• Linkdin
Maximize your media exposure with Fibre2Fashion's single PR package  |   Know More

OEKO-TEX updates stricter BPA limits and organic cotton rules

15 Jan '25
4 min read
OEKO-TEX updates stricter BPA limits and organic cotton rules
Pic: OEKO-TEX Association

Insights

  • OEKO-TEX's 2025 updates enhance safety and sustainability with stricter BPA limits, transparency in leather supply chains, and expanded ECO PASSPORT for biodegradability.
  • ORGANIC COTTON certification replaces 'organic' claims in STANDARD 100, aligning with MADE IN GREEN for traceability.
  • Collaboration with ZDHC boosts environmental efforts, ensuring high standards in textiles and leather.
Fostering trust within the textile and leather industry remains the mission of OEKO-TEX. Since trust relies on consistently high standards, the OEKO-TEX Association has released the updated testing criteria, limit values and guidelines for its certifications, based on the latest scientific research and legal developments. Key changes include enhanced organic cotton certification through OEKO-TEX ORGANIC COTTON, with inclusion in OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN, stricter BPA limits under OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 and rigorous transparency requirements for leather supply chains under OEKO-TEX LEATHER STANDARD. The expanded OEKO-TEX ECO PASSPORT will include commodity chemicals and biodegradability verification. The revised standards will take effect on 1 st April 2025, following the transition period.

STANDARD 100: New organic cotton rule and BPA safety

Clear communication and transparency are of great importance for the OEKO-TEX community. Starting 1st April 2025, OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification will not include any claims of “GMO-free” or “organic” cotton in the certificate scopes. Certifying cotton as “organic” is now achievable through OEKOTEX ORGANIC COTTON. This decision is driven by the dedication to maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance and was implemented to enhance oversight of certified organic cotton, an area where fraud is prevalent. OEKO TEX aims to certify only genuinely trustworthy organic cotton as such. This change specifically pertains to cotton materials. Other organic materials such as hemp, linen or wool remain unaffected.

After consultation with internal and external toxicologists, OEKO-TEX reduced the limit value of Bisphenol A (BPA)from 100 to 10mg/kg. The chemical was often found in tests oftextiles that are worn directly on the skin. Endocrinologists and the WHO categorize BPA as an endocrine disruptor, a substance that, if it enters the body even in small amounts, can change the hormonal system.

LEATHER STANDARD: Ahead of Europe’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)

As part of the European Green Deal and the 2030 EU Biodiversity Strategy, the European Commission adopted a new regulation in May 2024. One of the most significant challenges posed by the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is the requirement for leather supply chain transparency. Companies must trace the origins of their leather products to ensure they do not contribute to deforestation. The EUDR was supposed to come into force at the end of 2024 but was postponed by one year in November 2024. However, for hides and leather material from cattle and calves, proof of origin (e.g. delivery notes from the slaughterhouse) is required to earn OEKO-TEX LEATHER STANDARD certification.

MADE IN GREEN: Adding ORGANIC COTTON certification option

The OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN label recognises OEKO-TEX ORGANIC COTTON as product certificate in addition to STANDARD 100 and LEATHER STANDARD. This allows companies that have their cotton products certified to combine the strengths of both OEKO-TEX standards: supply chain traceability and verification from farm to product with responsible and safe production.

STeP: Enhanced ZDHC cooperation boosting sustainability in textiles and leather

The collaboration between ZDHC and OEKO-TEX aims is to empower the textile, apparel, footwear and leather industries to improve environmental impact by optimising guidelines and solutions through joint efforts. To strengthen the impact OEKO-TEX STeP certificate holders are now eligible to participate in the ZDHC Supplier to Zero Programme. Companies can upload their STeP certificate and report to the ZDHC Supplier Platform for acknowledgement within the Supplier to Zero Programme.

ECO PASSPORT: Expanding scope and highlighting biodegradability

Starting in 2025, OEKO-TEX ECO PASSPORT will expand its certification scope beyond chemicals specialised for textile and leather applications to include commodity and maintenance chemicals. Commodity chemicals, widely produced and used at the start of supply chains, will enable broader monitoring across the textile and leather sector. This expansion aims to phase out harmful substances earlier, enhance worker safety and prioritise environmental protection. Additionally, second-life commodity chemicals will be subject to more frequent testing to ensure quality.

ECO PASSPORT customers will be able highlight the biodegradability of their chemical products on their certificates. OEKO-TEX considers biodegradability a key factor in sustainable textile and leather production, with greater impact the earlier it is implemented in the supply chain. Certified surfactants, softeners or complexing agents must provide proof of biodegradability, verified either by an OEKO-TEX institute or an approved third party. Existing certified products in these categories have a one-year transition period to comply.

Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)

Leave your Comments

Esteemed Clients

Woolmark Services India Pvt. Ltd.
Weitmann & Konrad GmbH & Co. KG
VNU Exhibitions Asia
USTER
UBM China (Shanghai)
Tuyap Tum Fuarcilik Yapim A.S.
TÜYAP IHTISAS FUARLARI A.S.
Tradewind International Servicing
Thermore (Far East) Ltd.
The LYCRA Company Singapore  Pte. Ltd
Thai Trade Center
Thai Acrylic Fibre Company Limited
X
Advanced Search