Every qualifying company within the textile and leather supply chain can label its products and product lines with the MADE IN GREEN. This applies not only to manufacturers, but also to converters, wholesalers, retailers and brands. The product must be STANDARD 100 or LEATHER STANDARD certified and all manufacturers of read-made clothes must be certified according to STeP.
To apply for MADE IN GREEN please fill in the application form.
A MADE IN GREEN label can be obtained free of cost.
There are different label and hang tag options that can be used by your company. To find out more, see our Labelling Guide.
Yes, if you don't produce textile or leather goods yourself and your suppliers fulfil 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.
To apply for STANDARD 100 please complete the application form. Please submit your application to an OEKO-TEX® partner institute of your choice.
The cost for the STANDARD 100 certification comprise of the costs for the licence, the compulsory company audit and the laboratory and administrative tests. The precise costs for harmful-substance testing are based on the testing expenses for the respective textile product or material and can be obtained within the context of a cost estimate with the appointed OEKO-TEX® institute. Through the use of already certified source materials, the financial costs for the laboratory tests can be reduced significantly, so that duplicated tests are not necessary. At the individual stages of production, only new additions are tested. Due to the modular system used in STANDARD 100 certification, the testing costs are distributed across the companies along the textile chain.
The duration of the certification process depends on individual factors. You can influence these factors by good preparation - with information and documents as complete as possible, e.g. within the scope of your certification application. The testing institute will then be able to discuss the specific testing effort and the resulting time requirements with you.
Supplements to STANDARD 100 are amendments that relate to very specific market segments and article groups which can be handled better with a unilateral approach.
At present, there are two supplements to STANDARD 100:
1) Supplement ‘Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Materials for PPE (as well as for military garments and uniforms comparable to PPE)’
2) Supplement ‘Special Articles’
Personal protective equipment includes protective clothing for firefighters, weatherproof clothing or chemical protection clothing, for example. Typical articles for the ‘Special Articles’ supplement are, for example, prams, suitcases, rucksacks, orthopaedic aids, sets of curtains, chairs and loungers etc.
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.
All manufacturers producing textile articles made of organic cotton in every stage of processing. Articles must be made of at least 70% organic cotton andparts that are not made of cotton must be certified according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100. Mixtures of conventional and organic cotton are forbidden in this certification.
The cost for the ORGANIC COTTON certification comprises of the costs for the licence, the laboratory tests for GMOs and pesticides, a compulsory company audit and administrative tests. The precise costs for GMOs and pesticides testing are based on the testing expenses for the respective textile product or material and can be obtained within the context of a cost estimate with the appointed OEKO-TEX® institute. With already certified source materials, the financial costs for the laboratory tests can be reduced significantly, so that duplicated tests are not necessary. At the individual stages of production, only new additions are tested.
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.
For OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON each member of the supply chain needs to be certified and the materials need to be tracked with transaction certificates along the way. This makes it a time-consuming process and our institutes work closely with our pilot customers on getting the first OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON garments on the market. Once the first products are available, we will share it on social media. Until then feel free to follow OEKO-TEX® on LinkedIn and Instagram to stay up to date.
The full test program of the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is carried out to ensure product safety. In addition, tests for GMOs and pesticides are carried out to ensure organic farming. OEKO-TEX® has developed a new quantitative GMO test, which allows to differentiate contamination from mixing in conventional cotton on purpose. In case of a failed qualitative GMO test the quantitative GMO test allows us to check if the failure was due to contamination or not.
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.
These are different options to certify organic cotton to ensure transparency and clear communication towards the end-consumers. In those certificates the following products can be certified:
The focus of OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON is to ensure organic origin via GMO & pesticide testing, as well as the chain-of-custody through transaction certificates and consumer safety via testing for harmful substances. Fundamental social criteria are part of the OEKO-TEX® Code of Conduct, which all OEKO-TEX® customers must comply with. To cover social criteria in the full extent OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON can be combined with OEKO-TEX® STeP which is also part of OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN, our most comprehensive label that is also traceable.
