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OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD

OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD is an internationally standardised testing and certification system for leather and leather goods at all production levels, including accessory materials. The certification supports companies along the supply chain with the implementation of high human-ecological product safety. The certification serves as legally binding verification of successful product certification in all business processes in accordance with LEATHER STANDARD. Learn what LEATHER STANDARD means here and why it is worth looking for this label when purchasing leather articles.

What does the LEATHER STANDARD label mean?

The LEATHER STANDARD label indicates that the labelled article has successfully passed a test for chemicals that are harmful to health. The basis for this test, which is carried out by an independent OEKO-TEX® partner institute, is the OEKO-TEX® criteria catalogue with several hundred regulated individual substances. The strict limit values and test criteria of the criteria catalogue are much stricter than the valid national and international specifications and include various parameters for safeguarding health. OEKO-TEX® updates the test criteria at least once per year and, in doing so, takes into account the latest scientific findings and changes to legislation.

Which articles can be certified?

Leather and leather articles from all processing levels can be certified: from semi-finished leather products (wet-blue, wet-white, etc.) to finished articles. This includes leather fibre materials, leather clothing, leather accessories such as leather gloves, leather bags and leather shoes and also some skins (e.g. sheepskin, lambskin, cowskin). We do not certify the leather from exotic or protected animals such as crocodiles, snakes and armadillos. We test textile or non-textile components of a leather article in accordance with the criteria of the current OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100.

LEATHER STANDARD at a glance

Strict test criteria

Each individual component of an article must meet the requirements of the strict OEKO-TEX® criteria catalogue, which also includes environment-relevant substance classes.

Standardised worldwide

The test criteria for LEATHER STANDARD are standardised worldwide and are updated at least once per year to accommodate new statutory requirements or scientific findings.

Independent institutes

The tests and certifications are carried out exclusively by neutral and independent OEKO-TEX® member institutes with proven expertise.

Validity check

You can check the validity of a certification at any time using the certificate number given on the label.

Benefits for brands

  • Operational quality assurance by one of the independent OEKO-TEX® member institutes reduces costs in comparison to your own QS system.
  • For brands, it is not always easy to maintain an overview of the valid national and international requirements. We take on the monitoring of the legal situation for you, continuously update the OEKO-TEX® criteria catalogue and support you in complying with international standards.
  • The labelling of your products with an independent, self-explanatory label for leather articles that have been tested for harmful substances is an excellent marketing tool. Clearly communicate to your customers that you are accepting responsibility for the human-ecological product safety of your articles and thus stand out from the competition in a positive way.
  • Use the LEATHER STANDARD as a worldwide standardised requirement profile for your purchasing and delivery conditions. This saves you lengthy and complicated reconciliation processes with your business partners.
  • Respond to the growing requirements of the market and invest in the credibility of your company. Certification by manufacturer-independent testing institutes strengthens the trust of customers and your business partners in the long term.
  • We enable you to save on the costs of testing. The LEATHER STANDARD certification cost is split across all participating companies in the supply chain based on a modular system. So the greater the testing density along the chain, the lower the costs for each individual company.
Get certified!

Have you chosen to increase product safety of your leather articles for the benefit of your customers through LEATHER STANDARD certification? Learn here which prerequisites your suppliers must meet for certification and how you can apply for a LEATHER STANDARD certificate.

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