OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 tests a finished textile article for harmful substances and confirms it falls below defined safety limits. GOTS certifies organic fiber content plus environmental and social standards across the entire supply chain, under frameworks like REACH as regulatory backdrop. If you are buying synthetic or performance fabric, look for OEKO-TEX. If organic cotton or baby items are the priority, look for GOTS.
TL;DR:
- GOTS requires at least 70% certified organic fiber, and every processing facility needs its own certificate; verify the specific product and batch.
- STANDARD 100 certificates cover a submitted finished article and its product class, so ask whether changes to dyes, prints, or trims require updated documentation.
- For baby items, a STANDARD 100 Class I certificate confirms testing against the strictest chemical limits, but does not verify organic fiber or labor conditions.
- Check certificate status with the label verification tool; for GOTS, request transaction certificates for the relevant batch and confirm the applicable standard version.
- GOTS Version 8.0 takes effect March 1, 2027, after a one year transition, so compare certificate dates with the version listed.
Table of Contents
- What OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 covers
- What GOTS certifies and how the system works
- Side-by-side differences consumers should care about
- When having both labels matters and when one is enough
- How to verify certificates and check product claims before you buy
- Our take on chasing the right label
- Made-to-order hoodies built around transparency, not overproduction
- FAQ
- Sources
What OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 covers
STANDARD 100 has one job: it tests the finished textile, the actual fabric, dye, trim, and print combination you would buy, for a defined list of substances and confirms the result stays under set limits. The label does not promise organic fibers, recycled content, or ethical labor practices. It promises that someone tested this specific article and found the chemical residues acceptable.
The system uses product classes, and the class matters when interpreting what a certificate covers. Check the certificate for the applicable class and its limits.
Because the certificate applies to a specific configuration, check with the certifier whether changes in dye lot, print method, or trim supplier affect coverage.
- STANDARD 100 tests the finished article, not the raw fiber or the factory process.
- Check the certificate for the product class and the limits that apply.
- Check with the certifier whether a material or component change affects coverage.
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 checks compliance across roughly 100 substance parameters, covering more than a thousand regulated chemicals, and its limits are often stricter than statutory rules like REACH or CPSIA, which makes it a useful retail compliance marker even where it is not legally required.
What GOTS certifies and how the system works
GOTS works on a different axis entirely. Instead of testing one finished item, it certifies the entities and processes that touch a product from field to shelf. The threshold is specific: a product must contain at least 70% certified organic fiber to carry a GOTS label, according to GOTS’s own standard. Check the standard and product label for the applicable claim.
Certification runs through every processing stage: spinning, dyeing, printing, cutting, and packaging. Each facility in that chain needs its own GOTS certificate, not just the farm that grew the cotton.
- Fiber requirement: 70% or more certified organic fiber for a GOTS label.
- GOTS covers facility-level requirements, environmental criteria, and social criteria.
- Social criteria include freedom of association, no forced labor, and safe working conditions, verified through third-party audits.
GOTS uses transaction certificates and facility-level certification to support chain traceability.
The standard also evolves. GOTS Version 8.0 was released and takes effect for certified entities and approved chemical inputs on March 1, 2027, following a one-year transition period that allows early adoption. If you are checking a certificate’s details, confirm which version applies and whether the dates line up.
Side-by-side differences consumers should care about
| Factor | OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 | GOTS |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Chemical safety of the finished article | Organic fiber sourcing plus environmental and social processing |
| Fiber requirement | No organic-fibre requirement | 70% or more certified organic for a GOTS label |
| Scope of verification | The submitted article or configuration | The full supply chain, facility by facility |
| Social criteria | Not covered by this finished-product chemical-safety label | GOTS includes social criteria |
| Typical applicability | Synthetics, performance fabrics, any finished textile | Organic cotton, wool, bedding, babywear |
| Maintenance | Check with the certifier whether changes affect coverage | GOTS uses facility-level certification and transaction certificates |
A few quick scenarios make the choice easier:
Baby sleepwear: prioritize GOTS if organic cotton is the selling point, and check whether an OEKO-TEX certificate applies to the item. 2. Polyester activewear: OEKO-TEX alone is the realistic standard, since GOTS does not apply to synthetic fiber. 3. Organic cotton bedding: GOTS is the label that actually verifies the organic claim; OEKO-TEX cannot confirm fiber origin.
The processes differ: OEKO-TEX tests the finished article, while GOTS requires a certified supply chain. Check with the relevant certifier or supplier for current costs and timelines. When you’re comparing products, check the product class on an OEKO-TEX certificate and look for an SCO-ID (Scope Certificate Online ID) and transaction certificates on a GOTS claim.
