OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is an independent certification confirming a textile has been tested for harmful substances, chemical dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and hundreds of other regulated compounds, and found safe for the way it's meant to be used. It's run by a network of independent institutes, not the manufacturer itself, which is what makes it worth checking for rather than taking on faith.
Here's what it actually tests, which class of bedding it applies to, and how to verify a certificate yourself before you buy.
What Does OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Test For?
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 tests finished textiles against more than 1,000 regulated and unregulated substances, from banned dyes and formaldehyde to heavy metals and pesticide residues. Testing covers every component of the product, not just the main fabric. Thread, buttons, zips, and trims are all checked, since a certified sheet set is only as safe as its weakest part.
The standard dates back to 1992 and is administered by a group of independent research and testing institutes across Europe and Japan. Limit values are reviewed at least once a year, which means the bar a product has to clear can get stricter over time, rather than staying fixed at whatever passed a decade ago.
The Four Product Classes, and Which One Bedding Falls Under
In OEKO-TEX certification, products are tested against different limits depending on the level of skin contact they involve and the likely user's vulnerability.
|
Class |
Skin contact level |
Typical products |
|
Class I |
Highest, most vulnerable users |
Baby and toddler items, up to age 3 |
|
Class II |
Direct, prolonged contact |
Bed linen, underwear, towels |
|
Class III |
Limited or no direct contact |
Jackets, outerwear linings |
|
Class IV |
Decorative, no skin contact |
Curtains, upholstery |
Bed sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases fall under Class II, the second-strictest tier, because bedding touches skin directly for hours every night, even if it's not held to the baby-specific Class I threshold.
Alma's Duvet Cover and Bamboo Pillowcase use premium bamboo viscose certified by OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, ensuring it's free of harmful substances.
Is OEKO-TEX the Same as Organic or GOTS?
No. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 tests for chemical safety in the finished product. GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certifies that the raw fibre was grown organically and processed in accordance with specific environmental and labour standards. A textile can hold one certification without the other, and neither automatically implies the other.
This distinction matters when comparing bedding brands. A set can be genuinely OEKO-TEX certified without being organic, and a set marketed as "organic" isn't automatically free of harmful processing chemicals unless it separately carries OEKO-TEX or an equivalent chemical-safety certification.
We've covered this split more specifically here: Organic vs OEKO-TEX: What's the Difference in Bedding?
How to Verify an OEKO-TEX Certificate Is Real
Every genuine OEKO-TEX label carries a unique, case-sensitive certificate number and the name of the testing institute that issued it.
You can check both directly using OEKO-TEX's own Label Check tool: enter the certificate number, and it returns the certificate holder's legal name, the product class, and the current validity dates.
If a label carries no number at all, or the number returns no result, that's a label worth questioning rather than trusting the strength of the logo alone. It takes under a minute and is the single most reliable way to tell a genuine certification from a green-sounding badge with nothing behind it.
Is OEKO-TEX Certification Worth Trusting?
Yes. The credibility comes from who's doing the testing: independent institutes, not the brand or factory itself, re-verify products annually against limit values that get reviewed and tightened over time. That's a meaningfully different structure from a company simply stating that its product is "chemical-free" with no outside verification.
That said, certification is specific, not universal. It confirms the tested product is free of harmful substances at the levels checked. It doesn't make broader claims about sustainability, organic sourcing, or environmental impact on its own.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 vs Made in Green by OEKO-TEX
Made in Green by OEKO-TEX, introduced in 2015, is a separate, higher tier that combines Standard 100's chemical safety testing with STeP certification of the factory's environmental and labour practices, plus a QR code or unique ID that traces the product back to its production site.
-
Standard 100 answers "Is this product free of harmful substances?"
-
Made in Green additionally answers "Was it made responsibly?"
The two aren't interchangeable, and a product can hold one without the other.
What This Means for Alma's Bedding
Every Alma bamboo sheet set is OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, meaning it's been independently tested for harmful substances at the Class II level, which is appropriate for bedding. The certificate number is on the product's label and hangtag, and you're welcome to run it through OEKO-TEX's own Label Check tool rather than take our word for it.
That's exactly what the certification is designed for.
Every order is also backed by Alma's 60-night sleep trial, so you can test the certification claims against your own skin before being fully assured. See our FAQ page for more details on shipping & trial.
Sleep deep, dream big!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is OEKO-TEX Standard 100?
A. An independent certification that tests textiles for harmful substances, covering more than 1,000 regulated and unregulated chemicals across every component of the product, not just the main fabric.
Q. Is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 the same as organic?
A. No. OEKO-TEX tests for chemical safety in the finished textile; organic certifications like GOTS cover how the raw fibre was farmed. A product can hold either certification without the other.
Q. Is OEKO-TEX certification actually safe and legit?
A. Yes. Testing and re-certification are carried out by independent institutes, not the brand itself, and limit values are reviewed at least annually, which is what sets this apart from a brand's own unverified safety claims.
Q. What's the difference between OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and Made in Green?
A. Standard 100 certifies the finished product is free of harmful substances. Made in Green adds factory-level sustainability and labour auditing, plus full supply-chain traceability, on top of the same chemical testing.
Q. Which OEKO-TEX class covers bed sheets?
A. Class II, the tier for products with direct, prolonged skin contact. Class I is reserved specifically for baby and toddler items.
Q. How do I check if a certificate is real?
A. Enter the certificate number from the label into OEKO-TEX's own Label Check tool at oeko-tex.com. A genuine certificate returns the certified company's name, product class, and current validity dates.