OEKO TEX
THE OLD DAYS
Before… When you bought clothes, fabrics or household laundry, you had no information about how it had been manufactured. No idea about the harmfulness of the substances used to grow the raw materials, treat them or dye them, no information about the working conditions in the textile industry. It was even difficult to establish a tracing of the components of a piece of clothing.
This blurry vision prevented consumers from buying in a responsible sustainable manner. It prevented also textile companies from choosing trustworthy partners.
AN ANSWER
Caring to propose a sustainable solution, two laboratories (German and Austrian) came together to establish a series of criteria that would monitor textile manufacture and help consumers and textile producers to take decisions that would protect our planet and our future generations.
In 1992, they created the first recognised label OEKO TEX STANDARD 100 ®.
Today, 18 independent research and test institutes in Europe and Japan. They are responsible for the joint development of test methods and limit values which form the basis and standards of the OEKO TEX ® certification.
SEVERAL LABELS
The OEKO TEX ® Group monitors and guarantees several labels.
The most well-known is the OEKO TEX STANDARD 100 ® . Guaranteeing no use of harmful chemical substances throughout all of the processes of manufacturing textile products.
Other labels monitor products composed with leather or social responsible working conditions or the quality of water used in manufacturing.
The purpose is to make available sustainable ecologic references for everyone to make the best choices.
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR THE OEKO TEX STANDARD 100 ® LABEL ?
These criteria are reviewed annually, depending on new scientific discoveries or new laws.
Based on current laws and scientific research. The aim is to be sure that all components of a textile product are harmless for humans.
To reach that goal:
- Laboratory tests are made on samples of each textile component.
- Audits on production sites.
- Unexpected inspections are done on commercial products or on production sites.
All this done, thanks to serious and transparent methods, with a high level of scientific requirements globally standardised.
Are certified:
- The absence of harmful chemical products.
- The absence of dyeing allergens.
- The absence of azodye substances or derived.
- The absence or maximum residue limit of pesticides that is not over what is tolerated for fruit and vegetables.
- Textiles that the PH level is compatible with sensitive skins (toddlers..,)
This label is validated annually to keep up to date with the latest scientific advances and law changes guaranteeing the most professional approach for the manufacturer, supplier..
WHAT CAN BE LABELLED ?
Each step of the textile production can be. From the production of fibres, spinning, knitting, treatments, each component of a textile.
You can find an OEKO TEX ® label on threads, fabrics, knits, zippers, labels, buttons, linen, clothes, household laundry…
WHAT ARE THE LIMITS OF THESE LABELS ?
OEKO TEX ® labels do not certify textiles as being organic. For that, one should check the GOTS label (Global Organic Textile Standard)
On the other hand, if the concern of that label is ecologic, it doesn’t mean that the product does not create pollution. Take the example of synthetic textile, the raw material is issued from petrochemicals.
However, it’s still THE label of trust for a more responsible textile production.
Last updated : 10/10/2024 15:34