"Is it Oeko-Tex?" is one of the first questions a European buyer asks about a towel or a sheet, and one of the least understood. Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is not an organic label, not a sustainability rating, and not a promise about how the cotton was grown. It answers one narrower question: has the finished textile been tested for harmful substances, and did it pass?
That narrower question still matters. Here is what the certificate covers, what it does not, and how to check one is real.
What Standard 100 tests
A Standard 100 certificate means samples of the textile, and of each of its components, were tested by an independent Oeko-Tex institute against a catalogue of substances that are regulated or known to be harmful. The catalogue is reviewed every year. It covers, among other things:
- Banned azo dyes and allergenic dyes, some of which can release harmful compounds.
- Formaldehyde, sometimes used in finishing.
- Heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium.
- Pesticides and chlorinated phenols.
- pH, because a textile that is too acidic or too alkaline can irritate skin.
- Colourfastness, since dye that rubs or sweats off ends up on the skin.
Components are tested too: on a bathrobe that means the thread, the label and the fastenings, not only the main fabric.
The four product classes
Limits get stricter the closer the textile comes to skin, and the certificate names a product class:
| Class | What it covers | Typical hospitality example |
|---|---|---|
| I | Articles for babies and toddlers up to 36 months | Baby towels, cot sheets |
| II | Articles with large-area direct skin contact | Bath towels, bathrobes, bed linen |
| III | Articles with little or no skin contact | Some upholstery or linings |
| IV | Decoration materials | Curtains, table decoration |
For hospitality towelling and bed linen, Class II is the class to ask for. A Class IV certificate is genuine, but it does not cover a towel a guest wraps around themselves.
What it does not tell you
This is where buyers most often over-read the label:
- It is not organic. Conventional cotton can hold Standard 100. Organic fibre is certified under different schemes.
- It says nothing about the factory. Labour conditions, water and energy use are covered by other schemes (Oeko-Tex's own STeP and Made in Green, or audits such as SMETA), not by Standard 100.
- It does not grade quality. A Standard 100 towel can still be thin, short-staple and quick to wear out. It is a safety test, not a durability test.
Who holds the certificate
A certificate belongs to a specific company and a specific scope of articles. In a sourcing chain, it is usually held by the mill or processor that makes the textile. Buyers should ask whose certificate it is and whether its scope covers the exact article being ordered. A certificate for a mill's bed linen does not cover its bathrobes unless they are in scope.
That is also why accurate wording matters. A supplier working with certified mills should say its products come from a certified supply network, not claim the certificate as its own.
How to verify a certificate in two minutes
Every genuine Standard 100 label carries a certificate number and the name of the testing institute. Enter the number in the label check on the official Oeko-Tex website. It shows who holds the certificate, which articles it covers, the product class, and whether it is still valid. Certificates have to be renewed every year, so check the date.
If a supplier cannot give you a number that checks out, treat the claim as unverified, however good the logo looks.
What we run
Our programmes are sourced through a supply network that includes Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified mills. For any order where certification is required, we confirm the certificate holder, the product class and the article scope against the official record before production, not after. Our compliance page lists what our network holds, and our certifications by market guide sets out what each export market expects.
Tell us the market and the article, and we will confirm the certification route before you place a sample order.
Frequently asked
- What does Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certify?
- That the finished textile and all its components were tested by an independent Oeko-Tex institute for a list of harmful substances, including banned azo dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals, pesticides and pH, and passed the limits for its product class. It is a test for harmful substances, not an organic, sustainability or quality rating.
- Which Oeko-Tex class do hotel towels need?
- Class II, which covers textiles with large-area direct skin contact, such as towels, bathrobes and bed linen. Class I is stricter and applies to baby articles. Class III and IV cover items with little or no skin contact, so they do not cover a towel or a sheet.
- How do I check if an Oeko-Tex certificate is real?
- Take the certificate number from the label or the supplier and enter it in the label check on the official Oeko-Tex website. It shows the holder, the articles covered, the product class and the validity date. Certificates are renewed every year, so an expired number does not count.