What Is OEKO‑TEX MADE IN GREEN?
OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN is a traceable product label. It means the item passed OEKO-TEX lab testing for harmful substances, its sewing facility and main dyeing and finishing sites are certified for environmental and social conditions, and it carries a product ID you can look up to see where and how it was made.
What OEKO-TEX Made in Green checks
- A valid STANDARD 100, ORGANIC COTTON or LEATHER STANDARD certificate, so every component was lab-tested for harmful substances
- STeP certification for every sewing and assembly facility
- STeP certification for any dyeing, finishing or other wet-processing site that supplies a component making up 5% or more of the product's weight
- STeP's rules at those sites, including chemical management, wastewater quality, fair wages, regular working hours and workplace safety
- A ban on forced and child labor at those sites
- One linear supply chain per product ID, with the sewing facility and at least three components confirmed
- A product ID that stays traceable in Label Check for five years after the label expires
What OEKO-TEX Made in Green doesn’t cover
- Every factory. STeP is only required for sewing and for wet-processing sites behind components of 5% or more by weight.
- Fiber making. The current standard (Edition 01.2025) recommends STeP for wet spinning, like viscose or lyocell production, without requiring it.
- Small parts. Metal and plastic accessories, rubber and cardboard don't count toward the 5% rule.
- Organic or recycled claims. Those words need their own OEKO-TEX ORGANIC COTTON or STANDARD 100 Recycled Materials certificate.
- Single components. A brand can't use MADE IN GREEN to promote one part of a product when the whole item doesn't qualify.
How to check a OEKO-TEX Made in Green certificate
Every MADE IN GREEN label carries its own product ID, which is also its license number. It's printed as a number, a QR code or both, along with the testing institute's name. The product ID is what you check.
- Find the product ID. It sits next to the MADE IN GREEN logo on the label or hangtag. Packaging isn't allowed to cover it. Copy it exactly, since label numbers are case sensitive.
- Scan the QR code or enter the ID in Label Check. OEKO-TEX's free Label Check tool takes either one. It's the same tool used for STANDARD 100 certificate numbers.
- Read the result. Under the MADE IN GREEN standard, a result shows whether the label is valid, the article name and fiber content, article numbers and colors, a product image, and a world map of the production steps behind it.
- Look at the factory details. Each supplier chooses how much to share. At the basic level you'll see the country and the type of work done there. At the higher levels you'll also see the company name and address.
- If the label shows as expired. Labels last one year, and a product made while its label was valid stays traceable for five years after it expires. An expired ID on an older item is expected. OEKO-TEX keeps a separate list of withdrawn labels.
OEKO-TEX Made in Green questions
What does MADE IN GREEN mean on a label?
The item was tested for harmful substances under STANDARD 100, ORGANIC COTTON or LEATHER STANDARD. Its sewing facility and its main wet-processing sites are STeP certified for environmental and social conditions. And it has a product ID you can trace.
What's the difference between MADE IN GREEN and STANDARD 100?
STANDARD 100 tests the finished product for harmful substances. MADE IN GREEN requires that test, then adds STeP-certified production sites and a product ID that traces the supply chain.
What is OEKO-TEX STeP?
STeP is OEKO-TEX's certification for production facilities. It covers chemical management, wastewater quality, fair wages, regular working hours, workplace safety and health protection, and it bans forced and child labor.
Does MADE IN GREEN mean organic?
No. The word organic can only appear in a MADE IN GREEN product description when the item is also covered by an OEKO-TEX ORGANIC COTTON certificate.
Does every factory in the supply chain have to be certified?
No. STeP is required for sewing and assembly, and for wet-processing sites that supply components of 5% or more by weight. Smaller components and mechanical spinning don't need a STeP source.
How long does a MADE IN GREEN label last?
One year. Suppliers re-confirm their components every year, and any major change to the product or its supply chain needs a new product ID.