The textile and leather industry is entering a new era defined by increasing regulatory scrutiny, supply chain accountability and growing stakeholder expectations. Across major markets including the European Union, the United States and Canada, companies are now expected to provide verifiable evidence of where products originate, how they are manufactured and whether sustainability claims can be substantiated.
Against this backdrop, the OEKO-TEX® Annual Report 2025/2026 highlights how transparency and traceability have evolved from strategic advantages into essential business requirements. As a member institute of the international OEKO-TEX® association, AITEX supports manufacturers, brands and retailers in navigating this evolving landscape through certification, testing and technical services that help build trust, ensure compliance and strengthen supply chain transparency.
Traceability moves from competitive advantage to market necessity
A central message of this year’s report is that trust must be backed by verifiable facts. As governments introduce stricter due diligence, customs and sustainability requirements, companies must demonstrate end-to-end visibility throughout their supply chains, from fibre sourcing to finished product.
According to OEKO-TEX®, organisations capable of proving product origin and production conditions are better positioned to address customs inspections, regulatory investigations and potential trade restrictions. As a result, digital traceability is becoming an essential component of modern supply chain management.
OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON records outstanding growth
One of the most significant developments highlighted in the report is the rapid expansion of OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON. The certification programme now spans more than 20 countries and exceeds 33.7 million kilograms of certified fibre volume at ginning level.
During the 2025/2026 financial year, ORGANIC COTTON certifications increased by 214% compared with the previous reporting period, surpassing 500 certificates. These figures demonstrate the growing market demand for certified, traceable and digitally verified organic cotton supply chains.
The strategic partnership with TextileGenesis has been instrumental in this progress. By introducing token-based digital transaction management, OEKO-TEX® is creating a more secure, scalable and data-driven framework for verifying organic cotton throughout the supply chain while reducing administrative burden for certification holders.
Growing demand for OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN
Consumer and market demand for verified transparency continues to accelerate. The report shows that OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN experienced growth of more than 13% over the last reporting period, with over 20,400 labels issued and more than 6,000 companies participating in the MADE IN GREEN supply chain.
This growth comes ahead of a major regulatory milestone. From 27 September 2026, the EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (EmpCo) requires sustainability labels to be based on certification schemes verified by independent third parties. OEKO-TEX® confirms that MADE IN GREEN and all OEKO-TEX® certifications and product labels will remain compliant with these requirements. For brands and retailers, verified transparency is therefore becoming an increasingly important tool for demonstrating sustainability performance and strengthening consumer trust.
Advancing chemical safety and responsible chemical management
The Annual Report also highlights significant developments in chemical safety and regulatory compliance. In response to rapidly evolving global PFAS regulations, OEKO-TEX® introduced strict limit values for individual PFAS substances as well as a total PFAS threshold from January 2026. These requirements align with some of the world’s most stringent regulatory frameworks.
At the same time, OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT expanded its certification scope to include wastewater treatment chemicals, following the previous introduction of commodity and maintenance chemicals. This broader scope supports earlier elimination of hazardous substances, improved worker protection and enhanced environmental performance.
The collaboration between OEKO-TEX® STeP and The BHive® further strengthened transparency in chemical management. More than 25,500 chemicals are now uploaded and regularly assessed within the platform, helping facilities improve visibility and control over chemical inventories.
Digitalisation strengthens supply chain assurance
Another key achievement reported during the year was the integration of OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON and OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN. This resulted in the launch of the first MADE IN GREEN labelled product based on ORGANIC COTTON certification.
By combining certified organic fibre sourcing, digital traceability and transparency regarding environmental and social manufacturing conditions within a single framework, OEKO-TEX® has further strengthened its sustainability offering.
The report also highlights the successful integration of TextileGenesis into OEKO-TEX® certification and validation processes, laying the foundation for more robust and scalable supply chain assurance solutions in the future.
Quality assurance remains at the core of trust
Trust in certification systems depends on rigorous and consistent verification. During the reporting period, OEKO-TEX® conducted more than 11,000 on-site visits across its certification portfolio and continued to strengthen auditor competence through specialised training programmes and cross-product collaboration initiatives.
The organisation currently has 154 professional STeP auditors operating globally and completed more than 47,000 tests and checks on certified products. These quality assurance activities covered over 800 potentially harmful substances and involved samples collected from more than 70 countries.
Such extensive verification mechanisms reinforce the credibility of OEKO-TEX® certifications and support confidence among brands, manufacturers and consumers alike.
Supporting global sustainability goals
The report further demonstrates how OEKO-TEX® contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, climate action, responsible consumption and production, and partnerships for sustainable development.
Through certifications such as STeP, ECO PASSPORT, MADE IN GREEN, ORGANIC COTTON and RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS, OEKO-TEX® continues to promote safer production processes, improved environmental performance and greater supply chain accountability worldwide.
The OEKO-TEX® Annual Report 2025/2026 clearly demonstrates that the future of the textile and leather industry will be shaped by transparency, traceability and independently verified sustainability performance. The rapid growth of traceability-focused certifications, significant investment in digitalisation and increasing regulatory requirements all point towards a market where credible proof is essential for doing business.
As a research and innovation centre and member institute of the international OEKO-TEX® association, AITEX supports companies in preparing for this transition through certification services, laboratory testing, chemical compliance assessment and sustainability expertise. In an increasingly regulated and transparency-driven market, robust verification systems will play a decisive role in helping businesses maintain competitiveness, strengthen consumer confidence and secure access to global markets.