No. The OEKO-TEX® STeP label with your individual certificate number should not be used for product labeling. According to our terms of use, the STeP label is only permitted for B2B communication. For more details on the STeP label and consumer labels like OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, and OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD, refer to our OEKO-TEX® Labelling Guide.
Yes, if your company doesn't manufacture textile or leather goods but your suppliers meet MADE IN GREEN conditions, you can issue MADE IN GREEN labels. Brands and retailers can re-label their supplier’s MADE IN GREEN product ID under their own name, provided all requirements in the MADE IN GREEN Standard are fulfilled.
Certification with OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT or inclusion in the ACP-List of OEKO-TEX® allows referencing OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 or other applicable standards. Without this certification or listing, OEKO-TEX® cannot verify the chemical's suitability. In such cases, using OEKO-TEX® marks in any form related to specific products is prohibited by the chemical manufacturer or seller.
However, if a chemical manufacturer or seller chooses to refer to OEKO-TEX® standards via text, it is considered a self-declaration. The manufacturer or seller must highlight any "self-declarations" regarding suitability to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 as an "unverified self-declaration." Such claims cannot be perceived as made on behalf of OEKO-TEX®, and OEKO-TEX® assumes no liability.
The limit values of the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 and OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD are compliant with the relevant entries of appendix XVII and appendix XIV of the Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).
All substances with textile and leather relevance from European Chemical Agency’s candidate list of substances of very high concern (SVHC) are covered by the STANDARD 100 and OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD and are thus ensuring that no communication duties are necessary along the supply chain regarding the SVHC substances. However, for some rare examples where SVHC substances are present and cannot be avoided due to technical limitations this is clearly stated in the scope of the certificate and is thus supporting the mandatory communication.
Compliance is also insured with the regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European parliament and of the council of 20 June 2019 on persistent organic pollutants (POPs regulation).
The OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 has comparable product classes and is compliant with all limit values from the GB 18401. However, the GB 18401 contains also labelling requirements, which are not part of the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 criteria catalogue.
Moreover, all OEKO-TEX® partner textile laboratories are CPSC (Consumer Product and Safety Commission of the United States) accredited and therefore a laboratory report for OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 product class 1 articles serves as evidence of compliance regarding the total lead content (CPSIA; with the exception of accessories made from glass) in children's products.
Lastly, the OEKO-TEX® team is regularly monitoring the AFIRM (Apparel and Footwear International RSL (Restricted substance list) Management Group), the ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) list, as well as other relevant legal regulations and stakeholder MRSL/RSL lists.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a specific PFAS compound used as an industrial surface-active agent processes, such as textile and leather dyeing, and as a raw material in different production processes.
PFOS is a fluorosurfactant and was previously the key ingredient in various fabric protection products.
PFOA have been restricted in the EU since 2020, PFOS since 2009, and cannot be used anymore.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic organofluoride chemicals, including PFOA and PFOS. PFAS have been used for years in many different industries for their water-, oil- and dirt-repellent properties, for example in rain jackets, firefighter gear or sports-bras.
The OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON certification starts at the farm, where the cotton is certified as organic according to one of the IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) family of standards. The organic cotton is then tracked throughout the supply chain via a OEKO-TEX® chain-of-custody until the ready-made textile article.
Additionally, by testing for GMO which are widely used in conventional agriculture and testing for pesticides we ensure that the cotton coming from the farm is organic.
OEKO-TEX® does not sell or manufacture products. Use our OEKO-TEX® Buying Guide to locate textile and leather manufacturers carrying at least one OEKO-TEX® Standard. For more information, contact the OEKO-TEX® institute in your respective country.
The "under review" status indicates that the certificate is undergoing renewal, with samples reviewed and tested for the next one-year term. OEKO-TEX® certificates are valid for one year, and materials covered by the certificate are retested in partner laboratories to ensure compliance with the latest criteria.
Use our Label Check tool by entering the label number to verify certification validity. If a product is advertised as certified, the packaging or the product itself should feature the label with the unique product ID. If not, please provide us with a link to the product for further investigation.
