How to check an Oeko-Tex certificate

Short answer: You check an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certificate by finding the number on the label and looking it up on the Oeko-Tex website. There you see who the certificate was issued to and what it covers. It takes a few minutes and gives a more exact answer than the label alone.

Find the number on the label

An Oeko-Tex label has a test number and the name of an institute. The number is the key when you want to check the certificate, and it is often on a small label inside the sweater or in the description. If it is missing, you cannot check anything. See a selection of bamboo hoodie for men.

Look the number up online

Go to the Oeko-Tex website, find the place for label checks and enter the number together with the code that is required. The certificate is then shown, and you can see whether it is valid. Copy the number exactly, because a single character can give a different result.

What you see in the certificate

The certificate shows who it was issued to, which product groups it covers and when it expires. It also shows the product class. Check that the product group matches what you are buying instead of assuming that the label applies to everything a company sells.

Expiry date and validity

A certificate applies for a certain period and must then be renewed. If the date has passed, the certificate can no longer document anything about the item. Always look for the date. If you are in doubt, you can contact the institute named on the label.

What the certificate covers

A certificate can cover the fabric but not necessarily every part of a sweater. It is therefore worth reading what it says. Prints, buttons or other parts may fall outside its scope. That is not unusual, but it is important to know.

What the certificate does not say

Oeko-Tex Standard 100 says nothing about the place of production, working conditions or the life of the sweater. It also says nothing about fit. The label is information about the content of certain substances, and it is not an assessment of everything that makes a sweatshirt good.

Unclear or fake labels

Some labels look like the real one but have no number and no institute. If a label cannot be checked, you should not give it weight. Ask the seller if you are unsure, and ask for the number. A serious seller can give it to you.

Check first, then choose

Once you have checked the certificate, you can compare it with the description and choose by fit and fabric. For combinations, look at socks for men and long sleeve models, which suit everyday wear alongside the sweater.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the Oeko-Tex number?

Look at the label in the garment or in the product description. The number appears together with the name of the test institute and is used to look the certificate up online.

What if I cannot find a number?

Then you cannot check the label. Ask the seller for the number, and be careful about giving the label weight if it cannot be documented.

Does the certificate cover the whole sweater?

Not always. It may cover the fabric but not every part such as prints or buttons. Read what the certificate includes before you draw conclusions.

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