Organic vs OEKO-certified - Do Labels Matter?

The modern consumer is constantly overwhelmed by products that claim to be environmentally friendly, organic, chemical-free or a combination of the three. Here at Linenly, we boast OEKO-TEX certified bamboo bed sheets made of 100% organic bamboo fibre. As a conscious consumer, you may wonder what it all means. What defines OEKO-certified from organic, and does it matter? In this blog post, we explain organic vs Oeko-Tex certified, and how it affects your health, the environment, and the bed sheets you sleep on. 

Many bed sheet companies on the market label their bed sheets as organic, but what does that really mean? Fabrics that are labelled as organic are made of materials that aren’t grown with pesticides, or other synthetic fertilizers. Not only is it safer for humans to use, but it also takes less time to biodegrade and as a result, is much kinder to the environment than non-organic fabrics. 

In short, organic bed linens are made with fibres that are grown organically - whether they be cotton or bamboo. However, these products can be labelled organic and still have been processed with harmful chemicals, which defeats the whole purpose of producing eco-friendly and safe fabric. This is where a certification like Oeko-Tex comes useful, for conscious consumers to determine how safe a product is for themselves and the environment. 

Oeko-Tex certification is an internationally regarded certification that regulates the manufacturing processes of textiles. It ensures that no harmful chemicals were involved in the process of producing and treating the fabrics. Products with an Oeko-Tex certification are free from over 100 chemicals and substances that are harmful to human health. Every part that goes into the end product is strictly assessed to qualify for the certification, from the threads to the buttons. 

Oeko-Tex certification determines the safety of the end product, whereas organic textiles that are labelled as such only determine whether the materials were made with organically-grown plants. 

Whether you’re looking to purchase organic bed sheets, Oeko-Tex certified, or both, it’s important to understand how these certifications affect the bed sheets you’re sleeping on. Organic and Oeko-Tex certifications are important to the environment and the health of the people using them - two crucial factors for the modern conscious consumer. 

The harmful chemicals involved in both the growing and manufacturing process of most textiles are absent in organic and Oeko-Tex certified bed sheets. These chemicals, ranging from pesticides to formaldehyde, which can irritate parts of the body such as the skin, eyes, nose and throat. Although some chemicals do not pose any immediate harm, long-term or chronic exposure to toxic chemicals may result in health issues in the long run. 

The manufacturing process of organic and Oeko-Tex certified products limits the number of toxic chemicals that have the potential to contaminate the environment. The WWF reports that the amount of man-made chemicals produced each year have gone up from 1 million to 400 million between the years of 1930 and 2000. By choosing to support vendors and products that limit the use of harmful substances in their production processes, consumers can do their part to protect the environment. 

Linenly’s comfortable bamboo sheets are made of 100% organic bamboo fibre, in addition to being Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certified. We care about you and the world you live in, and we do so by eliminating toxic chemicals from our products and ensuring that our textiles are ethically manufactured and easily biodegradable. If you’re thinking of switching your old bed-linen to a more sustainable option that’s good for you and the environment, look no further! We boast a wide selection of bamboo bed linen that will impress even the most stubborn of sleepers. Visit our range right now and enjoy the best sleep of your life with our soft, breathable bedlinen.

For more information on the sustainability of bamboo fabric, you can read our detailed article on are bamboo sheets as environmentally friendly as they claim to be. Additionally, if you're curious about the overall sustainability of bamboo fabric, check out our post on is bamboo fabric sustainable. Lastly, for insights on choosing the best quality sheets, our guide on what are the best quality sheets can be very helpful.