What is OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100?
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is a label for textile products that have been tested for harmful substances. It says nothing about whether the fibre is organic: a polyester fabric can carry it. The test criteria depend on how the article will be used, in four product classes, from articles for babies (Class I, the strictest) to decoration materials (Class IV).
A certificate covers the articles listed on it and is valid for one year, so check the date and the product scope, not just the logo.
What is GOTS?
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) covers textiles made from organic fibres, from processing through to the finished product. It sets rules on fibre content, the chemicals used in processing, and social criteria. The current version is GOTS 7.0.
A product can be labelled organic with at least 95% certified organic fibre, or made with organic with at least 70%. Independent certification bodies, accredited for GOTS, certify each company in the chain.
GOTS uses two documents: a scope certificate for a company and what it can make, and a transaction certificate for a specific shipment. Read our guide to GOTS transaction certificates.
How do they compare side by side?
| — | OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 | GOTS |
|---|---|---|
| What it proves | The article was tested for harmful substances | The fibre is certified organic and was processed under the standard |
| Fibres covered | Any fibre, natural or synthetic | Organic natural fibres (at least 70% in the product) |
| What is certified | Products (articles listed on the certificate) | Each company in the chain, plus each shipment |
| Documents to ask for | The certificate (or label number) | The seller's scope certificate and a transaction certificate for the shipment |
| Validity | One year | Scope certificate: see the dates on it. TC: one shipment |
| Check it on | OEKO-TEX Label Check | GOTS public database |
Which one does my buyer need?
Ask the buyer what the certificate is for. As a rule of thumb:
- If they want to know the fabric is free of harmful substances, they usually mean OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, or specific lab tests such as azo dyes and formaldehyde.
- If they sell the garment as organic, they need GOTS, including a transaction certificate for your shipment.
- Some buyers ask for both. A GOTS fabric still needs its own test reports or an OEKO-TEX certificate if the buyer asks for them.
If you don't hold a certificate, a lab test on the lot can sometimes answer the buyer's question. Read the azo dye test guide for one common example.
How can I check a certificate myself?
- Note the certificate number, the holder's name and the dates on the document.
- Search for it on the official site: OEKO-TEX Label Check for OEKO-TEX, the GOTS database for GOTS, or Textile Exchange for GRS, RCS and OCS.
- Check that the holder, the products or scope, and the validity dates match the document you were sent.
If they don't match, ask the supplier before you rely on it.
How does TexPass help?
On a TexPass passport, each uploaded certificate gets a link to its official registry so buyers can check it themselves for free. For a fee, a person at TexPass checks it on the registry and the passport shows Verified with the date of the check. The fee pays for the check, not the result. See how verification works, how TexPass works and prices.
Sources
We link to the official sites so you can check the details yourself. Rules and standards change, so check the source before you rely on them.
- OEKO-TEX — official siteThe STANDARD 100 criteria, product classes and current rules.
- OEKO-TEX — Label CheckCheck a certificate or label number.
- GOTS — Global Organic Textile StandardThe standard, its label grades and the current version.
- GOTS — certified suppliers databaseCheck a company's GOTS scope certificate.
General information, not legal advice. Standards and regulations change; check the official source or ask your buyer what they need. See our disclaimer.