Confidence in Textiles Oeko-Tex Standard 100
If you are concerned about chemicals and retardants being in the surface that you are sleeping on you need to look for this certification label on your next mattress purchase.
The STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® is an independent test and certification system for textile raw, intermediate and end products at all stages of processing.
The tests for harmful substances cover:
• Legally banned and controlled substances
• Chemicals known to be harmful to the health (but not yet legally controlled)
• Parameters for health protection
The OEKO-TEX® tests for harmful substances is always geared toward how the textile will actually be used. The more closely the product is in contact with the skin, the stricter the human ecology requirements that it must meet.
A distinction is made between four product classes:
• Product class I:
Articles for babies and toddlers up to 3 years of age (underwear, rompers, clothing, bed linen, terry products etc.)
• Product class II:
Articles that are worn close to the skin (underwear, bed linen, t-shirts, socks etc.)
• Product class III:
Articles used away from the skin (jackets, coats etc.)
• Product class IV:
Decoration/Furnishing materials (curtains, tablecloths, upholstery covers etc.)
Certification
The precondition for the certification of products in accordance with OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is that all parts of an article, without exception, meet the required criteria – so not only the outer material, but also the sewing threads, linings, prints etc and any non-textile accessories such as buttons, zips, rivets etc
https://www.oeko-tex.com/media/downloads/Factsheet_STANDARD_100_EN.pdf