What is OEKO-TEX® Certification?
What is Oekotex certification and why does it matter? Read on to this quick guide to learn more about your mattress product labels.
The mattress industry works to provide innovative sleep solutions based on consumers' needs and preferences. Due to the constant search for better mattress and fabric formulas, many chemicals are involved in the mattress-making process. These can impose potential harm to the users. Nowadays, many consumers are becoming more aware of the components of the products they use, and manufacturers are adopting safer and more sustainable production and materials.
Aside from providing high-quality mattress products that support your sleeping needs, one of our main goals is to offer safe mattresses that your whole family will enjoy. That's why we only offer successfully tested OEKO-TEX certified mattresses conveniently here at Vesper.
What Does the OEKO-TEX® Certification Mean?
The OEKO-TEX® label is a trustworthy and well-known certification for textile products, to gauge the safety of the materials used during the manufacturing process. This includes, but is not limited to, textile and leather products, fabrics, linens, and other raw materials. This means that when a mattress is OEKO-TEX®- certified, the materials and accessories used during production are safe for human health. The certification process incorporates legal parameters, tests, and strict health and safety standards. OEKO-TEX ® is a global standard that provides parameters that are applicable worldwide.
What is OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100?
OEKO-TEX® has five different standards in general. When referring to textile products, the STANDARD 100, with nearly 100 quality parameters, is used. If a mattress passed the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certification process, you can be assured that every single component used in the processing stages do not involve over 100 harmful substances.
OEKO-TEX® tests are done by independent laboratories and certified facilities based on a rigorous criteria catalog. This is reviewed and updated yearly with new scientific knowledge to provide trusted and up-to-date quality standards for product safety. To ensure the quality of the products, each product component is thoroughly tested.
If a product is certified by OEKO-TEX®, it means that it is free from potentially harmful substances like lead, phthalates, pesticides, and other chemicals that can cause harm to human health, including:
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Carcinogenic dyes
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Prohibited azo dyes
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Chlorinated phenols
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Volatile organic compounds
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Formaldehyde
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Nickel and other heavy metals
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etc.
Other standard certifications involve the following, including Made in Green by OEKO-TEX®, which traces down not only the production components but also facilities.
LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX® ensures a safe leather standard for textile and leather products.
ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX® is applied to chemicals and dyes.
Sustainable Textile & Leather Production (STeP) Certification is a system for manufacturing facilities. STeP certified facilities ensure eco-friendly production processes and responsible work conditions.
Made in Green by OEKO-TEX® is a combination of OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 and (STeP) Certificate.
What Can Be Certified with OEKO-TEX® Certification?
OEKO-TEX® standards test various regulated and non-regulated substances, including chemicals that are prohibited and are harmful to human health. This involves regulation of production conditions, like leather production, fibre production, home textiles, even monitoring of the smallest details, like a sewing thread.
Generally, all textiles undergoing processing steps are eligible to achieve a STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certificate. The test involves fibres, threads, buttons, linings, up to the finished product and other components. This means all mattresses and textile products are tested thoroughly up to the smallest details with the OEKO-TEX® certification applicable to them.
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certificate is given to textile products and raw materials used for the textile chain that pass the OEKO-TEX® test criteria.
Moreover, OEKO-TEX® also implores environmental measures to guarantee that there are no harmful chemicals that can affect the environment that are used in the production process. These measures go beyond national and international requirements.
What are Product Classes?
Product classes are various articles grouped according to their intended use. These product classes are tested for harmful substances, standard requirements, and limit values before receiving the certification.
Below are the four product classes tested by OEKO-TEX® based on risk levels:
Product Class I. Clothes, linens, baby textiles, and other infant products up to 36 months old that bear the most rigorous standards and limit values. The certification system for this product class is more comprehensive.
Product Class II. This class includes textile products that have direct contact with the large skin area, like underwear, clothes, linen, mattresses, etc.
Product Class III. Items that do not have direct contact with the skin, like jackets and belts.
Product Class IV. Decorative home textiles like covers, table cloths, throws, curtains, and more.
What are the Pre-requisites for OEKO-TEX® Certification?
Vesper mattress went through several research, lab tests and OEKO-TEX® testing before being introduced in the mattress industry. This is because we want to thoroughly ensure that you will only receive the best and safest for your household.
Here is a glimpse of the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® manufacturer certification system.
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The manufacturer will submit an OEKO-TEX® application form.
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All components and materials of the mattress must comply with the required criteria and limit values for the product class to guarantee product safety and sustainable production. The product class criteria involve the regulation of different components and the prohibition of harmful substances that we listed above, as well as other prohibited chemicals within statutory requirements and those stated in the criteria. This includes production facilities, raw materials, and end products. Product class for infants and those that receive direct contact with the skin, including the mattress and linen products, are strictly monitored.
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Textiles tested and approved by an independent OEKO-TEX® facility that is not affiliated with the manufacturer, based on the criteria catalog, the signing will take place. Certification is only granted when all components and end products are certified.
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The OEKO-TEX® institute will issue the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certificate with a detailed report.
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An OEKO-TEX® specialist will visit the production facility to confirm the certification.
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The OEKO-TEX® certificate must be updated yearly to ensure the relevance of the standard.
Why is it Important to Pass the OEKO-TEX® Standard?
OEKO-TEX® certified products are trusted for their quality and safety, particularly for babies and items that come into direct contact with the skin, such as our mattresses. OEKO-TEX® also helps to ensure that the test criteria will ensure that manufacturers adhere to environmental protection throughout all processing levels, from textile production to finished product presentation.
Note that being OEKO-TEX® certified doesn't equate to receiving organic certification. It also doesn't mean that products with the OEKO-TEX® label cannot be certified organic. Organic certifications will require a different set of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) that is worth pursuing.
Why Choose OEKO-TEX® Certified Products?
OEKO-TEX® labels ensure that a textile product and certified articles achieve human ecological safety. This means that they are free from harmful substances. While an OEKO-TEX® certificate is not a requirement, many production facilities strive to achieve this to promote a healthy supply chain, supplier relationships and social responsibility.
Vesper Mattress- Our Favourite OEKO-TEX® Certified Mattress
Many mattress manufacturers incorporate volatile organic compounds during the production process. These VOCs and other harmful substances may cause multiple health issues. With Vesper's OEKO-TEX® label, you can ensure that our production sites, materials, and processes were strictly tested for harmful substances and passed the statutory requirements and OEKO-TEX® standard for safety. While we ensure the comfort and quality of every layer of Vesper mattress, we also strive to push through by offering products that are safe for both humans and the environment.
