The global leather industry is under growing pressure to prove that its products are safe, sustainable, and free from harmful substances. This is where OEKO-TEX® certification plays a critical role and specifically, the OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD.
What is the OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD?
The OEKO-TEX® Leather Standard is a globally harmonised testing and certification system for leather materials, semi-finished leather ("wet blue" and "wet white"), leather accessories, and finished leather goods such as footwear, bags, and belts. Unlike OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, which applies mainly to textile products, the LEATHER STANDARD focuses on genuine leather articles tested against a strict Restricted Substances List (RSL).
Leather items are classified into product classes based on skin contact from baby products (Class 1) to items with no direct skin contact (Class 3). This ensures sustainable leather certification aligns with real-world use and consumer safety needs
Why It Matters for Manufacturers
For manufacturers and exporters, OEKO-TEX® certified leather builds trust with global buyers, ensures REACH compliance, avoids chrome VI contamination, and strengthens your position in international supply chains. With a modular certification system, businesses can certify at every stage from raw material to finished product reducing duplicate testing costs.
