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CTC’s specialised chemical analysis laboratories are fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and have in-depth knowledge of the materials, components and chemical substances used for footwear products in the fashion, luxury, sport and PPE sectors.
Accredited in accordance with standard ISO 17025, our laboratories are strategically located in the main manufacturing and sourcing regions (Europe, China, Vietnam, etc.). CTC is also underpinned by a solid network of international partners based in countries such as Spain, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Portugal and India.
Our experts are on hand to offer high-quality tailored support, guaranteeing solutions to fit your needs.
CTC plays an active role in international standardisation committees, and our experts carry out daily regulatory monitoring, enabling us to anticipate developments and provide pertinent analyses. Our experts will advise you on the most appropriate analyses by considering the materials making up your footwear, as well as the country in which you intend to sell it and current applicable legislation.
CTC will advise you in the preparation of your specifications: RSL (Restricted Substances List), your chemical, physical, biomechanical and environmental tests, and your international monitoring of substances of concern.
At CTC, we perform chemical testing to quantify substances that are harmful to humans or the environment. These tests can be carried out on all kinds of footwear (formal, sports or personal protective equipment).
Based on their knowledge of the “leather”, “textile”, “polymer” and “metal” matrices, our experts are able to help you determine the right test programme for the different materials in your products.
We also carry out chemical testing in the “water matrix” through our microbiological analysis laboratory (also called the environmental analysis laboratory). We will then offer a tailored chemical analysis programme that meets the specific requirements of your footwear, for example:
The test programme will also take into account your internal quality requirements (specifications, RSL ).
To support your quality efforts in a comprehensive and personalised way, CTC includes:
Consumer goods intended for sale on the European market must comply with numerous chemical restrictions, in particular those set out in the REACh Regulation. This is a European Union (EU) regulation adopted at the end of 2006 to protect human health and the environment from the risks associated with chemical substances.
Annex XVII of the REACh Regulation sets out mandatory restrictions for goods intended for European consumers, whether manufactured in a European Union country or outside Europe. This annex is updated regularly, as new requirements for chemicals are introduced. CTC undertakes regular monitoring in order to anticipate changes.
In addition to restrictions, the REACh Regulation may require you to disclose the presence of certain substances in your products. These are substances identified as being of very high concern (SVHC) on the Candidate List.
Ultimately, Europe aims to include these SVHCs in its Annex XIV, making their use subject to authorisation. European factories will no longer be able to use these chemicals without express authorisation.
CTC's expertise enables us to identify critical SVHC substances in leather, textile and polymer materials.
Products are tested for hazardous chemicals that may be allergenic, irritant or CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic).
Among the substances that are regulated or known to be hazardous, the CTC laboratories offer the following analyses (non-exhaustive list):
Material selection plays a crucial role in the manufacture of leather and textile products. It also influences consumer perception and purchasing decisions.
Material characterisation can assess a material’s physical, chemical, chemical and thermal properties, among others.
The main goal of these laboratory analyses is to optimise industrial processes while guaranteeing compliance with applicable standards.
With its laboratory dedicated to materials, CTC provides in-depth knowledge and cutting-edge analytical tools. Our analysis laboratory is fitted with a complete range of technical equipment and supported by a team of specialised experts. In addition to its Lyon location, CTC now has five other ISO 17025 accredited laboratories: in Europe, mainland China, Hong Kong and Vietnam, which are also able to test and analyse your materials.