Versarien plc, the advanced materials engineering group, has secured OEKO-TEX® Eco Passport certification for its proprietary Graphene-Wear® technology.

OEKO-TEX's® Eco Passport is an independent certification system for chemicals, colourants and auxiliaries used in the textile and leather industries.

Operating since 1992 OEKO-TEX®, headquartered in Switzerland, offers testing and certification services to companies in the textile and leather industries worldwide.

In order to gain OEKO-TEX® Eco Passport certification, Versarien's Graphene-Wear® was analysed to determine whether it meets the relevant statutory requirements and textile industry standards, and to confirm that no element in it, nor the final product, is harmful to human health.

The Eco Passport also provides validation for garment manufaturers that Graphene-Wear® meets the criteria for ecologically responsible textile and leather manufacture.

Neill Ricketts, chief executive officer of Versarien, said: "The textile sector, in particular leisure and sportswear, is one of the key focus sectors for Versarien.

"We are already working with a number of brands, including through commercial agreements with Superdry and Umbro, to integrate Versarien's Graphene-Wear® technology into a number of their products.

"The securing of OEKO-TEX's® Eco Passport will provide both these partners, and other garment suppliers we are in discussions with, third party validation that our products are safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly."