The textile and leather industry’s certification criteria, thresholds, and guidelines have been updated by the chemical management organisation OEKO-TEX Association in light of contemporary scientific discoveries and legal modifications.
Following a transition period, all updated OEKO-TEX standards are scheduled to go into effect on 1st April 2025.
Notably, the new regulations 2025, which include increased bisphenol A (BPA) limits in the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and enlarged OEKO-TEX Eco Passport, mark a significant advance with the introduction of OEKO-TEX Organic Cotton certification.
Claims that cotton is “GMO-free” or “organic” will no longer be covered by OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification as of April 1. OEKO-TEX Organic Cotton will be used for organic cotton certification in order to improve oversight of fraudulent activities in this industry.
Additionally, the acceptable limit for BPA, a substance frequently found in clothing that comes into close contact with skin, has been lowered from 100 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg. This ruling is consistent with the World Health Organization’s and endocrinologists’ designation of BPA as an endocrine disruptor.
Leading the way in leather supply chain transparency ahead of Europe’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is OEKO-TEX. In order to ensure compliance prior to the EUDR’s adoption, the Leather Standard now requires documentation of origin for hides and leather products from cattle and calves.
With the addition of OEKO-TEX Organic Cotton certification to the Made in Green mark, businesses can now take advantage of traceability and safe production methods from the farm to the finished product.
Additionally, by coordinating policies and cooperative solutions, OEKO-TEX is fortifying its partnership with the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Foundation to improve environmental performance in the leather, textile, clothing, and footwear sectors.
To improve monitoring at the beginning of supply chains, OEKO-TEX is expanding its Eco Passport certification to include commodity and maintenance chemicals in an ambitious move. Additionally, there is a greater emphasis on biodegradability; certified products, including softeners and surfactants, are now required to offer verifiable proof of biodegradability.
