OEKO-TEX

OEKO-TEX is an independent testing and certification system that verifies textile products are free from harmful substances at all stages of production. The system's flagship certification, STANDARD 100, has become the most widely recognized textile safety label globally, providing consumers and brands with confidence that certified products are safe for human contact.

STANDARD 100 Certification

STANDARD 100 tests finished textile products for over 100 potentially harmful substances, including regulated chemicals, chemicals known to be harmful but not yet regulated, and parameters important for health precaution. The testing is comprehensive, examining everything from pH levels and formaldehyde content to heavy metals, pesticides, and allergenic dyes. Products that pass receive certification valid for one year, after which retesting is required.

Product Classes

OEKO-TEX recognizes that different products require different safety thresholds based on their intended use and degree of skin contact. Class I applies to baby products and maintains the strictest limits, reflecting infants' heightened sensitivity. Class II covers products with direct skin contact such as underwear and bedding. Class III addresses products without direct skin contact, like jackets and linings. Class IV covers decoration materials including curtains and tablecloths. Each class has testing limits calibrated to its risk profile.

Beyond STANDARD 100

The OEKO-TEX system includes additional certifications for different needs. MADE IN GREEN combines STANDARD 100 product testing with STeP facility certification, verifying both product safety and sustainable production practices. Products bearing this label include a QR code enabling consumers to trace the product's manufacturing journey. STeP (Sustainable Textile Production) certifies production facilities across multiple dimensions: chemical management, environmental performance, quality management, and social responsibility. STeP certification is a prerequisite for the MADE IN GREEN label.

Tested Substances

OEKO-TEX testing covers a comprehensive range of potentially harmful substances. These include formaldehyde (a common finishing chemical), heavy metals that can accumulate in the body, pesticide residues from fiber cultivation, chlorinated phenols used in preservation, phthalates found in some plasticizers, allergenic dyes that can cause skin reactions, and pH values outside safe ranges for skin contact.

Industry Benefits

For textile manufacturers and brands, OEKO-TEX certification provides multiple advantages. It builds consumer trust through recognized safety verification, facilitates market access particularly in the European Union where chemical safety standards are stringent, satisfies brand partnership requirements that increasingly mandate third-party safety certification, and establishes a quality control benchmark that improves overall production standards.

Certification Process

Obtaining OEKO-TEX certification involves submitting product samples to an authorized OEKO-TEX institute for laboratory testing, which typically takes two to three weeks. Products that meet all applicable limits receive certification. Annual renewal requires retesting to ensure continued compliance.