What is Oeko-tex Certification?
Oeko-tex is a standard that originated in the 1990s as a third party certification after the concern for harmful chemicals in fabrics and textiles grew. Today the standard indicates that a product is free from a certain group of harmful substances, ensuring that the certified products are not harmful for human or environmental health. The “Standard 100” label certifies that products have undergone a wide range of independent laboratory tests for harmful substances. It also means that any detected content of such substances is below the limit values as established by the Oeko-Tex Association.
Oeko-Tex guarantees that fabrics have been checked at each production stage for any harmful chemicals. Therefore, the final result is a high quality product free of toxic agents. Examples of products that are eligible for Oeko-Tex certification include raw, dyed, or finished yarns, fabrics and knits, and consumer products such as bed linens or table cloths. All items are tested based on product class that is determined by consumer use. The various product classes differ in the requirements that the products have to fulfill and by the limit values that are applied.
👶 Product Class 1: This product class includes products for babies and has the strictest requirements and limit values.
👚Product Class 2: This product class includes products with skin contact. This comprises articles that come into direct contact with the skin to a large extent, such as blouses, shirts, underwear, mattresses, etc.
🧥Product Class 3: This product class includes products without skin contact. This covers articles that have no or minimal contact with the skin, such as jackets and vests, belts, etc.
🛋 Product Class 4: This product class includes decoration materials. It covers all articles including initial products and accessories used for furnishing purposes, such as table cloths, curtains, upholstery fabrics, etc.
RSTR Media and Strategy can help your business navigate through this complex and rigorous certification process. We can provide training materials and guidance for compliance.
