Oeko-Tex Standard 100

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is an internationally recognised testing and certification system for textile products, ensuring that these products are tested for safety regarding human health. It applies to all stages of the textile value chain, including fibres, yarns, fabrics, leathers, and finished products. Products bearing the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 label have been tested for harmful substances and meet stringent human health requirements. The standard is awarded by the Oeko-Tex community, a network of testing and research institutes, and is the most widely used label for tested textiles worldwide.

Product Description:

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is a quality label applied to textile products. It assures consumers that the certified textiles do not contain harmful chemicals and are safe for human use.

Product Classes:

The standard divides textiles into four product classes.

1. Product Class 1 (Baby Products): This class includes products for babies and toddlers up to 36 months that have close skin contact, such as baby clothing, bedding, and changing mats.
2. Product Class 2 (Direct Skin Contact): Textiles worn directly on the skin, such as underwear and T-shirts.
3. Product Class 3 (No or Low Skin Contact): Products that do not come into direct contact with the skin, such as outerwear and curtains.
4. Product Class 4 (Decoration Products): Decoration materials with no skin contact, such as tablecloths and drapes.

Testing Criteria:

The OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 ensures that textile products meet strict safety and health requirements by testing for several hundred regulated substances across 17 harmful substance classes.

The testing criteria include:

1. Legally banned or regulated substances: These include, among others, banned azo dyes, formaldehyde, pentachlorophenol, cadmium, and nickel.
2. Chemical regulations and candidate lists: Products must comply with the requirements of Annexes XVII and XIV of the European REACH Regulation, as well as the ECHA SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) candidate list, if these substances are relevant to textile materials, clothing, or accessories.
3. US regulations: The standard considers the requirements of the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) regarding lead.
4. Health and environmentally relevant substances: Even if certain health-threatening or environmentally relevant substances are not yet legally regulated, they are considered by Oeko-Tex expert groups based on their assessment.

Additionally, all tested materials must have a skin-friendly pH value and good colourfastness. Products are also tested for the emission of volatile chemicals and subjected to an odour test to ensure that they do not emit unpleasant or harmful fumes.