OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certification
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, launched in 1992, identifies an independent international testing and certification system dedicated to textiles.
Through rigorous laboratory tests, the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 label certifies that a textile product (from yarn to finished garment) is free from substances that are harmful to human health. The system follows international requirements that are updated annually and often go beyond the legal chemical-safety limits set by regulations, strengthening the value of the standard.
Today, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is recognised worldwide as a guarantee of safety for consumers and of transparency for textile companies. Often referred to simply as “Standard 100”, this certificate covers a wide range of textile products: from clothing to children’s clothing, as well as home textiles and furnishing materials.
A label bearing the OEKO-TEX logo on a textile indicates that the entire item complies with the strict chemical-safety criteria set by the standard.
What is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification
Origins and mission of OEKO-TEX
Standard 100 certification was devised in 1992 in response to growing concern about toxic substances in textile products. A network of international textile laboratories joined forces to develop shared testing procedures and define stringent limit values, thus establishing the OEKO-TEX association.
From the outset, the goal has been to ensure transparency and safety: every certified item carries the OEKO-TEX label as a seal of quality, synonymous with “confidence in textiles”. In this way, manufacturers can demonstrate, in practical terms, their commitment to human health and textile ecology, reassuring consumers that their products are checked and free from hazardous substances.
Meaning of the OEKO-TEX label
The name OEKO-TEX comes from the German words Ökologie (ecology) and Textil (textile), reflecting from the very beginning a focus on the sector’s ecosystem. The label is accompanied by the English tagline “Confidence in Textiles”, highlighting trust in certified fabrics. In practice, a product that carries the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 label guarantees that all its components (fabric, thread, buttons, prints, etc.) have been tested individually. This allows companies to show their commitment to protecting health and to responsible production processes.
Each certificate is also associated with a unique number, a transparency tool that consumers can verify online on the OEKO-TEX portal.
Criteria and certification process
The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification pathway includes in-depth chemical checks on every component of a textile.
All materials (yarn, buttons, labels, prints, etc.) are analysed in the laboratory for over 1,000 potentially harmful substances, including carcinogenic dyes, heavy metals, formaldehyde and phthalates.
Tolerance limits are updated regularly and differentiated according to the product’s use class: the more intensive the skin contact, the stricter the parameters. For example, Class I – aimed at clothing for babies and young children – uses the most stringent criteria. Once these tests have been successfully passed, the company obtains OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification with annual validity; each year a new check is required to ensure ongoing compliance.
The label’s primary purpose is to safeguard consumer health, not the environmental sustainability of the production process: for that purpose, OEKO-TEX offers other dedicated standards (Made in Green, STeP).
Safety criteria and substances tested
During analyses, the certifying laboratories examine a list of over 1,000 chemical substances, both regulated and emerging. Among the strictest parameters are maximum limits for common and concerning contaminants:
- Azo dyes with proven carcinogenic action, not permitted in certified products;
- Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, compounds used in textile finishing processes;
- Extractable heavy metals (e.g. nickel, lead, cadmium and chromium VI), harmful even at very low concentrations;
- Phthalates and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), recently intentionally banned from certified textile production.
These rigorous checks ensure that every certified item minimises the risk of allergies or toxicity for the end user.
Certification process and renewals
The OEKO-TEX certification procedure is voluntary: an interested company submits its products to an accredited body, which sends samples to the laboratory for chemical testing.
Only if each element (fabric, buttons, linings, prints, etc.) complies with the safety criteria is the Standard 100 certificate issued. The manufacturer can then apply a special label to all certified items: the label shows a unique serial number linked to the laboratory, ensuring authenticity and traceability.
The Standard 100 certificate is valid for 12 months; once this period has elapsed, tests must be repeated for renewal, ensuring that quality standards remain consistent over time.
Certifiable products and areas of application
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 applies to virtually all textile items along the production chain. It starts with raw materials (natural or synthetic fibres) and yarns, through semi-finished products (fabrics, knitwear) and on to finished goods.
In addition to clothing – in particular items in direct contact with the skin such as underwear, T-shirts and shirts – the certificate also covers home textiles (bed linen, towels) and furnishing materials, footwear and textile accessories.
