with sweat solution
according to
DIN EN ISO 11641:2004

Textile: DIN EN ISO 105-X12:2002

dry and wet
pH-value of the aqueous extract 3,5 – 7,0 4,5 – 7,5 3,5 – 7,0 4,5 – 7,5 Textile: DIN EN ISO 3071:2006
[5]
(- 8,0) Leather: DIN EN ISO 4045:1998

Formaldehyde (free and released by 150 mg/kg [14] 150 mg/kg [14] 150 mg/kg [14] 150 mg/kg [14] 150 mg/kg [14] Textile: § 64 LFGB B 82.02-1:1985
partial hydrolysis) 50 mg/kg [13] / nd [11] 50 mg/kg [13] / nd [11] 50 mg/kg [13] / nd [11] 50mg/kg [13] / nd [11] 50 mg/kg [13] / nd [11] Leather: DIN ISO/TS 17226 : 2004
Pentachlorophenol (PCP) 0,5 mg/kg 0,5 / 0,05 mg/kg 0,5 mg/kg 0,5 mg/kg 0,5 mg/kg [6] § 64 LFGB B 82.02-8:2001
[6]
Chlorinated phenols, 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg following
Sum (except for PCP) [7] § 64 LFGB B 82.02-8 :2001
Pesticide [8] (total)[10] 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg following DFG S19
[9] [10]
Wood preservative (total) 1 mg/kg (only wood) following DFG S19
Tributyltin compounds (TBT) 0,025 mg/kg 0,025 mg/kg 0,025 mg/kg 0,025 mg/kg 0,025 mg/kg Solvent extraction, detection and
Dibutyl tin compounds ( (DBT) 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg quantification following
Monobutyl tin compounds ( (MBT) 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg DIN EN ISO 17353:2005
Forbidden azo dyes nd [20] nd [20] nd [20] nd [20] nd [20] Textile: § 64 LFGB B 82.02-2,-
4:2004
Leather: § 64 LFGB B 82.02-3:2004
4-Aminoazobenzene: § 64 LFGB
B 82.02.-9, Draft July 2004
Carcinogenic and allergizing dyes [16] not detectable DIN 54231:2005
Sum polycyclic aromatic 10 mg/kg 10 mg/kg 10 mg/kg 10 mg/kg 10 mg/kg Extraction with toluene, GC/MS
hydrocarbons DIN ISO 18287:2006
(Total PAH according to EPA)[10/17]
Benzo[a]pyrene 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg

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Parameter Components Components Components made of leather Components made of Adhesives Test method /
made of leather, made of textiles fibre materials- cardboard, paper, wood, standards applied
fur (Lefa) [1] cellulose, cork

Limit values Limit values Limit values adults/children [2]2] Limit values Limit values
adults/children [2] adults/children [2]] adults/children [2] adults/children [2]2]
Chromium VI (soluable) 3 mg/kg (nd) 3 mg/kg (nd) 3 mg/kg (nd) 3 mg/kg (nd) following DIN EN ISO 17075:2006
Soluble mineral tanning agents 200 / 50 mg/kg 200 / 50 mg/kg Extraction with distilled water,
detection and quantification total
soluble Al, Cr, Ti, Zr via ICP-OES,
AAS, ICP-MS
Substances extractable by washing DIN EN ISO 4098:2006
out:

Upper leather/lining leather 1,5 %

Upper leather/lining leather 2,5 % 5%
(chromium free) 1,5 %
Inner sole 15 %
Outer sole 5%
Other heavy metals (soluble): Extraction with acidic swear
Antimony 5,0 mg/kg 5,0 mg/kg solution, detection and
Arsenic 0,2 mg/kg 0,2 mg/kg 0,2 mg/kg 0,2 mg/kg quantification via ICP-OES, ICP-
Cadmium 0,1 mg/kg 0,1 mg/kg 0,1 mg/kg 0,1 mg/kg MS, AAS
Chromium, total 2,0 mg/kg 2,0 mg/kg
Cobalt 4,0 mg/kg 4,0 mg/kg 4,0 mg/kg 4,0 mg/kg
Copper 50,0 mg/kg 50,0 mg/kg 50,0 mg/kg 50,0 mg/kg
Lead 0,8 mg/kg 0,8 mg/kg 0,8 mg/kg 0,8 mg/kg
Mercury 0,02 mg/kg 0,02 mg/kg 0,02 mg/kg 0,02 mg/kg
Nickel 4,0 mg/kg 4,0 mg/kg 4,0 mg/kg 4,0 mg/kg
Chlorinated paraffines, Manufacturer’s declaration
according to the German nu nu nu
Ordinance on banned chemicals [18]
Nonylphenol and 0,01 % per 0,01 % per 0,01 % per detected compound 0,01 % per detected 0,01 % per detected Extraction with solvents, GC-MS
nonylphenolethoxylates according to detected detected compound compound compound (Nonylphenol) or HPLC-MS
Ordinance on Banned Chemicals [19] compound (Nonylphenolethoxylate)

