The Zurich-based Oeko-Tex® Association is marking the tenth anniversary of its MADE IN GREEN label—a milestone that highlights shifting priorities in the textile industry and the label’s growing role as a trusted standard for sustainability among brands and consumers.
Introduced in April 2015 in response to the Rana Plaza factory disaster, the MADE IN GREEN label was developed to set new benchmarks in transparency, product safety, and social responsibility. It signifies that a product has been tested for harmful substances and manufactured using environmentally and socially responsible processes under safe and fair working conditions.
“Brands and retailers must remain at the forefront of both current and emerging consumer expectations, as well as evolving regulatory requirements, which increasingly scrutinise the entire production history of a given product,” said Jean-Pierre Haug, Chief Operations Officer at Testex, a member institute of Oeko-Tex®. “MADE IN GREEN offers a valuable solution for brands and retailers seeking to convey confidence and trust at the point of sale.”
The label offers full supply chain traceability. Each product features a unique ID and QR code, granting consumers access to detailed data about the item’s production facilities, manufacturing stages, and countries of origin. In 2024 alone, more than 300,000 scans were recorded—an indicator of growing consumer engagement with sustainability data.
To qualify for the label, products must be certified under Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, Organic Cotton, or Leather Standard. MADE IN GREEN also ensures compliance with key labour laws, including workplace safety, freedom of association, and the prohibition of child and forced labour. As of this year, over two million textile workers benefit from the protections offered by the MADE IN GREEN-recognised supply network.
The label’s adoption is accelerating. Over 43,000 labels have been issued to more than 9,200 manufacturers across 88 countries. In 2024 alone, label uptake grew by 52%, with high adoption rates seen in Germany and major textile-producing nations such as Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and China. Interest is also increasing in the US and UK.
MADE IN GREEN’s credibility is reinforced by its inclusion in respected platforms such as the ITC Standards Map, Siegelklarheit, Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly initiative, and recognition by the US Environmental Protection Agency. In France, the label qualifies companies for the Refashion Bonus for Eco-Modulation.
“Traceability is a fundamental point to avoid fraud in labelling, and with MADE IN GREEN we can be sure—so the label is a reliable insurance,” noted Consuelo Carbonell, Head of the Oeko-Tex® department at Aitex, a leading textile technology institute in Spain.
Martin Cieslik, Head of Global Marketing and Sales at Hohenstein Group, added, “When Greenpeace included us in their Label Guide in 2018, it was a great honour. Oeko-Tex MADE IN GREEN was among the three best labels in the test. Being judged as trustworthy by a strict external peer group told me that MADE IN GREEN is making a difference.”
As it enters its second decade, MADE IN GREEN continues to bridge the gap between industry demands for genuine sustainability and consumers’ desire for transparency and trust.
