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OEKO-TEX® Standard 100: What the Label Tests for in Mattresses

All Mara Vital mattresses and their components are certified according to the globally recognized OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, specifically in the strictest testing category, Baby Class 1. Standard 100 is a label for textiles that have been laboratory-tested for harmful substances, from the yarn to the finished product.

OEKO-TEX®

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A mother is lying on the bed with her daughter, reading to her from a picture book; the wall behind them is covered with delicate floral wallpaper.

In short

  • Tested: Every component of the certified product—from the upholstery fabric to the sewing thread—is tested in a laboratory for harmful substances.
  • Baby Class 1: The strictest of the four product classes, intended for babies and toddlers up to 36 months.
  • No quality seal: The label provides no information about comfort, use, or care.
  • Check for yourself: Using the number on the label, the OEKO-TEX Label Check shows what the certificate covers and when it expires.

What does the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 test for?

The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 tests textiles for harmful substances, specifically every component of the certified product: for example, the fabric, sewing thread, and zipper of a cover.

Close-up of the side of a mattress: white quilted cover fabric, a seam with visible thread, and a white zipper with a closed slider.

The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is one of the best-known labels for textiles tested for harmful substances. Every certified product is tested in independent laboratories for over 300 harmful substances. These include:

  • Prohibited: Chemicals prohibited by law, e.g., azo dyes, pesticides, heavy metals
  • Not yet regulated: substances that pose a health risk but are not yet subject to legal regulation
  • Skin: pH Level and Skin Compatibility
  • Color fastness: Color fastness when exposed to sweat and saliva

This means that OEKO-TEX® goes beyond legal requirements and gives you the assurance that your mattress is truly free of harmful substances.

According to OEKO-TEX, the standard explicitly applies to mattresses, springs, down, and upholstery materials, including components made from recycled materials. All individual components of a product are tested, and OEKO-TEX revises the limit values at least once a year.

What does "Baby Class 1" mean?

Baby Class 1 is the strictest of the four OEKO-TEX product classes: It applies to products for babies and toddlers up to 36 months of age.

A crib made of light oak with a white, quilted baby mattress in a bright children's room.

Classification within OEKO-TEX® depends on how closely a product comes into contact with the skin. The more direct the skin contact, the stricter the requirements and laboratory tests.

The four OEKO-TEX product classes and examples of each.
ClassSkin contactExample
Grade 1Babies up to 36 monthsDiapers
Grade 2directlyBedding, Mattresses
3rd Gradehardly directlyJackets
4th GradeDecorationTable linens, curtains

The standard classifies a mattress as Class 2. However, a manufacturer may voluntarily have it tested and certified according to the stricter limits of Class 1. Specifically, Baby Class 1 means:

  • Limits: Particularly low limits for all chemicals
  • Durability: Testing for resistance to saliva and sweat
  • Skin contact: Even with prolonged skin contact or if a baby puts materials in their mouth, there is no danger

What doesn't the OEKO-TEX® label say?

The Standard 100 is not a quality certification: It refers to the tested product in new condition and says nothing about its other characteristics.

That's what it says in the standard itself. Here's what that means for a mattress:

  • Sleeping comfort: The label does not measure whether a mattress is right for you or how well it performs in use.
  • Care: Instructions for washing a cover are found on its care label, not on the certificate.
  • New Condition: The certificate applies to the product as it was tested when new.

You’ll know if a mattress is right for you when you try it out: at the Mara Vital showrooms in Volketswil and Dagmersellen, by appointment and with no obligation to buy, or at home with up to 100 nights to try it out.

The Standard 100 tests for harmful substances, not for dust mites. For information on how to protect against dust mites, see the guide on mattress protectors.

Read more in the guide

Mattress Protectors: Molton, Waterproof, or Encasing?

Which mattress protector is right for your needs, including protection against dust mites.

How do you check an OEKO-TEX® label?

Using the number on the label: In the OEKO-TEX Label Check at oeko-tex.com, you can see whether the certificate is valid, for which items, and for whom.

  1. Find the number. The label shows the certificate number, often along with a QR code. If you can't find it in the store, ask a staff member.
  2. Enter the number. Type it into Label Check or scan the QR code. Be sure to use the correct uppercase and lowercase letters: Label Check distinguishes between them.
  3. Read the scope. The result specifies the scope of the certificate—that is, which items it covers—and its holder. Read the scope, not just the word “valid.” Standard 100 certifies items at every stage of production, including fabric alone: If the scope lists only the cover fabric, the certificate applies to that fabric, not to the entire mattress.
  4. Check the date. A product certificate is valid for a maximum of 12 months. If it is renewed seamlessly, the number remains the same: Only the Label Check can confirm whether it is currently valid. A production facility’s certificate—not a product’s—is valid for up to 36 months. If the certificate has expired, ask the store for the current number: Without a seamless renewal, it may have changed.
  5. No results? Then contact OEKO-TEX, as the Label Check itself recommends, and ask the store.
Find the number, enter it in Label Check, read the size, and check the date.