Parameter Metal accessories Test method / standards applied

Limit values adults/children [2]
Nickel release negative CR 12471, paragraph 5.3.4:2002, rubbing test
0,5 µg/cm2/week § 64 LFGB B 82.02-6:1999, nickel release
§ 64 LFGB B 82.02-7:1999, Wear- and corrosion test

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Parameter Components made of plastics/caoutchouk, Test method / standards applied
synthetic leather
Limit values adults/children [2
Odour max. 3 [3] SNV 195 651:1968
Flame retardant finishing not used Manufacturer’s declaration
[4]
Colour fastness / fastness to rubbing
at least 4 DIN EN ISO 105 X12
at least 4 DIN EN ISO 105 E04 (sweat solution)
Global migration 10 mg/dm² § 64 LFGB B 80-30-1 bis 3 (EG), 2002

Chlorinated fluorinated hydrocarbons CFC not detectable GC-ECD

Primary aromatic amines (in PU) as not detectable § 64 LFGB L 00.00-6 (EG):1995 (QL:2 µg/l)
anilinehydrochloride (O:V=1:1)
Monomeres e.g. acrylonitrile in Nitrile Rubber (NR) not detectable § 64 LFGB L 00.00-4 (EG):1982
Primary aromatic amines, (in caoutchouc, latex) as 20 µg/l (O:V=1:1) § 64 LFGB L 00.00-6 (EG):1995
anilinehydrochloride
N-alkylarylamines (in caoutchoc, latex) as N- 1 mg/l (O:V=1:1) Recommendation XXI 2.5.2.2.3 Commission on
ethylphenylamine Plastics in the BfR

Nitrosamines 1,0 µg/dm² Bundesgesundheitsblatt 53 Information 5/94

(in caoutchouc, latex)
Forbidden azo dyes nd [20] § 64 LFGB B 82.02-2; -4: 2004
4-Aminoazobenzenel § 64 LFGB B 82.02-9
Draft July 2004
Lead 0,05% Following DIN EN 1122:2002
Cadmium 0,005% DIN EN 1122:2002
Organotin compounds: Extraction with solvents, detection and
Tributyltin compounds (TBT) 0,025 mg/kg quantification following
Dibutyltin compounds (DBT) 1 mg/kg DIN EN ISO 17353:2005
Monobutyltin compounds (MBT) 1 mg/kg
Sum polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (sum PAH 10 mg/kg Extraction with toluene, GC/MS
according to EPA) [10/17] E DIN ISO 18287:2006
Benzo[a]pyrene 1 mg/kg
[12/21]
Phthalates in softened plastics 0,05 % Extraction GC/MS
Nonylphenol 0,01 % Extraction with solvents, GC-MS

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Legend

[1] Leather-fibre material (lefa) skinned, without direct skin contact. For lefa with direct skin contact the limit values for leather apply.
[2] Children under 36 months of age, generally up to size 26
[3] Product specific odour; 1= no odour; 2= faint odour; 3= tolerable odour; 4=annoying odour; 5=intolerable odour
[4] 1 = strongly staining
5 = no staining
For nubuk and velour leathers as well as for upper leather backsides, the value may fall below 4, as long as there is no direct or longer lasting contact to skin expected.
[5] Chamois leather
[6] In hardened film
[7] Tetrachlorophenole, trichlorophenole
[8] DDT, lindane, aldrine dieldrine, methoxychlor, DDD, DDE, heptachlor, heptachloroepoxide, HCH (a,b,d,e), malathione, mrex, parathion(-ethyl), permethrine in furs and wool
[9] Lindane, dichlofluanide, pentachloroanisol, dndosulfan, permethrin, chlorthalonile, tolylfluanide
[10] Non-detected components are not considered for the generation of the sum
[11] Limit of quantification 10 mg/kg
[12] Only for products for children of less than 36 months
[13] In case of expected direct skin contact
[14] For materials without direct skin contact
[15] Inner side: the side facing the foot, outer side: the side averted to the foot
[16] Carcinogenic dyes: Acid red 26, Basic red 9, Basic violet 14, Direct black 38, Direct blue 6, Direct red 28, Disperse blue 1, Disperse orange 11, Disperse yellow 3
Allergizing dyes: Disperse blue 1, Disperse blue 3, Disperse blue 7, Disperse blue 26, Disperse blue 35, Disperse blue 102, Disperse blue 106, Disperse blue 124, Disperse brown 1, Disperse
orange 1, Disperse orange 3, Disperse orange 37/76, Disperse red 1, Disperse red 11, Disperse red 17, Disperse yellow 1, Disperse yellow 3, Disperse yellow 9, Disperse yellow 39, Disperse yellow
49
[17] Listed according to the US EPA 16 PAHs: Naphthaline, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, crysene,
benzo(b)fluoranthen, benzo(k)fluoranthee, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene
[18] Short-chain chlorinated paraffines C10-C13, Declaration of the manufacturer that chlorinated paraffines were not used
[19] In addition to the analysis: Declaration of the manufacturer that the substances were not used
[20] Detection limit: 30 mg/kg per amine component
[21] Phthalates: DINP, DNOP, DEHP, DIDP, BBP, DBP

nd not detectable
nu not used (Manufacturer’s declaration)
QL Quantification limit
O:V face:volume

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