GOTS vs OEKO-TEX vs GRS: Which Certification Works Best with the Digital Product Passport?

Three certifications dominate the EU textile compliance landscape: GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). All three are supported in epassportify's Digital Product Passport. But they measure different things, require different evidence, and map to different DPP fields. This comparison helps you understand which certification — or which combination — best supports your DPP.

What Each Certification Covers

GOTS — Global Organic Textile Standard

GOTS certifies the organic status of fibres and the environmental and social standards of the entire processing chain. Key characteristics:

• Minimum 70% certified organic fibres (Grade 2: "made with organic") or 95% (Grade 1: "organic")
• Covers the full processing chain: spinning, knitting/weaving, dyeing, finishing, and apparel manufacturing
• Restricts the use of harmful chemicals in processing (based on GOTS Annex 6)
• Requires social compliance (fair wages, no child labour) at certified facilities
• Issued as Scope Certificates (to facilities) and Transaction Certificates (to specific product batches)

Best for: Organic cotton, organic wool, organic linen products. Brands whose sustainability story centres on fibre origin and processing integrity.

OEKO-TEX Standard 100

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 tests the finished textile article for harmful substances. Key characteristics:

• Tests the final product — not the process — for over 100 harmful substances
• Four product classes: Class I (baby and toddler items with strictest limits), Class II (items with direct skin contact), Class III (items without direct skin contact), Class IV (decorative materials)
• Does not certify organic fibre content or processing chain sustainability
• Renewed annually based on test results
• Certificate number and class can be directly entered in the DPP

Best for: Products where chemical safety of the finished article must be provable — children's clothing, underwear, babywear, medical textiles, items with skin contact.

GRS — Global Recycled Standard

GRS verifies recycled content claims and the chain of custody from recycled material source to finished product. Key characteristics:

• Certifies products containing at least 20% recycled material (50% required for "GRS certified" label use)
• Covers pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled content
• Applies to recycled polyester (rPET), recycled nylon, recycled cotton, recycled wool, and other recycled fibres
• Issued as Transaction Certificates for specific product batches, confirming the percentage of certified recycled content
• Does not assess the sustainability of virgin material in the blend or the chemical safety of the finished article

Best for: Products using recycled synthetic fibres (rPET, recycled nylon) or recycled natural fibres. Brands whose sustainability claim centres on circular economy and waste reduction.

How Each Certification Maps to DPP Fields

DPP Field	GOTS	OEKO-TEX 100	GRS
Certification Scheme	✅ Primary field — GOTS grade	✅ Primary field — product class	✅ Primary field — GRS
Certificate Number	Transaction Certificate number	OEKO-TEX label number	GRS Transaction Certificate number
Materials — Is Recycled?	❌ Not applicable (organic, not recycled)	❌ Not applicable (tests finished article)	✅ Mark recycled fibres as recycled, enter %
Materials — Is Renewable?	✅ Organic natural fibres = renewable	Not directly relevant	❌ Recycled synthetics are not renewable
Harmful Substances Declaration	Strong support — GOTS Annex 6 covers restricted substances	✅ Strongest direct support — product tested for 100+ substances	Partial — covers recycled input quality, not finished article
Supply Chain — Supplier Entries	Scope Certificate holders = your GOTS-certified suppliers	Not directly linked to supplier entries	GRS-certified facilities = your recycled material suppliers

Can You Hold More Than One Certification on the Same Product?

Yes — and in many cases, this is the most complete approach. Common combinations:

• GOTS + OEKO-TEX Standard 100: GOTS certifies the organic fibre and processing chain; OEKO-TEX 100 tests the finished article for harmful substances. Together, they cover both the process and the product. Enter the primary certification (typically GOTS) in the Certification Scheme field, and reference the OEKO-TEX certificate in the Harmful Substances Declaration field.
• GRS + OEKO-TEX Standard 100: GRS certifies the recycled content percentage; OEKO-TEX 100 confirms the finished article is free of harmful substances. Enter GRS as the primary certification and note the OEKO-TEX certificate in the harmful substances field.
• GRS + GOTS: Less common — would apply to a product using both recycled synthetic fibres (GRS-certified) and organic natural fibres (GOTS-certified) in the same product. Each certification covers its own fibre component.

Which Certification to Prioritise for DPP

The answer depends on what your product contains and what claim you are making:

• If you are making an organic fibre claim → GOTS is required. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 alone does not certify organic content.
• If you are making a recycled content claim → GRS is the recognised standard. GOTS and OEKO-TEX do not certify recycled content.
• If your primary compliance need is chemical safety for skin contact (particularly for children's items or medical textiles) → OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Class I provides the most direct evidence for the harmful substances declaration.
• If you need to satisfy buyer requirements in the EU → Ask your specific buyers which certification they require. GOTS and OEKO-TEX are both widely accepted; GRS is specifically required for recycled content claims.

Conclusion

GOTS, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and GRS each address different dimensions of DPP compliance. GOTS covers organic fibre and processing integrity. OEKO-TEX 100 covers the chemical safety of the finished article. GRS covers recycled content chain of custody. In epassportify, all three enter the DPP through the same Certification Scheme and Certificate Number fields — but they each also populate different additional fields (materials recycled flag, renewable flag, harmful substances declaration) depending on which certification applies. Choosing the right certification, or the right combination, determines the completeness of your DPP data.