OEKO-TEX, GOTS, GRS and Better Cotton: what each one proves.
Certifications answer different questions. Mixing them up is how a programme ends up with the wrong paperwork at the wrong time.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Proves the finished fabric has been tested for harmful substances. It says nothing about where the fibre came from. Most buyers expect it as a baseline.
GOTS
The Global Organic Textile Standard covers organic fibre and the processing after it, including chemicals and social criteria. A product labelled organic needs at least 95% certified organic fibre; "made with organic" needs at least 70%.
GRS
The Global Recycled Standard verifies recycled content and tracks it through the supply chain. A product needs at least 50% recycled content to carry the GRS label.
Better Cotton
Formerly BCI. It supports better farming practices and works mostly on a mass-balance basis, so it doesn't guarantee the cotton in a given roll is physically Better Cotton.
