International Oeko-Tex Association issued its 100,000th certificate since establishing its Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification system for textiles tested for harmful substances. Currently, over 9,500 companies in total in 90 countries throughout the world are actively involved in Oeko-Tex certification.
In recent years, the 15 Oeko-Tex member institutes have processed on average well over 10,000 certificates per calendar year.
The main focus of Oeko-Tex certification is articles worn close to the skin in product class II (53% of all certificates), followed by baby articles in product class I (43%) as well as furnishing materials (3%, product class IV) and textiles without direct contact with the skin (1%, product class III). In regional terms, the majority of Oeko-Tex certificates are issued to companies in Asia (54,9%) and Europe (41,9%). But regions with fewer certificates issued such as North America have shown significant growth. China is the country with the most valid Oeko-Tex certificates, closely followed by Germany and (significantly further behind) Turkey, Italy and India.
The basis for the high level of acceptance of the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and its wide use throughout the textile industry is the modular principle of the Oeko-Tex tests for harmful substances. This allows for products at all stages of the processing chain to be certified, and for existing certificates for source materials to be recognised for subsequent stages of manufacturing as part of product certification.
The main focus of Oeko-Tex certification is articles worn close to the skin in product class II (53% of all certificates), followed by baby articles in product class I (43%) as well as furnishing materials (3%, product class IV) and textiles without direct contact with the skin (1%, product class III). In regional terms, the majority of Oeko-Tex certificates are issued to companies in Asia (54,9%) and Europe (41,9%). But regions with fewer certificates issued such as North America have shown significant growth. China is the country with the most valid Oeko-Tex certificates, closely followed by Germany and (significantly further behind) Turkey, Italy and India.
The basis for the high level of acceptance of the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and its wide use throughout the textile industry is the modular principle of the Oeko-Tex tests for harmful substances. This allows for products at all stages of the processing chain to be certified, and for existing certificates for source materials to be recognised for subsequent stages of manufacturing as part of product certification.
Such a concept enables the companies involved freedom of choice when selecting suitable suppliers and at the same time ensures increased transparency and optimal production security with respect to potential harmful substances in their products. Due to the modular system, the costs of certification are divided between all the suppliers involved throughout the textile processing chain, which means that even manufacturers of ready-made-clothing are able to have their products certified at a manageable cost.
The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is also used by associations or other organisations as a guide for other international lists of restricted harmful substances and is accepted by several legislators such as the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as evidence of compliance with existing regulations relating to harmful substances. As a result of the long-standing, constant implementation of the annually updated test criteria, pioneering Oeko-Tex companies have been able to continually increase the standard of their operational quality assurance in terms of the use of problematic substances.
The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is also used by associations or other organisations as a guide for other international lists of restricted harmful substances and is accepted by several legislators such as the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as evidence of compliance with existing regulations relating to harmful substances. As a result of the long-standing, constant implementation of the annually updated test criteria, pioneering Oeko-Tex companies have been able to continually increase the standard of their operational quality assurance in terms of the use of problematic substances.
At the same time, during the 19 years of its existence, the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 has successfully contributed to a more responsible use of chemicals internationally and, to a large extent, the banning of the use of carcinogenic aryl amines, allergy-inducing dyestuffs, excessive formaldehyde content and the release of nickel from metallic accessories in everyday textile products.
