Recycled materials in STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®
Recycled materials are difficult to certify. With their previous life, recycled materials are posing different challenges than regular virgin material. Therefore within the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® framework these materials are treated differently.
For the certification of recycled materials with STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® different rules apply as for regular materials. If recycled is mentioned in the article scope the following basic rules apply:
- At least 20% of the main textile material needs to be recycled
- More information about the source of the materials is requested in the application
- An effective quality management system needs to be proven. This is needed to ensure a consistent product quality.
- The testing program can differ compared to virgin material. While there is no chemical test whether a material is recycled or not, the varying source can lead to a higher testing frequency.
- A separate certificate from a virgin material is needed.
- Blends with virgin materials are allowed when they are necessary for the manufacturing of the material.
Your benefits as a manufacturer
- You are able to show your supply chain that you are offering recycled materials – and that they are tested for harmful substances according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®
- A hangtag informs consumers about recycling in the sense of a circular economy.
5 steps to successful certification
- Complete the application form.
- The selected OEKO-TEX® institute will get in touch.
- After examining your documents, we define the scope of the audit and success parameters. We then test your articles for compliance of the limit values according to STANDARD 100.
- If your product has successfully passed the laboratory test, you receive the STANDARD 100 certificate together with a detailed test report from your OEKO-TEX® institute.
- An OEKO-TEX® expert visits your site in order to confirm all the details.