To apply for LEATHER STANDARD please use the application form. Please submit your application to an OEKO-TEX® partner institute of your choice.
The cost for the LEATHER STANDARD certification comprise of the costs for the licence, the compulsory company audit and the laboratory and administrative tests. The precise costs for harmful-substance testing are based on the testing expenses for the respective textile product or material and can be obtained within the context of a cost estimate with the appointed OEKO-TEX® institute. Through the use of already certified source materials, the financial costs for the laboratory tests can be reduced significantly, so that duplicated tests are not necessary. At the individual stages of production, only new additions are tested. Due to the modular system used in LEATHER STANDARD certification, the testing costs are distributed across the companies along the textile chain.
The duration of the certification process depends on individual factors. You can influence these factors by good preparation - with information and documents as complete as possible, e.g. within the scope of your certification application. The testing institute will then be able to discuss the specific testing effort and the resulting time requirements with you.
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 LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX® 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, 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.
The certification is suitable for production facilities at all processing stages. OEKO-TEX® STeP addresses facilities across the entire textile and leather production chain, including:
Textile:
Leather:
Others:
To apply for STeP please complete the online application form.
The costs consist of a basic certification fee plus additional costs. The additional cost depend on the size and the processes of the company, the support during and evaluation of the online assessment, the preparation, execution and documentation of the audit, the issuing of the certificate and the travel expenses for the auditor.
Yes. Other certifications such as the ISO 9001, ISO 14001, SA8000 or OHSAS 18001/ISO 45001 that actively support sustainability efforts within your company are an excellent starting point for a STeP certification and can be integrated without any problem. Please have a look into Annex 8 of our STeP Standard.
ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) is an industry-driven initiative with the aim of preventing and eliminating dangerous chemicals. OEKO-TEX® supports the ZDHC initiative and ensures, through various OEKO-TEX® services, compliance with the ZDHC MRSL. The STeP MRSL already covers all chemicals banned from intentional use by the latest ZDHC MRSL. The STeP chemical list also covers all substances and parameters required by the ZDHC wastewater guideline. OEKO-TEX® acknowledges the ZDHC list of provisionally accepted laboratories for wastewater testing as a reference list of accredited institutes (see ZDHC website).
No. The OEKO-TEX® STeP label with your individual certificate number must not be used for product labelling. According to our terms of use, you are only allowed to use the STeP label for B2B communication. More information on the use of the STeP label and our consumer labels OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 and OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD can be found in our OEKO-TEX® labelling guide.
To apply for DETOX TO ZERO please use the online application form.
The costs for DETOX TO ZERO depend on the size of the company, the completeness and accuracy of the chemical inventory as well as the extent to which the company has already implemented measures regarding environmental protection. The system fee (excl. VAT) includes a report valid for one year. Additional costs are the man-days for support during online assessment, preparation, execution and documentation of the audit, issuing of the report and the travel expenses for the auditors. Costs for wastewater/sludge testing are not included.
You should plan up to eight weeks from starting the application until receiving the first status report. The process can be shortened or extended. For example, getting the results from the wastewater and/or sludge testing can take up to three weeks. Please contact your OEKO-TEX® Institute for further information.
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 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.
ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) is an industry-driven initiative with the aim of preventing and eliminating dangerous chemicals. OEKO-TEX® supports the ZDHC initiative and ensures, through various OEKO-TEX® services, compliance with the ZDHC MRSL. The DTZ MRSL already covers all chemicals banned from intentional use by the latest ZDHC MRSL. The DTZ chemical list also covers all substances and parameters required by the ZDHC wastewater guideline. OEKO-TEX® acknowledges the ZDHC list of provisionally accepted laboratories for wastewater testing as a reference list of accredited institutes (see ZDHC website).
The DETOX TO ZERO process requires the facility to provide an up-to-date wastewater and sludge testing report. An OEKO-TEX® auditor will verify if the test results are in compliance with the DETOX TO ZERO requirements. More details about the parameters and values can be found in the DETOX TO ZERO Guideline. OEKO-TEX® acknowledges testing results from any accredited testing laboratory. For further information please contact your OEKO-TEX® institute.
OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT gives the chemical company the full right to refer to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 or other OEKO-TEX® standards where applicable and to use the OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT trademark for their certified products. Without this certification, OEKO-TEX® has no or only reduced possibility to verify the suitability of chemical products for the use in the mentioned context.
The certification of a chemical product with OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT is recommended by OEKO-TEX® to chemical suppliers to demonstrate that after recommended application during manufacturing no problem should occur to respect limit values for the finished textile. However, such an ECO PASSPORT certification is not compulsory to achieve a certification of the finished textile.
Besides this recommendation, the use of any active chemical products (ACP) is generally forbidden in accordance with OEKO-TEX®, except regarding assessed and listed substances for which an entry in the OEKO-TEX® Active Chemical Products (ACP) list is mandatory:
a) biologically active substances / biocides and
b) flame-retardant substances
We want to explicitly highlight that without OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certification or ACP entry, OEKO-TEX® trademarks are prohibited to be used in any form in direct relation to specific chemical products by the chemical manufacturer or seller.
A chemical manufacturer or seller can – on its own responsibility – choose to refer to OEKO-TEX® standards for their chemical products without an OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certification via a text reference. The chemical manufacturer or seller shall highlight any such “self-declaration” regarding the suitability to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 as “unverified by OEKO-TEX®”. Under no circumstances shall such claims be perceived as having been made in the name of or on behalf of OEKO-TEX®. OEKO-TEX® does not accept any liability whatsoever in such cases and any such claim shall not use the OEKO-TEX® trademarks.
To apply for ECO PASSPORT please use the application form.
The cost for the ECO PASSPORT certification comprise of the costs for the licence, the laboratory and administrative tests as well as the Self-Assessment and a voluntary On-Site Visit. The exact costs are calculated by a basic certification fee plus additional costs which depend on the amount and type of products which are to be certified, the test criteria specific to the products, the support during the application, the disclosure level, the evaluation of the assessment, the quality of the samples the preparation, execution and documentation of the voluntary On-Site Visit and the issuing of the certificate.
An average period of at least three months can be expected from the time of application, data collection and evaluation to the audit and issue of the certificate. The actual period of time, however, crucially depends on how long the facility will take to provide all relevant documentation, samples and how long it takes to answer the assessment questionnaire.
OEKO-TEX® recognises that chemical recipes including bills of substances (BoS) are highly valued, proprietary information. However, OEKO-TEX® requires the publication of all constituent substances and known contaminants / by-products that are regulated by OEKO-TEX® or that are classified as hazardous in accordance with GHS or article 57 of the REACH regulation 1907/2006. By declaring all constituent substances and contaminants, the testing effort is reduced as are the costs for the Analytical Verification of the certification process. The information a chemical producer provides is encrypted and stored by the certifying institute and OEKO-TEX®.
Yes, ECO PASSORT certified chemicals meet all product classes of STANDARD 100 (see ANNEX 4 & 6). Under some circumstances the ECO PASSPORT certificate will have restrictions which are shown transparently. The specified parameters have to be checked on the finished textiles and leathers.
The limit values of the OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT 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 chemical substances with textile and leather relevance from European Chemical Agency’s candidate list of substances of very high concern (SVHC) are covered by the ECO PASSPORT 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).
Moreover, all OEKO-TEX® partner textile laboratories are CPSC (Consumer Product and Safety Commission of the United States) accredited.
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 to which the ECO PASSPORT is compliant at all levels, as well as other relevant legal regulations and stakeholder MRSL/RSL lists.
The costs consist of a basic certification fee plus additional costs.
The costs are based on the effort required by the institute to review the self-assessment and the documents provided. This also includes, for example, travelling expenses for the auditor. The pricing and the offer are determined by the certification body.
The OEKO-TEX RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS Standard is based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines, as well as the German Supply Chain Act.
The certification validates the implementation of the human rights and environmental due diligence obligations as set out in the OEKO-TEX® RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS standard document and the self-assessment tool.
