OEKO-TEX

fabrilogy™ · Sustainability

What is OEKO-TEX®?

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is one of the world's most recognised testing labels for textiles – proof that a fabric has been tested for harmful substances and is safe to wear.

$OEKO-TEX® Standard 100$ Definition & Background

What is OEKO-TEX® Standard 100?

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is an independent testing and certification system for textiles of all kinds. Introduced in 1992 by the OEKO-TEX® Association, it is today one of the most widely used consumer protection labels for textile products worldwide. Its basis is a comprehensive test for harmful substances that goes well beyond statutory requirements.

Unlike GOTS, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 does not assess the cultivation of the raw fibre or the ecological production method – it focuses exclusively on the finished textile product: is it free from health-hazardous substances? Is it safe to wear? That is the central question.

Every OEKO-TEX® certificate applies to a specific product and is issued by an accredited, independent testing institute. The certificate must be renewed annually. Each label carries a unique certificate number, which can be used to verify any product's authenticity in the public OEKO-TEX® database.

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is suitable for all textiles – whether organic cotton, man-made fibres such as TENCEL™, or blended fabrics. It therefore closes an important gap that GOTS leaves open: testing for harmful substances in fibres that fall outside the organic standard.

"OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 protects people – regardless of which fibre a fabric is made from."

fabrilogy™ · Product Philosophy

Product Classes

The four test classes

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 distinguishes four product classes – the greater the skin contact and the more sensitive the target group, the stricter the limit values:

Class I

Products for babies and toddlers up to 3 years of age. The strictest requirements – because baby skin is particularly sensitive and textiles are frequently put in the mouth.

Strictest limits

Class II

Products with direct skin contact – e.g. underwear, T-shirts, bed linen. Limit values take into account direct and prolonged contact with the skin.

Direct skin contact

Class III

Products without direct skin contact – e.g. jacket fabrics, linings or upholstery materials. Reduced skin contact allows for slightly adjusted limit values.

No direct contact

Class IV

Decorative and furnishing textiles – e.g. curtain fabrics or tablecloths. Limit values are oriented towards the normal usage environment.

Home textiles

What is tested

The test criteria at a glance

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 tests more than 100 substances and parameters. The key categories:

Pesticides

Residues of pesticides and insecticides from raw material cultivation are tested against limit values – including in natural fibres such as cotton or linen.

Chemical testing

Heavy Metals

Lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel and other heavy metals in dyes and auxiliaries are tested against permissible limit values.

Chemical testing

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is often used in crease-resistant finishes and can irritate the skin and mucous membranes. OEKO-TEX® sets strict maximum values.

Chemical testing

Dyes

Prohibited azo dyes, allergy-inducing disperse dyes and carcinogenic colourants are systematically excluded.

Dye testing

pH Value

The pH value of the fabric is tested for skin compatibility. Textiles that are too acidic or too alkaline can cause skin irritation.

Physiological testing

Colour Fastness

The resistance of dyes to perspiration, saliva, washing and abrasion is assessed – particularly important for garments with direct skin contact.

Performance testing

What OEKO-TEX® means for you

Why OEKO-TEX® at fabrilogy™?

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 complements GOTS and our own eco. label in an important way: it ensures that a fabric is genuinely free from harmful substances at the end of its processing chain – regardless of fibre type or origin.

Protection for all fibre types

OEKO-TEX® applies to organic cotton as well as TENCEL™ or recycled fibres. It closes the harmful-substance gap that GOTS leaves open for man-made fibres.