Film Dictionary

Oeko-Tex

Oeko-Tex stands for high product safety and customer trust

Whether manufacturers, retailers or consumers – almost everyone is familiar with “STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®”. The label certifies textiles, textile raw and intermediate products, as well as corresponding accessories such as knitted fabrics, yarn, buttons, zips, woven fabrics, labels and sewing threads.

The seal awarded by OEKO-TEX® is used worldwide. Textile products bearing “STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®” can be found all over the world. Clothing, underwear, shoes, towels, bed linen and yoga mats, for example, carry the seal. Certification is also common in film technology. Here, the focus is on the possible transfer of harmful substances through transfer films.

What does the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 label mean?

STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® is an important label for textiles tested for harmful substances. The label is known and recognized worldwide. The STANDARD 100 label is awarded exclusively to textile articles that have been fully tested for harmful substances and therefore assessed as harmless to health. Every single component of the textile is comprehensively tested for possible harmful substances, including all buttons, threads and incorporated accessories, for example.

The production sites involved in the manufacture of textiles are also examined. In order to receive the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 label, the audited companies must meet certain socially and environmentally responsible production conditions.

With the introduction of the label and certification under STANDARD 100, OEKO-TEX® was able to firmly establish a uniform quality assurance system for retailers and manufacturers that works and is recognized worldwide. The audited companies are always assessed according to their own depth of production and taking into account regionally different assessment standards regarding the risk potential of exposure to harmful substances.

On what basis are the tests and assessments carried out?

The institutes belonging to OEKO-TEX® carry out the respective tests themselves. The basis for testing and assessment is an extensive catalogue of criteria. As part of the testing procedures, the auditors take into account a large number of regulated and non-regulated substances that may cause health damage.

In many areas, the limit values set for OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 go beyond international and national requirements. The testing requirements and assessment standards are updated at least once a year. This ensures that all new legal requirements as well as the latest scientific findings are taken into account and incorporated into the currently valid catalogue of criteria.

Laboratory tests, company audits and unannounced site inspections

In total, the laboratory tests cover more than 100 test parameters. In terms of procedure, the respective manufacturer sends sample specimens to the OEKO-TEX® testing laboratory responsible for them. The manufacturing companies must submit a declaration of conformity confirming that the quality of the submitted sample fully matches the products produced and distributed.

In addition to the actual testing, company audits are carried out. This gives the auditors insight into the manufacturing processes and the general operational situation of the respective manufacturer. Product checks are also carried out in retail. The test sample and the products certified by OEKO-TEX® with the corresponding seal are checked for conformity.

In some cases, unannounced site inspections are also carried out. If manufacturers do not meet the criteria 100 percent, they must eliminate the deficiencies promptly. If repeated irregularities or abnormalities occur, OEKO-TEX® can withdraw the certifications that have been granted.

Who awards the globally uniform OEKO-TEX® standard?

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is issued as a uniform, internationally valid standard by the International OEKO-TEX® Association of the same name. This organization is dedicated to testing and research in the field of textile ecology. Based in Zurich, the organization comprises a total of 16 accredited and independent research and textile testing institutes from Europe and Asia.

Transfer films are also thoroughly tested for the transfer of harmful substances

OEKO-TEX® does not only test and certify classic textiles. Direct contact with textiles also occurs in the film sector. Transfer films are a special type of film. Films of this type are used, for example, in the form of polyester transfer films, with which a transfer created using screen printing inks is transferred onto textiles. Since this is an indirect textile printing process, it must be ensured that the film does not transfer any harmful substances during the transfer.

With OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, a uniform testing and certification system is available here that includes all processing stages of textile materials and products. The TRM8 transfer film from Bleher Folientechnik is certified according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100. This means that no harmful substances are transferred by the TRM8 transfer film during textile transfer.