OEKO-TEX® does not sell or manufacture products. We test and certify textile and leather products. Browse our OEKO-TEX® Buying Guide to find textile and leather manufactures which carry min. one OEKO-TEX® Standard. If you need more information, please reach out to our institute in your respective country .
The facility shipping goods to its customer must apply for a transaction certificate with its OEKO-TEX® testing laboratory. Together with the filled-out transaction certificate, documents for proving the transaction such as all ORGANIC COTTON certificates, relevant invoices and delivery slips, must be submitted. OEKO-TEX® maintains a secure database with all transactions to prevent fraud.
OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON allows us to create a system which focuses on raw material inputs and establishes a chain of custody structure. If OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certified chemicals are used, the test effort and therefore the costs can be reduced. In addition, ORGANIC COTTON creates the basis for MADE IN GREEN, by certifying the relevant facilities according to STeP, also sustainability and social criteria are covered, and it enables supply chain transparency for end consumers.
The Detox campaign is a Greenpeace initiative formed to bring attention to pollution in the textile industry and to raise awareness about hazardous chemicals used within the industry. The goal of the Greenpeace campaign is to end toxic water pollution globally. The OEKO-TEX® DETOX TO ZERO system provides an easy-to-use tool which determines the chemicals used in textile and leather production, analyses MRSL compliance of such chemicals, reports the conformity status and outlines improvements. DETOX TO ZERO helps manufacturers and purchasers, as well as brands and retailers, monitor and fulfil the individual Detox and environmental protection commitments.
We issued a general ban on PFAS in textiles, leather, apparel and footwear. This applies to product class 1 as of April 2023. The transition phase for the product classes ends in 2024. All PFAS chemicals contain organic fluorine which can be detected (extracted) via lab tests. This is why we introduced a limit value for extractable organic fluorine. At OEKO-TEX®, our goal is to prevent the intentional use of PFAS. The organic fluorine limit value is tested for all types of OEKO-TEX® certificates and is compliant with the latest international regulations.
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.
PFAS are measured in two different ways at OEKO-TEX®. First, all legally restricted PFAS are measured separately, to make sure that OEKO-TEX® certified products are compliant with the EU/US laws. Then, the sum of extractable organic fluorine is measured. This includes fluorine from PFAS and also fluorine from other organic molecules such as fluorine-based dyes, which are not considered a threat to human health or the environment. The goal of this limit value is not to forbid the use of all fluorines, but rather to ban the intentional use of PFAS.
Yes, if you don't produce textile or leather goods yourself and your suppliers fulfill the 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 company name but only when fulfilling all requirements mentioned in the MADE IN GREEN Standard.
OEKO-TEX® does not sell or manufacture products. We test and certify textile and leather products. If you have complaints about your product, please contact the seller or brand directly.
The “under review” status means that the certificate is in the renewal process and samples will be reviewed and tested for the next one-year term. OEKO-TEX® certificates are valid for one year. Articles and materials covered by the certificate are then tested again in one of our independent partner laboratories under consideration of the latest criteria catalogue.
