Global Quality Control Standards in the Travel Luggage Industry

Global Quality Control Standards in the Travel Luggage Industry

 

Quality control standards are the core governance tool in the global travel luggage industry chain, running through the entire process from raw material procurement, production and processing, finished product inspection, to cross-border trade. They not only regulate production practices in different countries and regions, ensuring the smooth flow of global trade, but also directly determine consumer safety and experience quality. Data shows that in 2024, the export pass rate for travel luggage that met core international standards reached 89.7%. Among non-compliant products, 63% were returned due to failure in physical performance, and 27% due to excessive chemical substances. Standard compliance has become an essential prerequisite for companies to participate in global competition.

 

I. Global Mainstream Quality Control Standard Systems

The global quality control standards for travel luggage have formed a dual pattern of "International Universal Standards + Regional Specific Standards". Different systems focus on different aspects, collectively forming the quality baseline for the industry chain.

 

(I) European Union (EU) Standard System: Dual Core of Environmental Protection and Safety

The EU is known for its stringent safety and environmental protection requirements, with core standards centered on consumer health and environmental sustainability.

Core Regulations and Standards: The REACH Regulation restricts the use of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) in travel luggage materials, currently updated to a list of 233 substances. Limits include formaldehyde ≤75mg/kg, hexavalent chromium ≤3mg/kg, and total phthalates ≤0.1%. The EN series standards focus on physical performance. EN 13571:2020 specifies that buckles must pass ten thousand opening and closing tests without failure , and EN 12195-2:2001 clearly defines anti-impact requirements during transportation.

Market Access Requirements: All travel luggage entering the EU market must pass CE certification. Children's travel luggage must additionally comply with the EN 71-3 Toy Safety Standard to ensure material non-toxicity. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), to be implemented in 2026, will further integrate carbon footprint into the quality assessment system.

 

(II) United States (US) Standard System: Durability and Practicality Oriented

The US ASTM standard system focuses on simulating actual use scenarios, strengthening product durability and functionality testing.

Core Standards: ASTM D6199-18 specifies the dynamic load test method, requiring the travel luggage to complete simulated transport vibration without damage under a 20kg load. ASTM F2058-15 targets the telescoping handle system, requiring 5000 cycles of pulling and pushing without jamming or deformation. Children's related travel luggage must comply with the ASTM F2057-17 stability standard to prevent tipping risks. This is crucial for products like a 20 inch suitcase carry on.

Market Access: Products must undergo compliance verification by third-party testing organizations (such as Intertek). Labels must clearly indicate material composition, country of origin, and safety warnings. Animal leather products must also comply with animal welfare regulations.

 

(III) China Standard System: Combination of Mandatory and Recommended Standards

China has formed a quality control system centered on National Standards (GB) and Industry Standards (QB/T), balancing safety and industrial suitability.

Core Standards: Mandatory standard GB 20400-2006 regulates the limit of harmful substances in leather and fur, with formaldehyde ≤300mg/kg and the prohibition of decomposable carcinogenic aromatic amine dyes. Recommended standard QB/T 2155-2018 is the core standard for travel luggage, covering 18 indicators including walking performance, impact resistance, and seam strength. It requires wheels, under a 20kg load, to travel 8 kilometers with wear ≤0.5mm, and the telescoping handle to pass 500 oscillation cycles without failure. The requirements for travel trolley bags are particularly detailed.

Inspection Norms: Domestic institutions with CMA/CNAS qualifications (such as Zhongke Guangxi) must conduct full-item testing on finished products in accordance with GB/T series test methods. E-commerce platforms require the provision of corresponding quality inspection reports for entry.

 

(IV) International Universal Standards: Harmonization Benchmark for Global Trade

ISO standards provide a unified technical language for global travel luggage trade. ISO 17075-1:2017 specifies general test methods , ISO 11732:2011 defines the wear resistance testing standard for wheels , and ISO 24167-2021 sets out vibration testing requirements. These standards are adopted by most countries globally, serving as the core basis for multinational companies to unify supply chain quality.

 

II. Core Coverage Dimensions of Quality Control Standards

Global standards build a multi-dimensional testing system around four core aspects: "Safety, Durability, Practicality, and Environmental Protection," covering key links in the industry chain.

 

(I) Material Safety: Strict Control of Harmful Substances

All mainstream standards list material safety as the primary indicator, focusing on the detection of four types of substances:

Chemical Harmful Substances: Formaldehyde, heavy metals (lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium), decomposable carcinogenic aromatic amine dyes, phthalates, etc.. EU standards are the most restrictive, requiring "zero detection" for some substances.

Flammability: Children's travel luggage must pass flammability tests to prevent rapid burning when exposed to a fire source. US ASTM standards require a burning rate ≤30mm/min. This is particularly relevant for soft-sided products like a folding luggage bag.

Material Compatibility: Leather, plastic, and textile fabrics must pass compatibility tests to avoid the release of harmful substances or the production of odor during use.

 

(II) Physical Performance: Durability Testing Simulating Usage Scenarios

Physical performance is the core embodiment of travel luggage quality. Standards clearly define specific test methods and passing thresholds:

Core Component Testing: The telescoping handle must pass 5000 cycles of pulling and pushing fatigue testing. The middle section must withstand a 50kg load for 2 hours without deformation. Wheels, under a 20kg load, must travel 8 kilometers at a speed of 3km/h with wear ≤0.5mm , and rotate flexibly after high and low-temperature cycling (−20°C to 60°C). This is key to ensuring a high-quality lightweight luggage case.

