Introduction
Certification requests are becoming increasingly common in international apparel sourcing.
But asking for “a sustainable certificate” is not specific enough.
Different textile standards address different issues.
For example, OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 focuses on testing textiles for harmful substances, while GOTS covers organic textile supply chains and includes environmental and social criteria. GRS focuses on recycled materials and related processing requirements.
Understanding these differences helps buyers avoid requesting the wrong certification.
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is a textile safety certification focused on harmful substances.
OEKO-TEX states that STANDARD 100 covers textiles and components tested against requirements for harmful substances, with criteria applying from yarn through finished products.
It can therefore be relevant when the buyer’s main concern is:
- Textile safety
- Restricted substances
- Skin contact
- Textile components
- Chemical-related product requirements
It should not automatically be described as an organic certification.
GOTS
GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard.
It addresses organic textile production across the supply chain and includes environmental and social requirements, chemical management, traceability, and claims integrity.
GOTS Version 8.0 was released in March 2026 and becomes mandatory for relevant audits from March 1, 2027, following the transition period.
This makes the current version especially important for buyers planning longer-term sourcing programs.
GRS
GRS stands for Global Recycled Standard.
Textile Exchange describes GRS as a standard designed to support the use and verification of recycled materials and more climate-friendly processing.
The GRS system is therefore relevant when the buyer wants a product containing verified recycled material.
The certification should not be confused with GOTS simply because both can appear in sustainability-related sourcing discussions.
The Three Standards Address Different Questions
A simplified comparison is:
| Standard | Main focus |
|---|---|
| OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 | Harmful-substance testing and textile safety |
| GOTS | Organic textile supply chain and broader environmental/social requirements |
| GRS | Recycled materials and related supply-chain requirements |
This does not mean that one standard is universally better than another.
The appropriate certification depends on what the customer needs to demonstrate.
Why Buyers Should Check the Scope
A factory saying:
“We can make GRS products.”
is not necessarily enough.
Buyers should verify:
- Certificate holder
- Certificate number
- Product scope
- Certified facility
- Validity period
- Applicable materials
- Certification body
The same principle applies to other certification claims.
Certification Does Not Replace Product Specifications
A certification does not automatically define:
- Garment measurements
- Fabric weight
- Color
- Construction
- Printing method
- Packaging
- Delivery requirements
These still need to be specified separately.
Certification should therefore be treated as one part of the product specification.
What Buyers Should Ask
Before ordering certified apparel, ask:
- Which standard is required?
- Is the certification for the factory, material, product, or supply chain?
- Who holds the certificate?
- Is the certificate currently valid?
- Does the certificate cover the actual material?
- Is transaction or supply-chain documentation required?
- Can the certification be verified independently?
These questions are especially important when a certification claim is part of the customer’s marketing or compliance requirements.
Our Approach to Custom Apparel
For custom apparel projects involving certification requirements, we first identify the customer’s actual requirement rather than treating every sustainability certification as interchangeable.
The certification requirement can then be incorporated into material selection, supplier coordination, production documentation, and order verification.
This helps ensure that the final product matches the customer’s intended certification claim.
Conclusion
OEKO-TEX, GOTS, and GRS are not interchangeable labels.
They address different areas of textile production and product claims.
For international custom apparel buyers, understanding what each standard actually covers can make supplier communication more precise and reduce the risk of requesting a certification that does not match the intended product claim.
