Certified Organics:

Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX®

by The House of Pillows Editorial Writers

Why the need for Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX®?

With the industrialization and consumerism of our society, the need for large amounts of cheap products has presented us with a variety of goods that are harmful to our bodies. Mostly in the name of reducing costs of production and making more durable products we have neglected the effect they have on our health. We spend about a third of the day in our beds (sleeping, napping, playing, reading etc.). Therefore it is important that we take note of the effects the fabrics that are in contact with our skin will have on our well-being and health. Skin is our biggest organ and therefore a considerable absorber of substances in our surroundings.

How does this influence you?

Textiles used in the production of our entire organic bedding collection are all Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX ® certified or as we like to call them, certified organic fabrics. This means that all textiles and other accessories are tested for compliance with the Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX ®. The OEKO-TEX ® standard is an independent test for textile products at all stages of production, ranging from yarns, fabrics, treated fabrics, items of clothing, domestic and household textiles, bedding, towels, soft toys and many more.

Based on the intended use of the products the standard predicts a set of requirements the product must meet. If the tested item is more in contact with the skin, as a result the higher or longer the contact the more strict the criteria for those fabrics are expected by the standard.

Tested products are classified into four classes:

• Product Class I – Textile products, basic materials, and accessories for babies and children up to the age of 36 months
• Product Class II – Textile products with direct contact to the skin, those worn with a large part of their surface in direct contact with the skin (blouses, shirts, underwear, mattresses, etc.)
• Product Class III – Articles without direct contact to the skin, those which are worn with only a little part of their surface in direct contact with the skin (e.g. stuffing)
• Product Class IV or Decoration material – Articles including initial products and accessories which are used for decoration such as tablecloths, wall coverings, furnishing fabrics, and curtains, upholstery fabric and floor coverings

How does Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX work?

Products undergo extensive laboratory testing for a wide range of harmful substances and must be free of or not exceeding the predicted limit established by the OEKO-TEX ® Association. According to the standard, the harmful substances refer to the legally banned and controlled substances and chemicals known to be harmful to the health (but not yet legally controlled) which may be present in a textile product or accessory and exceed a maximum amount, and which may have some kind of effect on people during normal and prescribed use and may, according to current scientific knowledge, be injurious to human health. Some of the substances the standard tests for are pesticides, phthalates, phenols, benzenes, toluene, forbidden flame retardants, and other carcinogenic chemicals and/or allergens.

Furthermore, tested textile items can only be certified as Class I Products, if they are additionally tested for saliva resistance. All products must also have a healthy pH value and all components of the product (not only the outer fabric but also threads, linings, prints as well as non-textile accessories such as buttons, zip fasteners, rivets or any other accessory parts) must comply with the required criteria. Test criteria and limit values are globally uniform and are revised and expanded each year.

Finally, if the testing is successful the certificates are issued for a period of one year and the manufacturing company is also monitored by the OEKO-TEX ® member institute. Consumers can thus be carefree that the labeled textile products they are using are safe for everyday use.

Why is Standard by OEKO-TEX  & other certificates important, for you as well as us? Coming soon… a post on “What is certified organics and why do you want it?”

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