GOTS, OEKO-TEX and OCS labels, what are they really telling you?
- Tammy Pulinec
- Apr 10, 2021
- 2 min read
We've been throwing around the word organic like it's confetti for decades now. When you purchase a product that is labelled 'organic', do you really know what that means and what the benefits are of something with that label as opposed to one without it? In this post, we are going to break down what 'organic' really means in the world of textiles, and look into the main certifications available.
If you've purchased any baby products lately, you've most likely seen the GOTS and OCS labels on them. These are the two main certifications that companies can apply for to be able to put an 'organic' label on their products.
GOTS (The Global Organic Textile Standard) is the golden standard of textiles made from organic fibers. In order for a company to be able to proudly display the GOTS logo on their products, the entire supply and manufacturing chain must pass the high-level certification process which includes environmental, as well as social criteria.
The GOTS "covers the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, trading and distribution of all textiles made from at least 70% certified organic natural fibers. The final products may include, but are not limited to fiber products, yarns, fabrics, garments, fashion textile accessories (carried or worn), textile toys, home textiles, mattresses and bedding products as well as textile personal care products" (Global Organic Textiles Standard Version 6.0, March 2020).
OCS (Organic Content Standard) is also a widely recognized organic standard worldwide. Unlike GOTS however, the OCS certification does not include processing requirements and therefore is only able to claim that a product has organically grown content. The OCS 100 certification verifies that 95-100% of the textile fibers in the product were organically grown, and the OCS blended certificate verifies that 5-94% of the textile fibers in the product were organically grown.
OEKO-TEX is a product label and certification provided by the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology. While this is not an organic standard like GOTS or OCS, and products not deemed organic can be OEKO-TEX certified, it is still a label you will want to look out for when shopping for anything baby related.
There are several Oeko-Tex certifications, but the main certification, Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, aims to make it obvious to consumers that every component on or in the labeled textile (fibers, buttons, zippers, lining, thread, etc...) have undergone laboratory testing for a wide range of substances, and that the article is free of any chemicals harmful to human health.
While Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex makes sure your final product is free of harmful substances, this does not mean the manufacturing process was.
The MADE IN GREEN by Oeko-Tex standard goes one step farther than the Standard 100 by guaranteeing that the product has been manufactured using sustainable processes and socially responsible working conditions for the entire manufacturing process.
All three of these standards are great certifications to look out for when purchasing products for your baby, but if you are dead set on buying only organic, GOTS is the label to look out for.
When sourcing fabric for our play mats, we are always on the look out for GOTS certified first. This ensures the absolute safest material for our babies.
Sources
Comments