COMPLIANCE
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 for Button Buyers
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is the certification European and North American buyers most often ask a button supplier to hold. It confirms that a tested article is free from harmful substance levels above the standard's limits, verified by an independent institute. This guide covers what it actually certifies for a button, how to verify a certificate in two minutes, and — equally important — what the certificate does not cover.
What STANDARD 100 Certifies
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is a testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate and end products. A certified article has been tested by an independent OEKO-TEX® institute against a published limit list covering:
- Substances banned by law, including certain azo colourants and carcinogenic dyes
- Legally regulated substances such as formaldehyde
- Chemicals known to be harmful to health but not yet legally regulated
- Parameters for health protection, such as a skin-friendly pH value
Buttons, buckles, rivets and other garment hardware fall within the scope when they are part of a certified article or separately certified in their own right. Because a button sits against skin or against fabric that touches skin, buyers in the EU and North America increasingly treat hardware certification as a baseline requirement rather than a bonus.
Product Classes: Which One Applies to Your Garment
STANDARD 100 is issued in four product classes, and the class determines how strict the limits are. A certificate is only meaningful if the class matches how the garment is worn.
| Product class | Applies to | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| Class I | Articles for babies and toddlers up to 3 years | Strictest limits |
| Class II | Articles worn close to the skin over a large area | Very strict |
| Class III | Articles worn away from the skin | Moderate |
| Class IV | Furnishing and decoration materials | Least strict |
How to Verify a Certificate in Two Minutes
Never accept a certificate as a scanned image alone. An image can be edited or reused. Every valid OEKO-TEX® certificate carries a certificate number and an issuing institute, and both can be checked against the official database.
- Ask your supplier for the certificate number and the name of the issuing institute.
- Go to oeko-tex.com and open the certificate check on the official site.
- Enter the certificate number.
- Confirm three things: the certificate is valid (not expired), the certificate holder is the company you are buying from, and the product class and scope cover the item you are buying.
If any of the three does not match, ask why before placing the order. A common and legitimate situation is a supplier whose certificate is held by a parent company or by the raw-material producer rather than the trading entity you are invoiced by — that is acceptable only if the certificate chain is explained and documented.
What the Certificate Does Not Cover
This is the part that causes disputes, so it is worth stating plainly. STANDARD 100 is a test on harmful substances at the time of testing. It is not:
- A needle-detection guarantee. Metal fragments in a shipment are a separate risk and are controlled by 1.0mm needle detection on the production line, not by any chemical certificate.
- A nickel-release certificate. Nickel release on skin-contact metal parts is tested to EN 1811 / EN 12472, a different test with a different report.
- A REACH SVHC declaration. REACH SVHC compliance is a separate regulatory obligation with its own documentation, even though a STANDARD 100 certificate supports the position.
- A performance test. Pull strength, torque, colour fastness to washing and corrosion resistance are physical properties, tested separately.
- A guarantee for every batch. The certificate covers the tested article and the scope stated on it. If you change material, plating or supplier of the raw stock, the position should be re-confirmed.
What to Ask a Supplier
- What is your OEKO-TEX® certificate number, and which institute issued it?
- Which product class does it cover, and does that class match my garment category?
- Is the certificate holder the entity that will invoice me?
- When does the certificate expire, and how is renewal handled?
- Can you supply the REACH SVHC declaration and the per-batch needle-detection record as well?
Quick Answers
Do you hold OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100?
Yes. We hold OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification, and the certificate number and issuing institute are shared on request so you can verify it directly on oeko-tex.com.
How do I verify an OEKO-TEX certificate?
Go to oeko-tex.com, open the certificate check, and enter the certificate number. Confirm the certificate is valid, the holder is your supplier, and the product class and scope match your article.
Does OEKO-TEX cover nickel release?
No. Nickel release is tested separately to EN 1811 / EN 12472. For metal parts worn against skin, ask for the nickel-release report in addition to the OEKO-TEX certificate.
Does OEKO-TEX prove there are no needle fragments?
No. Needle contamination is controlled by 1.0mm needle detection on the production line, documented per batch. It is a separate control from chemical certification.
Is OEKO-TEX required to sell buttons in the EU?
It is not a blanket legal requirement, but it is widely required by buyers in the EU and North America as a condition of supply, and it supports your REACH position. In practice, treat it as required.
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