In the textile industry, choosing a safety and quality certification for products is an important factor to ensure prestige and trust from customers. GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and Oeko-Tex are two of the leading certifications trusted by many brands worldwide. However, each certification has different evaluation criteria and requirements, leading to its own suitability for each type of product and business goals. This article will help you better understand the differences between GOTS and Oeko-Tex, thereby choosing the most suitable certification for your textile products.
What are GOTS and Oeko-Tex?
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and Oeko-Tex are two of the most important certifications for safety and sustainability in the textile industry. Both aim to protect consumers and the environment through strict and highly standardized production processes.
GOTS: An international certification for organic textile products, GOTS focuses on the use of organic fibers and environmentally friendly production processes. Established in 2006, this certification requires products to contain at least 70% organic fibers and be free of harmful chemicals. This helps protect both the environment and the health of consumers.
Oeko-Tex: Oeko-Tex is a European certification system, launched in 1992, to ensure that products do not contain harmful substances that can endanger human health. What is special is that this certification is not limited to organic products, but can be applied to any product that meets chemical safety standards.
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Similarities between GOTS and Oeko-Tex
Both GOTS and Oeko-Tex certifications aim to protect consumers and the environment, but do so in different ways:
Focus on chemical safety
Both GOTS and Oeko-Tex ensure that textile products are free of harmful chemicals that can have adverse effects on human health. This gives consumers peace of mind when using certified products.
Promoting sustainable production
Both certifications aim to reduce the negative impact of the textile industry on the environment, encourage production processes that use less harmful chemicals and protect resources.
Differences between GOTS and Oeko-Tex
Despite many similarities, GOTS and Oeko-Tex still have fundamental differences in assessment criteria and certification scope:
Fiber origin
GOTS requires products to contain at least 70% organic fibers, while Oeko-Tex does not have specific requirements on fiber origin, but only focuses on the chemical safety of the final product.
Scope of application
GOTS applies mainly to textile products made from organic fibers and has strict requirements from the cultivation stage to the production and processing stages. In contrast, Oeko-Tex is more flexible, can be applied to any textile product that meets chemical safety standards, without restrictions on the origin of raw materials.
Level certification
GOTS provides certification for the entire supply chain from raw materials to the final product, while Oeko-Tex focuses on testing the final product to ensure that it does not contain harmful chemicals.
Applications of GOTS and Oeko-Tex in the international textile industry
Globally, both GOTS and Oeko-Tex have been widely adopted in the textile industry to enhance product reputation and create consumer trust:
GOTS
Widely used in Europe and North America, GOTS is becoming increasingly popular as consumers tend to favor organic and environmentally friendly products. According to reports, in 2022, more than 12,000 factories worldwide were GOTS certified, indicating an increasing demand for organic textile products.
Oeko-Tex
Countries such as Germany, Switzerland and many other European countries are home to the most Oeko-Tex certified products. Statistics from Oeko-Tex show that, as of 2023, more than 30,000 companies have applied this standard, mainly for fashion and home furnishings.
Application of GOTS and Oeko-Tex in Vietnam
In Vietnam, textile and garment enterprises are increasingly interested in certifications such as GOTS and Oeko-Tex to increase competitiveness and meet international market demands:
GOTS
Vietnamese enterprises such as Song Hong Garment and Thanh Cong Textile and Garment have begun to include GOTS-certified products in their export catalogs to attract customers from the US and European markets, which have strict requirements on safety and sustainability. In 2023, according to data from the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, about 200 domestic enterprises have registered for GOTS certification for their products.
Oeko-Tex
Oeko-Tex is also being applied by many domestic enterprises, especially companies specializing in the production of garments and home furnishings such as Vinatex and Phong Phu, to meet export standards to demanding markets. By the end of 2022, the number of products meeting Oeko-Tex standards in Vietnam increased by 15% compared to the previous year, reflecting the growth trend of health-safe products.
The choice between GOTS and Oeko-Tex depends on the specific needs of the enterprise. While GOTS is suitable for organic products and closed supply chains, Oeko-Tex is a more diverse choice for products that want to ensure chemical safety without necessarily being organic. Regardless of which certification is chosen, Vietnamese textile and garment enterprises can enhance their reputation and competitiveness in the international market.