The Made in Green label of textile standard Oeko-Tex has reached its ten-year milestone, marking a decade of promoting transparency and safety within the global textile industry. Launched in 2015, the label was introduced to provide consumers with a reliable assurance that products bearing the label have been tested for harmful substances and produced under environmentally and socially responsible conditions.
The creation of Made in Green was driven by the tragic Rana Plaza factory collapse in 2013, which highlighted the urgent need for greater accountability across supply chains. Oeko-Tex, known for its work in advancing safe and responsible practices within the textile sector, responded by establishing the label as a means of consolidating multiple certifications, including Standard 100, Organic Cotton and Leather Standard.
Made in Green has become a widely recognised verification system, allowing consumers to trace the production journey of their textile products. Each item bearing the label includes a unique product ID and QR code, providing access to information about production facilities, their roles in the supply chain, and the countries of manufacture.
Over the past financial year, the number of issued Made in Green labels rose by 52 per cent, with a total of 16,927 labels granted across 39 countries in 2024. Since its launch, over 43,000 labels have been issued to more than 9,200 manufacturers in 88 countries, reflecting the growing demand for transparency in the textile and apparel sectors.
In 2024 alone, the label was scanned over 300,000 times by consumers seeking more information about product origins and production conditions, highlighting its role in fostering consumer trust.
Made in Green also incorporates the Oeko-Tex STeP certification, which assesses social responsibility based on International Labour Organization (ILO) standards, ensuring that participating facilities meet criteria related to workers’ rights, safety, and fair treatment.
With the expansion of the Oeko-Tex Eco Passport certification, Made in Green has further strengthened its oversight of chemical safety practices across production facilities, supporting manufacturers in reducing chemical risks while maintaining stringent safety standards.
The label has also gained recognition from external organisations, including Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly programme and France’s Refashion Bonus for Eco Modulation. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency has acknowledged the label for meeting criteria in the textiles sector.
