Short answer
They answer different questions and you need to know which one you are being asked for. GOTS certifies that the fibre is organically grown and that the entire chain to the finished garment meets organic processing standards. OEKO-TEX certifies that the finished product has been tested for harmful substances and meets human-ecology requirements. Neither replaces the other, and many buyers need both.
Key points
- GOTS is about the fibre and the chain. OEKO-TEX is about what is in the finished product.
- GOTS covers at least 70% organic fibre for the "organic" claim; "made with organic" starts at 30%.
- OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 tests for harmful substances. It is not an organic claim and does not imply one.
- GOTS is the only one of the two that supports an organic claim on the product.
- Both require the mill to hold the certificate — a factory cannot certify its own fabric retrospectively.
These two get confused constantly, usually because both appear on the same garment and both sound like they mean "sustainable". They do not overlap.
The difference in one line
**GOTS** asks: was this fibre grown organically, and was every step from field to finished product handled to an organic standard? **OEKO-TEX** asks: does the finished product contain harmful substances above the tested thresholds?
One is about origin and chain of custody. The other is about chemical safety. Neither implies the other.
GOTS in detail
GOTS — the Global Organic Textile Standard — certifies the whole process. A GOTS-certified garment means the fibre was organically grown, the spinning and weaving met organic processing requirements, and the dyeing and manufacturing met the standard too.
For the claim itself, the thresholds are regulated:
| Claim | Minimum organic fibre |
|---|---|
| "Organic" | 70% or more |
| "Made with organic" | 30% or more |
Below those thresholds the product cannot carry the claim at all. That is why the certified percentage matters commercially, not just technically — it determines what you are allowed to print on the label and say in your marketing.
OEKO-TEX in detail
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 tests the finished product against a list of harmful substances. It certifies the product is tested to human-ecology requirements.
What it does not do: it makes no claim about how anything was grown. An OEKO-TEX-certified garment can be made from conventional cotton. That is not a flaw in the certification — it answers a different question.
What it does do: it is what most importers actually need. Chemical safety is what EU and US regulations are concerned with, and an OEKO-TEX certificate is evidence your product has been tested against those thresholds.
Which one do you need
| If you need to... | You need |
|---|---|
| Say "organic" in your marketing or on the product | GOTS |
| Evidence of chemical safety for import compliance | OEKO-TEX |
| Both claims | Both |
| Recycled content claim | GRS — neither of these |
The practical ordering
The mill holds the certification, not the garment factory. A sewing facility cannot make its own fabric organic or certified retrospectively, and any supplier who offers to is telling you something you need to know.
The workable sequence is: you specify the certified fabric, the mill supplies it with its current certificate, we sew it, and the certification documentation travels with the order. If the fabric is not available in the certification you need, that is a conversation to have before you design, not after.
What travels with the order
We supply the chain-of-custody file with the bulk order rather than after it. The standard on the label has to match the standard on the file, and the fibre in the garment has to match both — which means the documentation is part of the production, not an afterthought.
Where to go next
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim organic with only OEKO-TEX?
No. OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certifies that harmful substances are below tested thresholds. It makes no claim about how the fibre was grown. Only GOTS supports an organic claim.
Does GOTS require the finished garment to be certified?
GOTS covers the whole chain including manufacturing. A GOTS-certified garment means the fibre, the processing and the sewing all met the standard, which is why the scope is wider than a fibre certificate.
What does "made with organic" mean?
A lower GOTS threshold than "organic" — 30% or more organic fibre rather than 70%. It is a real and permitted claim, but the wording is regulated and must match the certified percentage.
Do I need both?
Often yes. OEKO-TEX answers chemical safety, which is what most EU and US import requirements care about. GOTS answers the organic claim, which is what your marketing needs. They are complementary, not competing.
Who certifies the fabric?
The mill. A garment factory cannot make its own fabric organic or OEKO-TEX certified. We work with certified mills and supply the certification documentation with the order.