When shopping sustainably, there are several things we need to look out for. But since many brands are not very transparent, determining where a product comes from or how it is produced can be a difficult matter. In today’s blog post, we want to talk about two important standards that will help you decide whether a brand is sustainable or not — OEKO-TEX and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
OEKO-TEX and GOTS both aim to set standards that will make the textile products we consume safer, however, the two certifications are fundamentally different.
WHAT IS THE OEKO-TEX STANDARD?
On the OEKO-TEX website, there are six different labels that aim to guarantee “maximum consumer safety”. The most well-known out of all of these labels is probably the STANDARD 100 label by OEKO-TEX which certifies that a product does not contain harmful substances that could be dangerous to human health. Similarly, OEKO-TEX’s LEATHER STANDARD and ECO PASSPORT certify that a product does not contain toxic or harmful substances.
So, OEKO-TEX aims to protect consumers from possible health hazards, which is a positive thing! However, there are misconceptions about OEKO-TEX being an ecological label. This is unfortunately not entirely true. Just because a textile product is certified by OEKO-TEX, it does not necessarily mean that this product is also sustainable. The misconception probably arises from the standard’s name, as “oeko/öko” is German for “eco”. But when looking closer at the restrictions of the standard, OEKO-TEX allows non-organic seeds, synthetic pesticides, and additives in some instances.
Every effort that is being made is a step in the right direction! It also seems that OEKO-TEX is trying to take its certification into a more eco-friendly direction; its MADE IN GREEN label, for instance, does not only guarantee that the products were tested for harmful substances but also makes sure that they are produced ethically and sustainably.
If you want to know more about the different OEKO-TEX labels and what they mean in detail, make sure to visit the official OEKO-TEX website to get information on the label’s sustainability and transparency.
WHAT IS THE GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD (GOTS)?
The GOTS — short for Global Organic Textile Standard — is a standard for textile products that represents transparency, sustainability, as well as ethical and fair production. Compared to other textile standards, the Global Organic Textile Standard sets the bar very high, making it the highest standard for clothing globally. From the first fibres to the finished product, the standard supervises the entire supply and production chain of a textile product to ensure that we consume goods that are sustainable and produced under fair labour conditions.
At FabRap, we are proud to say that our products are made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. As a brand, we want to make your gift giving occasions more beautiful, all while protecting the health of our customers and our planet. The Global Organic Textile Standard represents what we stand for — sustainability, ethical production, and transparency. Because the GOTS sets the bar for textile products higher than any other standard globally, we are proud to support and be a part of this movement for change.
When buying textiles in the future, look out for the GOTS-label to make sure the product is 100% ecological — good for you and the environment. If you want to know more, you can visit the GOTS website and get informed about the standard and its philosophy.
This was our brief overlook over two very important labels you should know when shopping sustainably. While we take pride in being represented by the world’s highest textile standard, we also applaud the efforts made by OEKO-TEX as a health certification.
Click here to learn about why we use GOTS-certified organic cotton for our FabRaps.