10 years of the OEKO-TEX® - MADE IN GREEN

10 Years of Transparency, Responsibility, and Traceability – OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN

In 2025, the OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN label celebrates its 10th anniversary. Over the past decade, it has become a globally recognized symbol of sustainable textile production – guaranteeing product safety, environmentally friendly manufacturing, and fair working conditions.

“Brands and retailers must remain at the forefront of both current and emerging consumer expectations, as well as evolving regulatory requirements, which increasingly scrutinise the entire production history of a given product,” – Jean-Pierre Haug, COO of Testex (an OEKO-TEX® institute)

Born from the Rana Plaza Tragedy – A New Standard Emerges

The label was launched in April 2015 in response to the Rana Plaza factory collapse, which raised global awareness about social and environmental responsibility in the textile industry. Building on over two decades of experience, OEKO-TEX® created MADE IN GREEN as a traceable certification system that unites safety, sustainability, and social responsibility in a single, easily verifiable label.

What Does the MADE IN GREEN Label Guarantee?

To carry the label, products must meet multiple OEKO-TEX® certification criteria, including:

• STANDARD 100– ensuring product safety
• STeP certification – verifying environmental and social compliance

Production facilities must also adhere to strict standards for occupational health and safety, chemical safety, and the core principles of the International Labour Organization (ILO) – such as the prohibition of child labour, freedom of association, and non-discrimination.

A Global Benchmark in Just Ten Years

Interest in the MADE IN GREEN label is growing rapidly:

• 16,927 labels issued in 2024, across 39 countries
• Over 43,000 total labels granted to more than 9,200 manufacturers
• Common products include bedding, towels, t-shirts, workwear, yoga mats, and play mats
• Key markets: Germany, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, China, the USA, and the UK

End consumers are also placing increasing value on transparency: in 2024 alone, more than 300,000 QR codes on MADE IN GREEN labels were scanned, allowing users to trace the product’s journey from production to retail.

Recognized by Independent Bodies – Building Trust

The credibility of the MADE IN GREEN label is affirmed by numerous independent organizations, including:

• Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly
• ITC Standards Map
• France’s Refashion Eco Modulation Bonus
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Greenpeace Label Guide, where it received one of the highest ratings

“When Greenpeace included us in their Label Guide in 2018, it was a great honour. OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN was among the three best labels in the test,” – Martin Cieslik, Hohenstein Group

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