In practice, any textile product can be Standard 100 certified if it meets the safety requirements. The OEKO-TEX label is now an internationally recognised benchmark: over 35,000 companies worldwide have certified products, making it a global reference point in the textile sector. In many countries and among major fashion brands, OEKO-TEX certification is a prerequisite: production and retail chains often require chemical-safety criteria similar to Standard 100 in public tenders and in lists of approved suppliers.
Product classes
Standard 100 divides textile products into four classes based on the intensity of skin contact and the user’s vulnerability:
- Class I: items for babies and children up to 3 years old (bodysuits, sleepsuits, bibs); the strictest safety requirements.
- Class II: products in direct contact with the skin (underwear, T-shirts, shirts); stringent limits to protect the epidermis.
- Class III: garments without prolonged skin contact (jackets, trousers, coats); broader tolerances.
- Class IV: furnishing and household textiles (curtains, upholstery, mattresses); criteria suited to the end use.
This classification makes it possible to tailor the tests and limits applied, aligning certification with the product’s characteristics and ensuring maximum reliability for the consumer.
Types of certifiable items
Standard 100 applies to many categories of textile products, including:
- Clothing: T-shirts, sweatshirts, underwear, shirts and other garments, especially those in direct contact with the skin (for example, T-shirts or casual shirts).
- Home textiles: bed linen (sheets, pillowcases), towels, tablecloths, curtains and furniture coverings; everyday materials that must guarantee complete safety.
- Children’s products: items for babies (bodysuits, sleepsuits), cot linen and textile toys; even higher safety standards apply to these articles.
- Accessories and gadgets: fabric bags, rucksacks, beach towels, canvas footwear and even natural-fibre packaging; all can receive the OEKO-TEX label as a sign of reliability.
This wide range demonstrates the flexibility of Standard 100 and how manufacturers can offer the end consumer a certified, safe product in every category.
Benefits for companies and consumers
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification offers tangible benefits both for responsible companies and for consumers.
For businesses in the textile sector, obtaining this label means certifying transparency and attention to health: products with an OEKO-TEX label immediately communicate to customers the absence of harmful substances.
Moreover, meeting Standard 100 criteria often aligns with the strictest legal requirements (e.g. REACH) and makes it easier to enter markets with stringent regulations; many companies and retailers, for instance, require compliance with banned-substance lists similar to those of OEKO-TEX. From the consumer’s point of view, a certified garment significantly reduces the risk of allergies and skin irritation.
Benefits for certified companies
Certified companies can use the OEKO-TEX standard as a competitive lever. Key advantages include:
- Brand reputation: associating your brand with certified textiles reflects a commitment to quality and social responsibility, improving the company’s image.
- Competitive advantage: many companies and distributors require compliance with textile safety standards (similar to OEKO-TEX Standard 100) when selecting suppliers; being certified makes it easier to enter international supply chains and tenders.
- Built-in compliance: meeting OEKO-TEX limits means you are already compliant with strict regulations such as EU REACH, reducing the need for additional testing. Thanks to the standard’s modularity, it is also possible to optimise analysis costs by certifying components and semi-finished products separately.
Benefits for consumers
For the end consumer, OEKO-TEX certification is a guarantee of wellbeing and reliability. The main benefits include:
- Health protection: a certified garment reduces the risk of allergic skin reactions or other harm caused by chemical residues; this is particularly important for sensitive skin or children.
- Informed choice: the OEKO-TEX label with its unique number makes it possible to verify the product’s authenticity and reliability on the official website, providing transparency about the production process.
- Perceived quality: knowing that every component of the textile has been checked ensures a high quality standard, strengthening the customer’s trust in the reliability of the purchased item.
In short, certification offers a higher level of safety and quality, putting the consumer at the heart of company choices.
Differences between certified and non-certified companies
Choosing to obtain Standard 100 certification has a direct impact on corporate reputation and commercial competitiveness. A company that displays the OEKO-TEX label immediately conveys reliability and responsibility: customers know its products have passed rigorous tests.
By contrast, a manufacturer without certification cannot provide comparable assurances; this can translate into lower trust from the informed consumer. In the sustainable clothing market, consumers tend to prefer transparent brands: lacking an official certificate can weigh on a brand’s image.
In addition, many companies require compliance with standards such as OEKO-TEX in supply contracts: without certification, a business risks excluding itself from commercial supply chains and tenders.
For example, a children’s clothing brand that is certified can highlight the Standard 100 label to reassure parents, whereas a similar competitor without certification must rely on generic quality claims.
