close

What is ORGANIC COTTON?

OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON is a globally uniform, independent testing and certification system for textile raw, intermediate and end products of all processing stages, as well as accessory materials.

Further specifications

Testing and certification according to OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON involves the following aspects and parameter:

  • Supply chain traceability to the field (cultivation)
  • Genetically modified cotton (qualitative and quantitative) and numerous pesticides to prevent mixing with conventional cotton
  • Testing for harmful substances:
    • Legally prohibited and regulated substances
    • Chemicals whose harmful effects are known but not legally regulated 
    • Substances for which a harmful effect is likely

    How can ORGANIC COTTON support you?

    Certification of your products in line with OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON provides a number of useful aspects that facilitate your operational quality assurance as well as communication towards stakeholders along your supply chain and consumers:

    • A detailed report and a certificate as proof of the successful inspection of your textile products for harmful substances and their origin in organic farming.
    • Transaction certificates to maintain supply chain traceability.
    • A label to communicate the safety of your product to consumers and your business partners and to set yourself apart from the competition at the point of sale.
    • Cost savings through the OEKO-TEX® modular system - certificates for input materials are recognised at subsequent production stages, limiting the need for re-testing.
    • Free listing of your certified product range and company in the OEKO-TEX® Buying Guide

    Basic facts

    Validity

    An ORGANIC COTTON certificate is valid for one year and can be renewed up to three months before it expires.

    Target group

    • Producers of raw cotton
    • Any manufacturer or reseller of textile materials, finished goods or accessories - from any stage of processing - throughout the textile chain

    Criteria / Requirements

    Depending on the percentage of organic cotton in your products, you can obtain one of the following OEKO-TEX® certificates and labels:

    100% Organic
    • Supplier certification:
      • OEKO-TEX® ​​​​​​ORGANIC COTTON certificate
      • Transaction certificates
    • GMO tests - fibres:
      GMO < 10%
    • Pesticide tests:
      Below the limit value
    • Issued certificate & label:
      OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON

    Minimum 70% Organic
    •  Supplier certification:
      • OEKO-TEX® ​​​​​​ORGANIC COTTON certificate
      • Transaction certificates
    • GMO tests - fibres:
      GMO < 10%
    • Pesticide tests:
      Below the limit value
    • Issued certificate & label:
      OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON Blended

    < 70% Organic
    • Supplier certification:
      • OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certificate
      • Organic origin (third-party or OEKO-TEX®)
    • GMO tests - fibres:
      GMO, qualitative: not detectable
    • Pesticide tests:
      Below the limit value
    • Issued certificate & label:
      OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100

    Certification process

    • Application
      Please complete the application form and send it to us.
    • Sample material & documents
      Together with the completed application form, we need your representative sample materials for testing and relevant proof documents from you.
    • Analytical testing & checking of documents
      We test your sample material in our labs. At the same time, we verify the provided documents.
    • On-site audit
      During an on-site audit at your premises, our OEKO-TEX® experts will confirm all certification details. Ideally, the audit will take place while the laboratory tests are being carried out, but in any case before the certificate is issued.
    • Issue of certificate & label
      If your sample materials and provided documents meet the stipulated criteria, you will receive a detailed report from us, and we will issue the ORGANIC COTTON certificate and label for you.

    ORGANIC COTTON certification

    Your benefits at a glance

    • Reassurance of the promised quality of your products with the independent ORGANIC COTTON label
    • Tracking of material usage: from input control to output control
    • Third-party proven cultivation of organically produced raw materials
    • Valuable contribution to environmentally friendly and socially responsible manufacturing of textiles
    • Transparent documentation of your product claims by means of an easy-to-understand label

    Downloads