Governance Against Greenwashing 

Oeko-Tex is adapting its organizational structure to comply with the stricter EU regulations against greenwashing. On September 27, 2026, new requirements for environmental claims and sustainability labels will take effect under the EU EmpCo Directive (EU 2024/825). The certification system has therefore comprehensively revamped its governance structure. 

The focus is on the institutional separation of standards development and conformity assessment. This is intended to ensure that the system’s independence is even more transparent and binding in the future. The measures include converting the existing limited liability company (GmbH) into a stock corporation (AG), a new independence charter with an independence committee and an anonymous reporting system, as well as an accreditation agreement aligned with ISO/IEC 17065. The structure is complemented by ISO/IEC 17025-accredited testing laboratories and a new decision-making structure with a board of directors as the highest governing body. 

For companies that use Oeko-Tex labels, however, nothing is expected to change in their day-to-day operations: testing, audits, and certifications will continue as usual. Rather, the reorganization aims to demonstrably safeguard the independence and credibility of the global certification system, even under the new regulatory conditions. 

Standard-setting remains anchored in a multi-stakeholder process and continues to involve independent external experts as well as public consultation. 

“Consumer protection begins with trust. And trust can only be built when promises are independently verified,” explains Dr. Alfred J. Beerli, CEO of Oeko-Tex. The goal of the new structure is to further strengthen the system’s independence and continue to provide both companies and consumers with assurance regarding the evaluation of product claims. 

The new governance structures are thus intended not only to meet the requirements of the EmpCo Directive, but also to prepare Oeko-Tex for future regulatory developments. 

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