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OEKO-TEX Standard 100 logo
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Global · Tier 3 Specialty
BioGro New Zealand logo
BioGro New Zealand
New Zealand · Tier 1 Gold
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'Natural' (NOT a certification)
Worldwide · Tier 4 Marketing
Global Organic Textile Standard logo
Global Organic Textile Standard
Global · Tier 2 Trusted
What it meansTests finished textiles for harmful substances. Important: OEKO-TEX 100 is NOT an organic certification — it certifies that the finished item is free of certain chemicals, regardless of how the fibre was grown.New Zealand's largest organic certifier. Recognised by the EU, US, and Japan under their respective import-equivalence regimes.The word 'natural' on packaging is a marketing term, not a certification. In most jurisdictions there's no legal definition, no standard, and no inspection. A product labelled 'natural' can contain synthetic ingredients, pesticides, GMOs, and artificial flavours.The strictest, most widely-recognised standard for organic textiles. Covers the full supply chain from organic fibre to finished garment, with environmental AND social criteria.
ScopeTextilesSeveral categoriesSeveral categoriesTextiles
Established19921983—2002
InspectionAnnual on-site + lab testing of finished productsAnnual on-site, IFOAM-accreditedNoneAnnual on-site, IOAS-accredited
Residue testingRequired (this is the entire point)Risk-basedNoneRequired for finished products
Guarantees
  • Finished textile tested against the OEKO-TEX harmful-substance limit list.
  • Limits on heavy metals, formaldehyde, pesticide residue, banned amines, allergenic dyes.
  • ≥95% organic ingredients.
  • No synthetic pesticides, no GMOs.
  • Annual on-site inspection.
  • Covers food, textiles, and personal care under separate standards.
  • Nothing. It is not a certification and there is no body verifying anything.
  • ≥70% certified-organic natural fibre (the 'organic' grade requires ≥95%).
  • Restricted dyes, no chlorine bleach, no formaldehyde, no banned heavy metals.
  • Wastewater treatment requirements.
  • Social standards based on ILO core conventions (no child labour, no forced labour, fair wages, safe workplace).
  • Annual on-site inspection by IOAS-accredited certifier.
Does NOT
  • Does NOT mean organic. Does NOT cover farming, dyeing chemistry beyond the limit list, or social/labour standards. A 100% conventional cotton t-shirt can be OEKO-TEX 100 certified.
  • New Zealand has no single legally-mandated 'organic' definition — voluntary certification is the norm.
  • Doesn't mean organic. Doesn't mean pesticide-free. Doesn't mean GMO-free. Doesn't mean ethically produced.
  • Some markets (e.g. the US FDA on food, EU on cosmetics) place very limited restrictions on the word, but enforcement is weak.
  • Doesn't cover non-textile components (zips, buttons, prints) beyond the chemical-restriction list.

Choose up to 4 (4 chosen)

That's four — remove one to add another.

  • ACO
  • Bio-Siegel
  • BioGro
  • Canada Organic
  • China Organic
  • EU Leaf
  • India Organic
  • JAS
  • Korea Organic
  • Ø-mærket
  • Orgánico Argentina
  • Orgánico SAGARPA
  • SisOrg
  • Tún
  • USDA Organic
  • AB France
  • Bio Suisse
  • Bioland
  • COSMOS
  • Debio
  • Demeter
  • Ecocert
  • Fair for Life
  • GOTS
  • IBD
  • IFOAM
  • Kilimohai
  • KRAV
  • Luomu
  • NASAA
  • NATRUE
  • Naturland
  • OEKO-TEX Organic Cotton
  • ROC
  • Soil Association
  • EU Ecolabel
  • Fairtrade
  • Non-GMO Project
  • Nordic Swan
  • OEKO-TEX 100
  • Rainforest Alliance
  • 'Natural'

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Compare certifications · Organic.is