ZURICH – OEKO-TEX has released its updated 2025 regulations, reinforcing its commitment to high standards rooted in scientific research and evolving legal frameworks. The new guidelines, which include stricter limits for chemical use, enhanced certification processes, and expanded transparency measures, will officially take effect on April 1, 2025, following a transition period.
A significant update involves the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, which will no longer permit claims of ‘GMO-free’ or ‘organic’ cotton in its certification scope. Instead, cotton can now be certified as ‘organic’ solely through the OEKO-TEX Organic Cotton standard. This change addresses concerns around fraudulent organic cotton claims, reinforcing stricter oversight to ensure consumers can trust certified materials. Notably, other organic materials such as wool, hemp, and linen are unaffected by this policy.
Another key revision under Standard 100 pertains to Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical categorised by health authorities, including the WHO, as an endocrine disruptor. After consultations with toxicology experts, OEKO-TEX has significantly reduced the allowable BPA limit from 100 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg in textiles worn directly against the skin, reflecting growing concerns over its potential hormonal impacts.
OEKO-TEX Leather Standard also sees pivotal changes, aligning with the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) under the Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The regulation mandates comprehensive traceability of leather supply chains to combat deforestation, requiring proof of origin for hides and leather materials from cattle and calves, such as slaughterhouse documentation. This requirement strengthens the industry’s accountability and transparency.
For manufacturers seeking OEKO-TEX® Made in Green certification, a new addition enables the integration of OEKO-TEX® Organic Cotton as a certified component alongside Standard 100 and Leather Standard certifications. This allows companies to showcase sustainable supply chain practices from farm to finished product.
Further enhancing environmental impact efforts, OEKO-TEX has deepened its collaboration with ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals). STeP (Sustainable Textile and Leather Production) certificate holders can now participate in ZDHC’s Supplier to Zero Programme by uploading their certification to ZDHC’s platform, which supports industry-wide environmental goals.
OEKO-TEX Eco Passport, the certification program for chemical safety, is expanding its scope in 2025 to include commodity and maintenance chemicals used early in the supply chain. This shift aims to phase out harmful substances sooner, bolster worker safety, and enhance environmental protection. Moreover, certified products will now undergo additional testing for biodegradability. This requirement covers surfactants, softeners, and complexing agents, with verifications provided by OEKO-TEX® or approved third-party evaluators. Existing certified products in these categories have a one-year grace period to meet the new criteria.
To provide industry stakeholders with comprehensive guidance on these regulatory changes, OEKO-TEX will host a public webinar on January 20, 2025. Interested participants can register at the organisation’s official website, oeko-tex.com.