When having both labels matters and when one is enough
Some brands pursue both certifications because they answer different questions. GOTS confirms the fiber is genuinely organic and the supply chain meets environmental and labor standards. OEKO-TEX confirms the finished product, dyes and all, tests clean for harmful residues. Together they cover sourcing and finishing, which is why industry groups describe them as complementary rather than competing.
- OEKO-TEX alone fits synthetic or performance fabric where organic sourcing is not a relevant claim.
- GOTS alone fits organic cotton or wool products where fiber origin and supply-chain ethics are the main selling point.
- Both labels address different concerns for babywear and organic apparel: chemical testing of the finished article and organic sourcing and supply-chain criteria.
- Ask the seller how certification affects the product’s price and production timeline.
Pro Tip: Before paying extra for a dual-certified item, ask whether the GOTS claim covers the specific SKU you’re buying, not just the brand’s broader supply chain.
If chemical safety is your only concern, a single OEKO-TEX certificate on the finished article answers the question. If organic sourcing and factory ethics matter more to you than lab results, GOTS does the heavier lifting.
How to verify certificates and check product claims before you buy
Certificates are only useful if they actually apply to the item in your cart. A short verification routine catches most false claims.
- Ask the seller for the certificate PDF and check that it names the specific article, product class (OEKO-TEX), or fiber percentage and certified entity (GOTS).
- Cross-check the certificate using the relevant label verification tool or supplier database, and contact the certifier if you need to confirm its status.
- Ask whether a dye, print, or trim change affects the certificate or requires updated documentation.
- For GOTS products, ask for transaction certificates for the relevant batch; for OEKO-TEX, check which product class was tested.
OEKO-TEX certificates are tied to the submitted configuration, not the brand overall, which is why a changed component can invalidate a prior certificate even when the brand name stays the same.
Our take on chasing the right label
Most shopping advice treats GOTS and OEKO-TEX as interchangeable trust badges, slap one on and move on. That is backward. The label only matters if it answers the question you actually have. If you are worried about skin irritation from a synthetic base layer, an organic fiber claim does nothing for you. If you care about how cotton was grown and who processed it, a chemical safety test tells you nothing about either.
The bigger blind spot is treating any logo as permanent proof. A certificate describes one article at one point in time. A supplier swap, a new print run, or a dye change can quietly break the claim without the label changing. Shoppers who actually read the certificate scope, the product class, the fiber percentage, the validity dates, get far more protection than shoppers who just look for a logo on a tag.
Prioritize matching the label to your actual concern first, then verify the paperwork second. Skip both steps and the certification is just decoration.
— Raido
Made-to-order hoodies built around transparency, not overproduction
If the certificate chase has you thinking about overproduction too, that is the problem our print-on-demand model is built to solve. We only make a hoodie once it is ordered, which cuts the overproduction that drives so much textile waste in the first place, and we build each piece as a heavyweight, made-to-order garment designed for low-light conditions.
Drop 001 includes a few pieces worth a look if this is the kind of apparel you’re after:
- 60°N Hoodie, Built for the Dark: a heavyweight design built around the long, dark stretches of northern latitudes.
- Archive FIG. 001 Hoodie, Concrete / Iron / Asphalt: a design inspired by concrete, iron, and asphalt.
- Unseen Work Hoodie, Nobody Claps at 05:40: a tribute to early, unseen effort before daylight.
- Night Shift Hoodie, Empty Roads Only: made for the hours when the roads are empty and the work still gets done.
If you need specific material composition or certificate documentation before ordering, reach out to our customer support team and ask directly, we will point you to what is available for the piece you’re considering. Browse the full Drop 001 collection or check individual product pages for details before you order.
FAQ
Is GOTS certification reliable?
GOTS certification relies on third-party audits and transaction certificates rather than self-reporting, which is why the standard describes itself as the leading independently verified textile standard for organic fiber. Reliability depends on checking that the specific product and batch carry a valid, current certificate rather than assuming a brand-wide claim covers every item.
Is OEKO-TEX bad?
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is not bad, but it is often misunderstood. It confirms a finished article tests below defined chemical limits, but it does not mean the fabric is organic, so shoppers looking for an organic claim need to check for GOTS instead.
Is OEKO-TEX safe for babies?
OEKO-TEX uses Class I, its strictest product class, specifically for baby articles, which applies tighter limits than the classes used for adult clothing. A Class I certificate on a baby item confirms it was tested against those stricter thresholds, though it still says nothing about whether the fiber is organic.
Does organic cotton have to be GOTS certified?
Organic cotton can be grown and sold without GOTS certification, since the organic farming claim itself typically comes from a separate agricultural certifier. GOTS adds verification across the rest of the supply chain, processing, labor conditions, and chemical inputs, which is why a GOTS label carries more assurance than an organic fiber claim alone.
Sources
- What Is OEKO-TEX? The STANDARD 100 Explained | GERMES
- Key Features - GOTS - Global Organic Textile Standard