Case Structure Testing: Hardshell travel suitcase must pass a 900mm drop test without damage , and withstand static pressure ≥50kg without deformation. Soft-sided travel luggage requires seam strength ≥196N , and zippers to withstand 200 cycles of opening and closing without missing or misaligned teeth.

Environmental Adaptability: Salt spray test (metal fittings ≤5% rust area after 48 hours) and rainproof test (no water stains inside) , adapting to different climates and transportation scenarios.

 

(III) Functionality: Performance Verification for Scenario-Specific Needs

Standards define functional indicators tailored to different use scenarios:

Basic Functions: Combination locks must withstand ≥5000 opening cycles without failure. Waterproof performance must pass the spray test. Static load capacity must be ≥50kg for hardshell and ≥30kg for soft-sided travel suitcase.

Segmented Scenarios: Outdoor travel luggage must meet waterproof rating IPX5 or higher. Business travel luggage has specific requirements for zipper smoothness and handle load capacity (300 oscillations without breaking).

 

(IV) Environmental Sustainability: A Global Consensus Added Dimension

Environmental protection has become an important trend in quality control standards. The EU REACH Regulation and China's GB/T 39222-2020 both require labeling the material's recyclability percentage. GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification is a bonus for high-end brands. Some standards also incorporate carbon footprint accounting, requiring companies to disclose carbon emission data for the product's entire life cycle.

 

III. Profound Impact of Standards on the Global Industry Chain

Quality control standards are not just technical specifications but also reshape the division of labor and competitive logic within the global travel luggage industry chain.

 

(I) Regulating Supply Chain Division of Labor and Collaboration

Multinational companies build global supply chains based on international standards. Raw material suppliers must provide test reports compliant with REACH or ASTM standards. Production factories must pass ISO 9001 Quality Management System certification. For example, Samsonite's production bases in Vietnam and Mexico adopt internal control requirements higher than regional standards , increasing telescoping handle pull-out tests to 8000 cycles and wheel wear tests to 10 kilometers , ensuring product quality consistency globally.

 

(II) Establishing Trade Access and Technical Barriers

Standards serve as a "passport" for global trade. Products that fail to pass the target market's standard certification will face returns, fines, or even a sales ban. In 2024, 12.3% of non-compliant Chinese travel luggage exports to the EU were intercepted for failing to meet REACH Regulation substance restrictions. At the same time, high standards also become a tool for enterprise differentiation competition. Brands like NetEase Yanxuan use test results conforming to five-star standards to increase product premium.

 

(III) Driving Technological Upgrades and Quality Improvement

The iteration of standards forces companies to innovate. To meet environmental requirements, brands like Verage use R-PET recycled plastic to produce the case body. To achieve higher wear resistance standards, TraveRE (China travel luggage brands TraveRE) optimizes the surface treatment process for aluminum-magnesium alloy. Testing technology is also simultaneously upgrading. Institutions like SGS have introduced certifications for silent wheels and case body wear resistance , using specialized equipment to simulate wear scenarios on various road surfaces like gravel and asphalt, making testing closer to actual usage conditions.

 

(IV) Protecting Consumer Rights and Experience

The popularization of standards significantly improves product reliability. A 2024 test by the Guangzhou Consumer Council on 12 mainstream brand travel suitcase showed that indicators like formaldehyde and phthalates all complied with standards. Over 90% of products passed core tests such as telescoping handle strength and walking performance. Consumer awareness of "compliance with international standards" continues to rise , with the proportion of purchasing decisions influenced by checking test reports increasing from 35% in 2020 to 62% in 2024.

 

IV. Challenges and Trends: Continuous Evolution of the Standard System

Currently, the global travel luggage quality control standards still face three major challenges : increased compliance costs for enterprises due to regional standard differences , the lack of unified testing standards for new products like smart travel luggage , and insufficient testing resources for small and medium-sized brands. In the future, the standard system will develop in three main directions:

 

(I) Accelerated Standardization Synergy

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is promoting the mutual recognition of major regional standards to reduce technical barriers. It is expected that the unification of core physical performance testing methods for the EU, US, and China will be achieved by 2028.

 

(II) Green and Low-Carbon Becoming Core Indicators

Carbon footprint accounting, the rate of using environmentally friendly materials, and recyclable design will be incorporated into more regional standards. The EU CBAM mechanism will directly affect the carbon cost of travel luggage exports, driving the green transformation of the industry chain.

 

(III) Adapting to Intelligent and Personalized Demands

Specialized testing standards will be introduced for the battery safety, positioning accuracy, and data privacy of smart travel luggage. Quality consistency control for personalized customized products will also become a key focus for standard improvement.

The quality control standards for global travel luggage are both the "quality gatekeepers" of the industry chain and the "catalyst" for industry upgrades. With the continuous improvement and synergy of the standard system, it will further regulate global trade order, push enterprises toward high-quality and sustainable development , and ultimately achieve a win-win for both industrial value and consumer interests.