You'll see "OEKO-TEX® certified" on baby product after baby product — often right next to "100% cotton" or "organic." But what does that certification actually check for, and why should it matter to you as a parent?
It's not about the fibre — it's about what's left behind
Growing and processing fabric involves more than just cotton. Dyes, finishing treatments, and manufacturing chemicals can leave behind trace residues in the finished product — even in fabric that's technically "100% cotton." OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is an independent test that checks the finished product for exactly these residues, not just the raw material.
What it actually tests for
The certification screens for over 100 substances, including banned and regulated chemicals, allergenic dyes, heavy metals, and formaldehyde — all at limits stricter than most national safety regulations, and tightest for products meant for babies specifically. There are different product classes, and Class I (baby items) has the most rigorous limits of all.
Why "independent" is the key word
Any brand can write "safe for baby skin" on a label. OEKO-TEX® certification means an independent, accredited institute has actually tested the product and verified the claim — it isn't the brand grading its own homework.
How it's different from "organic"
These two get confused often, but they check different things. GOTS (organic) certification verifies how the cotton was grown — without synthetic pesticides or GMOs — and tracks that organic integrity through manufacturing. OEKO-TEX® checks the finished product for harmful substance residue, regardless of how the fibre was grown. A product can be OEKO-TEX® certified without being organic; the strongest combination is both.
What this means for Hug Swaddle
Every single Hug Swaddle product carries OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification (11-31561) — not just our organic range. Our organic-tier products carry GOTS certification on top of that. Two independent checks, not one brand's word.