To ensure the quality of your mattress, monitoring its composition is essential to ensure a good night's restful sleep. The OEKO-TEX label is an international standard that guarantees the ecological and health quality of textile products. Created in 1992, this label is now recognized worldwide. It helps reassure consumers about the composition of the products they buy. In this article, we will explain in detail what the OEKO-TEX label is, how it works, and its benefits.
What is the OEKO-TEX label?
The OEKO-TEX label is a certification that guarantees that textile products meet strict ecological and health quality criteria. To obtain this certification, products must be tested in independent laboratories. A list of criteria defined by the OEKO-TEX association is used to assess product quality. These criteria include the presence of substances harmful to health and the environment, the quality of the product's coloring and finishing, compliance with safety standards, as well as the durability and strength of textile products.
This certification has become increasingly popular in the bedding industry. It assures consumers that the products they purchase do not contain harmful chemicals.
What criteria are used for OEKO-TEX verifications?
The verification procedures for OEKO-TEX certification depend on the intended use of the materials and the final product. For example, the requirements are stricter for products that come into direct contact with consumers' skin . In addition to bed linen (covers, sheets, pillowcases, etc.), underwear and clothing are also covered. Therefore, the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification has divided products into different classes based on the stringency of the established criteria.
Class 1 covers products for babies up to 3 years old, such as rompers, bedding, and clothing. Class 2 includes products that come into close contact with the skin . Class 3 covers products that come into relatively little contact with the skin , such as jackets. Finally, Class 4 covers products intended for domestic use, such as tablecloths or curtains.
What does OEKO-TEX Standard 100 correspond to?
The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 label is a certification system that specifically assesses the quality and safety of textiles. This label examines the materials used in the production of bedding, such as mattresses, duvets, and pillows. It is recognized worldwide and certifies that it contains no harmful chemicals. This is necessary because bedding products can contain harmful chemicals. These can cause numerous health problems. In the short term, skin irritations and headaches; in the long term, cancer and hormonal disorders.
This label is based on a set of very strict criteria that are regularly updated to meet the latest legal and scientific requirements. Independent laboratories conduct tests on more than 300 substances harmful to health. These substances include azo dyes, pesticides, heavy metals, and phthalates. Our mattress range: the Original and the Pearl , are both OEKO-TEX certified. They guarantee a sound sleep while respecting your health and nature.
In addition to guaranteeing the absence of harmful substances, the Oeko-Tex label also encourages sustainable practices. Companies that obtain Oeko-Tex certification meet numerous strict standards. These include waste management, energy and water consumption, and reducing their environmental impact.
How is a bedding product certified OEKO-TEX Standard 100?
The OEKO-TEX certification process is a strict, multi-step procedure. It ensures that the product is safe for human health and environmentally friendly. Here are the main steps of the OEKO-TEX certification process:
- Certification application: The manufacturer submits an application for certification for its product to one of OEKO-TEX's partner certification institutes.
- Product evaluation: The certification institute evaluates the product according to the OEKO-TEX label criteria, which include tests on raw materials, dyes, and additives used in the product. There are several prohibited products such as dyes, formaldehyde, nickel, etc.
- Laboratory tests: Laboratory tests check for the presence of harmful substances. These tests meet strict standards. They may include tests for carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins, and other substances.
- Conformity assessment: If the product passes all laboratory tests, it undergoes an assessment of its conformity with the requirements of the OEKO-TEX label. The assessment criteria include maximum concentration limits for harmful substances and product processing and maintenance requirements.
- Awarding the label: If the product meets all the requirements of the OEKO-TEX label, it is authorized to use the OEKO-TEX logo on its packaging and advertising. The logo is accompanied by a unique certification number, which can be used to verify the validity of the certification.
The OEKO-TEX certification process ensures that bedding products bearing this label are guaranteed safe for human health and environmentally friendly. All Maison Alba products have this label, such as the Cloud pillow and the Touch mattress topper .
The benefits of choosing an OEKO-TEX certified product
The OEKO-TEX label is more than just a guarantee of quality for your mattress. By choosing an OEKO-TEX mattress, you also ensure your health and that of your child . Indeed, the certification guarantees compliance with very strict hygiene rules during the manufacture of the mattress. These include environmental health standards, the use of lead , and the absence of harmful chemicals.
People with dust mite allergies can also enjoy a more peaceful sleep on an OEKO-TEX mattress. This certification guarantees effective anti-dust mite treatment. Additionally, we recommend opting for OEKO-TEX and anti-dust mite bed linen for enhanced protection. There are also many other methods you can follow to prevent dust mites in your bedding, which you can discover in our previous article .
It's important to note that choosing an OEKO-TEX mattress is particularly crucial for your child's bedding. Choosing the best OEKO-TEX baby mattress is essential. You can ensure your child's well-being, growth, and restful sleep. The OEKO-TEX label ensures your child's safety and health by preventing any exposure to harmful substances.
An OEKO-TEX mattress is a responsible choice that guarantees a healthy and peaceful sleep while preserving the environment. It's an internationally recognized quality certification that will allow you to sleep soundly.
What are the reasons that motivated OEKO-TEXÂź to carry out tests on mattresses?
Particularly to protect babies and children, and also because of the many abuses present in the bedding market. OEKO-TEX has a very specific mission: to control several essential points so that mattresses are completely safe, especially for children and babies.
Compliance with safety and pollutant requirements
Testers ensure that children's mattresses meet the required safety standards. While mattress manufacturers are under no obligation to comply with DIN EN 16890, they may choose to have their products tested to ensure their safety. The European standard DIN EN 16890 sets high safety standards for children's mattresses, requiring them to be designed to prevent children from suffocating, becoming trapped, strangling, or swallowing small parts while sleeping. Furthermore, baby mattresses must not contain significant amounts of harmful substances, and are subject to testing to this effect.
Check small parts and stickers
To prevent any risk of suffocation or swallowing dangerous parts, it is crucial that baby mattresses do not contain small detachable parts or stickers . Some mattresses may not pass the test because they are deemed non-compliant. For example, two mattresses were found to be non-compliant: one had a cover zipper handle that was prone to breakage, and the other had mattress filling that was too easily accessible.
Check the hardness and size of the mattresses
Mattresses that are too soft can pose a high risk to babies because they can sink too deeply into the mattress, which can lead to an inability to breathe and potentially suffocation. Therefore, OEKO-TEX assessed the firmness of children's mattresses using a test using special balls, which verified that the ball did not sink too deeply into the mattress.
It is crucial that mattresses have precise dimensions to prevent, for example, babies from getting trapped between the mattress and the bed frame. If the mattress is too big or too small, this can pose a safety risk.
In conclusion, the OEKO-TEX label for bedding guarantees that products meet strict safety, health, and environmental standards. Consumers can trust products bearing this label. The tests are reliable and conducted by independent experts to detect the presence of substances harmful to health and the environment. By choosing bedding products with the OEKO-TEX label, consumers can be assured that they are making a responsible choice for their health and the environment.
