5 key voluntary certifications when exporting textile products to the EU 

1. OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100

OEKO-TEX is a globally recognized certification system for textiles tested for harmful substances. It aims to ensure that textiles, leather, and related materials meet safety and sustainability criteria throughout the product lifecycle. 

Among all the standards that the ‌ OEKO-TEX  certification system offers (such as OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, and OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT), OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is the most widely accepted and frequently used certification standard in the textile industry. It sets the benchmark for textile safety, from yarn to finished product.  Any item bearing the STANDARD 100 label is tested and certified to be free of hazardous substances. 

For certain textile manufacturers, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, a key hurdle lies in the screening of over 300 hazardous chemicals—including formaldehyde, bisphenol A (BPA), and PFAS compounds. Moreover, infant-specific textiles face heightened compliance criteria, requiring rigorous color retention assessments and simulated saliva/sweat resistance tests to ensure safety. 

Designed to protect consumer health and promote environmentally responsible practices, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 has emerged as one of the most globally recognized certification labels, in particular for brands dedicated to chemical safety assurance.  

‌2. SEDEX

Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (SEDEX) is intended to improve labor conditions and ethical practices across global supply chains. Companies will have to disclose, share, and manage their data regarding, among others, environmental impact, health and safety practices, and ethical governance, via a centralized platform. These companies will have to pass 4-pillar audit (labor rights, health and safety, environment, business ethics), with strict requirements for compliance, including working hours and fire protection facilities. While little technical effort is required, the zero tolerance issues (such as child labor exposures) may lead to audit failure. 

Though not limited to the textile sector, this certification is critical for textile brands committed to ethical labor standards and minimizing exploitation risks in production.  

3. BCI

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is dedicated to improving cotton farming practices and promoting the sustainable development of the cotton sector, with the goal of establishing better cotton as a mainstream sustainable commodity worldwide‌. Better cotton refers to cotton produced by BCI-certified farmers under the Better Cotton Standard or equivalent criteria. It emphasizes training farmers to adopt rational use of fertilizers and pesticides, implementing standardized operations to reduce damage to crops and soil, efficiently utilizing water resources, and protecting workers’ rights‌. 

While it certifies cotton cultivation‌ practices instead of the final products, the BCI is broadly requested by clients from the EU to textile manufacturers to verify that their cotton, as a raw material, is sourced in a sustainable and ethical manner. Therefore, textile manufacturers may need to restructure their cotton supply chain.

4. FSC

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification aims to address deforestation, biodiversity loss, and unethical forestry practices and to promote responsible forest management and sustainable use of forest resources. It ensures that not only the wood-based textile fibers (such as viscose and rayon), but also the paper materials coming together with the textile products (including the hangtags, adhesive labels, and cardboard packaging) originate from responsibly managed forests. 

While FSC certification consists of two components—Forest Management (FM) and Chain of Custody (COC)—the COC certification is more relevant to the textile industry. The COC certification evaluates the entire timber supply chain, from transportation through processing to final distribution, to verify traceability and confirm that end products are ethically sourced from sustainably managed and certified forests. This multi-layer supplier traceability could introduce significant complexity for certain textile companies. 

The FSC is vital for manufacturers using cellulosic fibers to meet circular economy goals. In cases where the sole wood-based materials involved are paper-derived components such as labels or packaging, the FSC certification is typically obtained by the label and packaging supplier, rather than being pursued directly by the textile manufacturing company. 

5. ISO9001: Quality Management Systems‌

ISO9001 is an internationally acknowledged quality management framework. Within the textile industry, it guarantees systematic adherence to consistent product standards, streamlined manufacturing workflows, and stakeholder satisfaction through standardized protocols‌.  Companies need to establish a complete quality management system (such as procedural documents and work instructions) and achieve continuous improvement through internal audits as well as management reviews. 

Though its primary scope is not environmental or social responsibility, the standard establishes operational reliability, which is essential for scaling sustainable practices. 

Conclusion

These certifications collectively span key areas of textile production: ‌safety‌ (OEKO-TEX), ‌ethics‌ (SEDEX), ‌sustainability‌ (BCI, FSC), and ‌quality‌ (ISO9001). Although these certifications are not legally required, they have become de facto standards for many textile manufacturers and their suppliers. In practice, when textile manufacturers export their products to the EU, they are usually requested to obtain these certificates or get proof of the certifications from their suppliers. By aligning with these frameworks, exporters demonstrate their compliance with EU regulatory requirements and consumer demands for ‌safe‌, ‌sustainable‌, and ‌ethically produced products.