Class I: babies
Anything for children up to 36 months, like baby clothes and diapers. The strictest limits.
What Does OEKO‑TEX Certified Mean?
OEKO-TEX certified usually means OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100: every part of a product, from the fabric to the thread and buttons, was lab-tested against a list of over 1,000 harmful substances and came in under the limits. It's a test of the finished item, not of the fiber or how it was made.
What OEKO-TEX Standard 100 checks
- Every component, including thread, buttons, zippers and prints
- Over 1,000 substances, including banned azo dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals and PFAS
- Substances that aren't yet regulated by law, alongside the ones that are
- Limits set by how the product is used, strictest for babies
- An on-site visit at first certification, then at least every three years
What OEKO-TEX Standard 100 doesn’t cover
- What the fiber is. Polyester and other synthetics can be certified.
- Organic farming. STANDARD 100 isn't an organic label.
- Working and environmental conditions in the factory. That's a separate OEKO-TEX certificate, STeP.
- Quality, durability or fit. OEKO-TEX says plainly it isn't a quality label.
- Leather, which is covered by the OEKO-TEX LEATHER STANDARD instead
The four OEKO-TEX product classes
Every certificate names a product class. The closer a product sits to the skin, the stricter the limits.
Class II: direct skin contact
Items worn against a large part of the skin, like underwear, shirts, bed linens and mattresses.
Class III: little skin contact
Items that barely touch the skin, like jackets and fillings.
Class IV: decoration
Curtains, tablecloths, upholstery fabric and floor coverings.
How to check a OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certificate
Every STANDARD 100 label has to show the OEKO-TEX logo and the certificate number with the name of the testing institute, or a QR code that leads to them.
- Find the number. It's printed on the label next to the institute's name, as a mix of numbers and letters like 18.HUS.40240. Copy it exactly, since label numbers are case sensitive.
- Enter it in Label Check. OEKO-TEX's free Label Check tool looks the number up in its register.
- Read the result. It shows whether the certificate is valid, under review or withdrawn, along with the product class and which items it covers. Make sure the item you're buying is the kind of product the certificate names.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 questions
Is OEKO-TEX the same as organic?
No. STANDARD 100 tests a finished product for harmful substances. It doesn't certify how the fiber was grown. Organic claims need a separate certification, like GOTS or OEKO-TEX ORGANIC COTTON.
Can polyester be OEKO-TEX certified?
Yes. STANDARD 100 has no fiber rules, so any fiber can be certified if every component passes the substance limits.
Does OEKO-TEX test for PFAS?
Yes. Total fluorine has been capped at 100 mg/kg since January 1, 2024, and individual PFAS like PFOA and PFOS are capped at 25 parts per billion. The PFOS limit took effect October 6, 2025.
Does OEKO-TEX certified mean non-toxic?
It means the product tested below set limits for over 1,000 substances, with the strictest limits for baby items. It doesn't mean zero chemicals, and it doesn't cover substances outside its list.
What's the difference between STANDARD 100, MADE IN GREEN and STeP?
STANDARD 100 tests the product. STeP certifies the factory's environmental and working conditions. MADE IN GREEN combines both: a STANDARD 100 product made in STeP-certified factories, with a label you can trace.
How long does OEKO-TEX certification last?
One year. Renewal keeps the same certificate number, and products are retested.