Certified Organic vs. OEKO-Tex Standard 100® - What’s the difference? And why you need to know.
We’re all making our own effort to live a more low-tox lifestyle, reducing chemicals in our environment, and trying to make healthier decisions for our family. But the Green lingo used to describe products can be so confusing - what does it all mean?
We want you to have the information you need to choose the best Bedlinen and Towel products for your family, so here’s our guide to the two most commonly used environmental labels used on textile products. “Certified Organic” and “OEKO-Tex Standard 100®”.
OEKO-Tex Standard 100®
What is it?
If you see a “STANDARD 100” label on a product, this means that the independent global research institute OEKO-Tex® has tested the product, and awarded it it’s highest safety label. They specialise only in textiles (Cotton, Bamboo, Linen, for example) and also Leather. Which is why you may not have seen this label before - it’s not something you would see in the supermarket food aisles like we are used to seeing “Certified Organic”.
What does this label mean?
For OEKO-Tex to award this label, it means they have tested every component in the manufacture of the finished product. They not only test the material of the garment, but also the thread used, any buttons, poppers or other fastenings, and also dyes or other treatments used in the production process. The certification is proof that the product has been tested for harmful substances from the raw materials, through to the finished article, and found to be 100% harmless to human health.
Certified Organic Textiles
What does “Organic” mean when we talk about textiles?
According to the Australian Certified Organic (ACO) Standard, for a textile product to be labelled “Certified Organic” it needs to be made from organic raw materials. This means that the raw materials used to make the product have been grown with no synthetic fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides.
For example, our Certified Organic Bamboo Sheet Sets have been made from Bamboo that grew according to organic standards. Or if you are looking for a heavy-weight Natural Australian Wool Winter Quilt, for it to be Certified Organic, the wool must come from sheep that have been raised and fed according to organic standards.
How is Certified Organic different to OEKO-Tex Standard 100®?
We’re all used to looking for that Certified Organic label to help us make the best decisions for our health and the environment. Especially in the supermarket! And while it is an excellent certification to help us buy food, it’s a bit limiting when it comes to shopping for Bedlinen, Towels, and even clothes.
This certification only covers the original materials used to make these products. While the OEKO-Tex Standard 100® tests every material and process used in the full production process - if buttons are added, they are tested, if a lace trim is added to the edging, it’s tested, if the material is dyed a new colour, the dye is tested! It’s an all-round much safer label to look for when you are shopping for textiles.
How can you check for this certification on our website?
On the product page you are viewing, go to the ‘Details’ section and expand this to read full product details. If the product has already been certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100, it will be shown here.
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We hope this Guide to Textiles Labelling helps you the next time you’re shopping for clothes and homewares. At Pure Zone, we’re on a journey to ensure that all new products are made according to OEKO-Tex® standards, but you can also find our Certified Organic Range of Bedlinen and Towels here.
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