Oeko-Tex launches organic cotton certification
Swiss certification agency Oeko-Tex has launched a testing and certification system for organic cotton products that can differentiate between contamination and purposeful mixing of conventional cotton.
The agency has been testing and certifying organic cotton since the launch of Oeko-Tex Standard 10 over 30 years ago but as the use of organic cotton in fashion and textiles has increased, there have been requests to create a separate category.
Georg Dieners, Oeko-Tex general secretary, said: “Our response to this development is a comprehensive, independent and objective testing and certification system for textile products made of organic cotton throughout the whole production chain.
The testing method differentiates between intentional mixing versus unavoidable contamination (eg from fibre flight) with conventional cotton. For the launch, Oekto-Tex has set a limit of less than 10% GMOs. The intention is to gather knowledge through incoming data, then adapt the limit value to develop the certification.
Starting with the ginning phase, each change of ownership requires a transaction certificate as well as documentation proving the transaction, such as relevant invoices and delivery. These steps are repeated annually with a focus on traceability.
Mr Dieners added: “End consumers receive a reliable, manufacturer-independent product label. This means safer, organic cotton products that have been tested along the whole chain of custody - a valuable contribution to effective consumer protection.”