Öko-Test or OEKO-TEX: What's the difference?

Öko-Test is a magazine that tests and rates products. OEKO-TEX is a label awarded by a testing institute to a certified product.

What Öko-Test and OEKO-TEX are, and where you can find their results.
QuestionEco-TestOEKO-TEX® Standard 100
What is it?A magazine and website from Germany that has been testing products since 1985.A label for textiles that have been tested for harmful substances.
Who does the testing?Independent testing laboratories commissioned by Öko-Test; the products are purchased anonymously from retail stores.An OEKO-TEX Institute for the product that a company is having certified.
What's the result?A rating in the published test.A numbered certificate valid for a maximum of 12 months for products.
Where can I read more about this?In the magazine and on oekotest.de.In the Label Check section on oeko-tex.com.

A manufacturer cannot request that Öko-Test test its product. An OEKO-TEX label is therefore not a test result from Öko-Test, and a test result is not a certificate.

Which Mara Vital products carry the OEKO-TEX® label?

All Mara Vital mattresses and their components meet the criteria for Baby Class 1. Healthy sleep starts with trust. For you, that means:

  • Health Safety: No harmful substances that could affect the skin, respiratory system, or health
  • Safety for the whole family: suitable for everyone from babies to adults
  • Sustainable Sleep Comfort: Tested Materials Free of Hazardous Chemicals
  • Transparency: Every component of our mattresses is tested—not just the surfaces.

For pillows and pillowcases, check the product page: According to the product page, the hypoallergenic mattress cover meets Baby Class 1 standards, while the hypoallergenic pillowcase meets Standard 100. Some pillows and comforters also mention it on their product pages.

To go with it

  • Mattresses

    An overview of all mattresses, in case you want to compare them yourself.

    View category

  • Geltech Deluxe Mattress

    According to the product page, all of their materials are certified under the OEKO-TEX Standard 100, Baby Class 1.

    View Mattress

  • Hypoallergenic Mattress Cover to Protect Against Dust Mites & Allergens

    According to the product page, it complies with the OEKO-TEX Standard 100, Baby Class 1.

    View Mattress Cover

  • Anti-Dust Mite Pillowcase for People with Allergies, Set of 2

    According to the product page, it complies with the OEKO-TEX Standard 100.

    View Pillowcase

Conclusion

The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 tests every component of a certified product for harmful substances; Baby Class 1 is its strictest level, and you can verify each label yourself using the label number in the Label Check. When you choose a Mara Vital mattress, you’re not only opting for ergonomic comfort, but also for peace of mind and a sense of responsibility. After all, sleep isn’t just about rest—it’s the foundation of health and well-being: sleep with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the OEKO-TEX certification apply to the entire mattress or just the cover?

That depends on which item is certified. If it’s the mattress, all of its individual components must be tested; if it’s just the cover fabric, the certificate applies only to that. The scope of the certificate in Label Check specifies which item is covered. For the Geltech Deluxe, the product page lists all of its materials.

Is OEKO-TEX a Swiss label?

OEKO-TEX is headquartered in Zurich: OEKO-TEX AG is registered in the Commercial Register of the Canton of Zurich. However, the certificate is issued by one of the 17 independent testing institutes within the organization, and each institute tests according to the same standard. The institute that tested a product is indicated on its label.

What does it mean when a certificate is issued in accordance with Annex 6?

Appendix 6 sets forth expanded, often stricter requirements that are also intended to provide evidence of environmentally friendly production. The Label Check for a product’s number indicates which appendix applied to it.

Are MADE IN GREEN, STeP, and Standard 100 the same thing?

No, there are three OEKO-TEX certifications: Standard 100 tests a product for harmful substances, while STeP certifies manufacturing facilities based on social and environmental criteria. MADE IN GREEN combines both: The product is certified according to an OEKO-TEX product standard such as Standard 100, the manufacturing facilities are certified according to STeP, and its product ID shows where it was manufactured in the Label Check.

Portrait of Kai Mildenberger

Author

Kai Mildenberger

Freelance writer specializing in mattresses and bedding

Reviewed by Oliver Klotzbach, Head of E-Commerce at Mara Vital

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