OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD Certification

$OEKO-TEX® logo, "LEATHER STANDARD", certification number and institute, oeko-tex.com$

What is OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD?

(Former: LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®)

Like STANDARD 100 - for leather.

OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD is a globally harmonized, independent testing and certification system for leather products and accessories at all stages of production. Testing for harmful substances with LEATHER STANDARD incorporates important legal regulations, chemicals that pose a risk to health (including some that are not yet legally regulated) and a wide variety of health care parameters.

OEKO-TEX® is also working for more transparency in the leather industry as a contributing partner of the Sustainable Leather Foundation.

LEATHER STANDARD certifies leather-related goods.

Leather items can be tested and certified at any processing stage (including manufacturing of accessories).

LEATHER STANDARD vs. STANDARD 100

Side by side comparison of full leather garment vs textile garment with leather accent — An OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD certificate is issued for products that are made mostly of leather. A textile product with leather accent is certified under OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100. Substances list, test methods and limit values are adjusted to account for the different finishing and processing systems for leather.

OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD Facts

OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD certificates are valid for 1 year
There are four product classes based on risk
For a finished product to be labeled, the final product and each of its components must be tested
Annual renewal and testing is required - Renewal applications can be started up to 3 months before expiration
On-site audits are required in the first year of certification and every 3rd year thereafter

LEATHER STANDARD Certification Benefits:

A practical tool for quality assurance
Consumer protection with leather products that are harmless to human ecology and legally compliant - without expending internal resources
The modular principle of LEATHER STANDARD facilitates testing and certification at every processing stage. Duplicate testing costs are avoided by using certificates from prior stages – even for products with complex structures

As a 3rd party verified label, LEATHER STANDARD is a marketing tool for transparently documenting and promoting product stewardship efforts
The OEKO-TEX® criteria catalogue is applied consistently worldwide and provides standardized requirements for purchasing and delivery
Built in transparency increases product safety and saves time
Marketing opportunities in the OEKO-TEX® Buying Guide and external listings such as Texbase CertLink and Foursource.

LEATHER STANDARD Certificate Ownership and Use

A certification is only applicable to a product if each component - and the product itself - is certified.

Ownership
Use
Pre-certification

Ownership

Who can own a LEATHER STANDARD certificate?

Any manufacturer or reseller of leather materials, finished goods or accessories - from any stage of processing - throughout the leather supply chain

Use

Using a Supplier's Certificate/Label

As long as no changes have been made to the product covered under a supplier's certificate, a company may use their supplier's certificate/label. Alternatively, many brands and retailers opt to re-certify the product(s) and maintain control with their own label number.

Pre-certification

Using Pre-certified Inputs

It is common that some or all of the inputs/ingredients of a product have been pre-certified by the supplier(s). Although this is NOT required, using pre-certified components helps to catch any issues at the source, where the chemical decisions are made in the supply chain.

LEARN ABOUT THE MODULAR SYSTEM

Common Pathways to Certification