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GOTS Certified Organic Cotton versus Oeko-Tex Certified

Here are 9 basic differences, item 4 will surprise you! 🔬

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April 1, 2019 1:45pm EDT

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GOTS Organic Certified
vs.
Oeko-Tex Certified

There's a lot of talk about sustainable certifications in the area of eco-friendly bedding. Increased attention to home wellness is great, but it can become confusing with the range of certifications claiming wellness and sustainability.

We'll try to help iron-out some of the differences between two of the more talked-about certifications - GOTS Organic and Oeko-Tex 100.

GOTS and Oeko-Tex are both excellent programs . . .

With decades of experience, our team has worked with both Oeko-Tex and GOTS for textile certification.

While both are excellent, one is far more relevant to your bedding and peace of mind.

________________________________________________________

Let's first look at the origins of these two certifications . . .

GOTS arose as a merger of 8 Organic Cotton certifications

GOTS arose from the combination of eight different organic textile certifications to create a global certificaiton with focus on natural fibers.

The Hohenstein Institute created
Oeko-Tex

The Hohenstein Institute is a renown performance textile research institute. With expertise in textiles for performance apparel, medicine, autos, aircraft, and the building industry.

________________________________________________________

So, the differences between GOTS and OEKO-TEX . . .

GOTS ORGANIC COTTON

1. PESTICIDES
- GOTS does not allow
synthetic pesticides

2. FERTILIZERS
- GOTS does not allow
synthetic fertilizers

3. GMO'S
- GOTS does not allow GMO's

4. FORMALDEHYDE
- GOTS does not allow
detectable traces

5. BIODEGRADABILITY
- GOTS requires biodegradability
of all processing inputs

6. WASTEWATER DISCHARGE
- GOTS regulates water discharge,
requires water treatment

7. PACKAGING RESTRICTIONS
- GOTS only allows recycled paper
& organic cotton. GOTS Bans
PVC and chlorinated plastics

8. TRANSPARENCY
- GOTS requires transaction
certificates between all parties
to assure compliance and
transparency

9. SOCIAL COMPLIANCE
- GOTS requires worker social code
and environmental action

OEKO-TEX 100 COTTON

1. PESTICIDES
- OEKO-TEX allows some
synthetic pesticides

2. FERTILIZERS
- OEKO-TEX allows
synthetic fertilizers

3. GMO'S
- OEKO-TEX allows GMO's

4. FORMALDEHYDE
- OEKO-TEX allows 70ppm
of formaldehyde

5. BIODEGRADABILITY
- OEKO-TEX odes not require
biodegradability of
chemical components

6. WASTEWATER DISCHARGE
- OEKO-TEX has no requirements

7. PACKAGING RESTRICTIONS
- OEKO-TEX HAS no restrictions

8. TRANSPARENCY
- OEKO-TEX has no transaction
validation and requires no
transparency.

9. SOCIAL COMPLIANCE
-OEKO-TEX requires no
social code of conduct

FORMALDEHYDE

GOTS organic certification allows NO detectable frace of formaldehyde in your bedding.

OEKO-TEX 100 allows 70ppm of formaldehyde in your bedding.

As Oeko-Tex is a one-size-fits-all standard. The same certification applies to cotton, polyester, rayon, etc., so Oeko-Tex allows some formaldehyde to accommodate a wide range of materials.

CONCLUSION

GOTS Organic Cotton Certification is hands down the BEST option for cotton. GOTS covers most bases in a standard assuring safety in ingredients, environmental protection, and social equity. With GOTS focus on cotton and a thorough standard from seed to packaging, GOTS has it covered.

OEKO-TEX is an OK certification, but Oeko-Tex falls short when used for Cotton. Oeko-Tex assures many substances of high concern are not present, but pays no attention to GMO's, only some attention to synthetic pesticides, and allows formaldehyde. For synthetic, man-made fibers like the Rayon group of fibers (Tencel/Lyocell/Viscose/Modal/Bamboo), Polyester, or Nylon: OEKO-TEX might be a great option.

Because OEKO-TEX Standard 100 falls short in environmental matters, Oeko-Tex is better if combined with Bluesign or ZDHC Certification (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) given Oeko-Tex shortcomings in restricting environmental impact. Social equity is not addressed in OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? Click below for our comprehensive guide to sustainable certifications. We tell you the strengths and weaknesses of each. With decades of textile experience at some of the top companies in sustainability, we know a thing or two.

Guide to Organic Cotton Certification

Some might be asking why we didn't consider a
certification called BCI - The Better Cotton Initiative.

As one of our heroes explains about BCI:

“This Better Cotton Initiative is absolute bullshit: Pure greenwashing.”

- Yves Choinard, Founder, Patagonia

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