OEKO-TEX does not mean organic, but...

Many people think that OEKO-TEX means that the product is organic. But this is not correct. Therefore, as a consumer, you must be very careful if you want to be sure to choose purely organic. Here you can learn a little more about the details.

OEKO-TEX

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is a certification that guarantees that textile products do not contain harmful chemicals or substances that may pose a risk to human health. The products are tested for a wide range of chemicals, including pesticides, heavy metals and formaldehyde, based on strict limit values. The label covers the entire product, including zippers, buttons and sewing threads.

IMPORTANT: Please note that the label is NOT a guarantee that the clothing is organic. The label addresses the use of harmful substances in the production of the clothing, but does NOT say anything about whether the raw materials are organic, or whether the clothing is produced with a focus on sustainability or social responsibility. Clothing made of polyester, which comes from fossil fuels and releases harmful plastic particles during washing, may, for example, carry the OEKO-TEX label.

GOTS label

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is an international certification for organic textiles. It ensures that the textiles are made from at least 70% organically grown fibers and meet high requirements for both environmental and social standards throughout the entire production. This includes, among other things, a ban on hazardous chemicals, water and energy-saving processes, and fair working conditions.

Both brands contribute to ensuring more sustainable and healthy textile production, but GOTS goes a step further by also setting requirements for organic production and social conditions.

The Nordic Ecolabel and other labels

Clothing may be made of, for example, organic cotton without carrying a label such as GOTS. It will then typically have another label such as the Ecolabel or the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. Nordic Ecolabelled clothing must be made from fibres that are either organic, recycled or based on renewable raw materials that meet specific environmental requirements . For example, cotton must be 100 percent organic or recycled, while synthetic fibres must either be recycled or made from renewable raw materials.

The best advice is to ask questions and in that way help show retailers and manufacturers that there is an interest in production with care. You can read more in this article .