In practice, not holding Standard 100 can mean losing customers and business opportunities that a certified company can instead win thanks to its reputation for safety.
Risks for those who are not certified
A non-certified company faces concrete disadvantages. In many public tenders or commercial agreements, suppliers must demonstrate compliance with textile safety standards; the absence of the OEKO-TEX label can prevent access to important production chains.
Furthermore, those without Standard 100 often have to undergo additional independent checks at the request of customers or authorities, resulting in extra costs. If a safety issue arises (e.g. a product recall due to the presence of harmful substances), a Standard 100 certified company can demonstrate that it followed rigorous procedures, while a non-certified one risks significant financial and reputational damage.
So, not investing in certification can translate into serious financial and competitive disadvantages in the medium to long term.
OEKO-TEX certifications in the textile context
OEKO-TEX is part of an ecosystem of global textile certifications. In addition to Standard 100, the OEKO-TEX organisation provides labels to assess other aspects of sustainability and transparency.
For example, STeP by OEKO-TEX (Sustainable Textile Production) certifies the environmental and social conditions of production sites, from the use of safe chemicals to the quality of corporate governance.
The MADE IN GREEN label, on the other hand, guarantees traceability of the finished product: each item marked MADE IN GREEN has a unique ID that makes it possible to trace the origin of the materials and the facilities involved.
There are also OEKO-TEX standards for specific supply chains: for instance, the Leather Standard certifies the absence of harmful substances in leather goods, while Organic Cotton verifies the organic origin of cotton from farm to finished garment.
This suite of complementary certifications enables companies to demonstrate environmental and social commitment across the entire textile supply chain, choosing the label best suited to each product category.
Complementary textile certifications
In addition to the OEKO-TEX standard, there are other recognised certifications in the textile sector that cover further aspects of sustainability. GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), for example, guarantees that the fibres used are 100% organic and that the entire production process meets environmental and social criteria; however, this standard does not include chemical tests on the finished product.
Bluesign, on the other hand, focuses on responsible management of chemicals and production processes, reducing environmental impact as early as the manufacturing stage. In practice, a garment can be certified with both OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and GOTS: this combination confirms both the sustainable origin of the raw materials and the absence of harmful substances in the finished product.
In practical terms, using multiple textile certifications makes it possible to meet all the quality and sustainability expectations required by the global market.
Frequently asked questions
What does OEKO-TEX mean?
OEKO-TEX is an international textile certification system whose name comes from the combination of “ecology” (“Ökologie” in German) and “textile”. A product certified by OEKO-TEX has been analysed in the laboratory to ensure the absence of harmful substances: in practice, every component of the textile has been tested to guarantee maximum safety for the consumer.
What is the difference between OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and STeP by OEKO-TEX?
Standard 100 certifies the finished textile product: it confirms that the garment or material is free from dangerous chemicals. By contrast, STeP by OEKO-TEX (Sustainable Textile Production) assesses the sustainability of production sites: it checks chemical management in the factory, environmental impact and working conditions. In short, Standard 100 guarantees product safety for the consumer, while STeP certifies responsible production processes.
Is OEKO-TEX cotton necessarily organic?
No. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification concerns the chemical purity of the finished product, not the origin of the fibres. A certified fabric may contain organic or conventional cotton. If you want certification that confirms the use of cotton grown using organic methods, the GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) label is available.
How long does an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certificate last?
The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certificate is valid for 12 months. Once this period has passed, the company must submit its items to laboratory tests again to obtain renewal. This annual cycle of checks ensures that products consistently maintain the required safety standards.
Which products can be OEKO-TEX certified?
Virtually all textile items can obtain Standard 100 certification. This includes clothing (from underwear to T-shirts, sweatshirts and shirts), home textiles (sheets, towels, tablecloths), furnishing textiles (curtains, upholstery), fabric accessories (canvas bags, rucksacks) and even footwear with textile components or textile toys. In general, any product made from natural or synthetic fibres – including buttons, zips and prints – is tested in order to obtain the OEKO-TEX label.
How can you recognise an OEKO-TEX certified product?
Standard 100 certified products may carry an official label with the OEKO-TEX logo and a unique certificate number. This number can be entered on the official OEKO-TEX website (label check) to verify authenticity and confirm the relevant class. In this way, consumers can make sure the item genuinely meets the stated standards.
