In its Label Guide for Clothing, Greenpeace International(Germany) evaluated textile certification schemes, and OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN has been assessed as trustworthy. This recognition places MADE IN GREEN among only four certifications to receive this rating out of 21 evaluated labels.
Greenpeace Label Guide
The textile industry accounts for up to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and remains one of the main contributors to worldwide water pollution. As consumers increasingly seek sustainable alternatives, the market has seen a proliferation of environmental labels, often with limited transparency behind their claims.
Greenpeace developed the Label Guide to evaluate the most widespread certification schemes in the fashion sector, focusing on five critical areas:
- Independent control and transparent reporting
- Chemical management
- Further environmental impacts (raw materials, energy and water consumption)
- Scope (which parts of the supply chain are covered)
- Deceleration (slower production cycles and reduction of material consumption)
OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN rating
The Greenpeace assessment of OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN as “trustworthy” highlighted several strengths:
- Chemical Management MADE IN GREEN implements a best-practice chemical list that prohibits the use of hazardous chemicals in production and their release into wastewater and sewage sludge. The certification enforces strict limit values for all hazardous chemicals in end products.
- Supply chain coverage Production stages must be verified according to the OEKO-TEX® STeP certification for production facilities, which assesses chemical management, environmental management, workplace safety and social responsibility throughout the supply chain.
- Independent verification The certification requires independent controls through external testing institutes, ensuring that standards are consistently met and verified by third parties.
- Social standards Social criteria covered by MADE IN GREEN align with the core labour standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
What OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN stands for
OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN is a product label for textiles and leather articles that have been produced in environmentally responsible facilities with socially acceptable working conditions.
- Products carrying the MADE IN GREEN label meet several key requirements:
- Testing for harmful substances according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, ORGANIC COTTON or LEATHER STANDARD
- Production in facilities certified according to OEKO-TEX® STeP, which verifies sustainable manufacturing processes
- Traceable supply chains, with production facilities identifiable through unique product IDs or QR codes
- Compliance with global regulations, including the EU REACH directive and the CPSIA
For brands and manufacturers, MADE IN GREEN offers a framework for demonstrating verifiable environmental and social practices. For consumers, it provides a tool for more informed purchasing decisions. By scanning the QR code or entering a MADE IN GREEN product ID in the OEKO-TEX® Label Check, consumers can verify the production journey of their textiles.
