One of the most frequently asked question deserves a dedicated page: are your products certified? Yes, they are. As company our products are sourced with care to assure quality and safety. We certify our products to prove this. But certification these days come in many different flavors. The most important certifications for our products are: OEKO-TEX®, REACH, GRS and EN71. But what does each individual certification stand for? We got you covered and explain each one individually and to which products they apply to.
OEKO-TEX® is a corporation of 17 independent institutes from Europe and Japan. Since 1992 they create and continuously update testing methods and values to create standards. These standards contribute to their blueprint, to create a better and more sustainable future for everyone. This goes further than testing and issuing certifications for companies that represent safety. Their label contributes to a wide variety of Sustainable Development Goals that are standardized by the United Nations (UN). As an institute their standards contribute to:
As seen above, their standards represent more than safety of their products. The standard that applies to our industry is the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. It can be applied to all textiles, in any production stage. Starting from threads, yarns, to finished fabrics and articles. This goes from baby products, to clothing and home textiles and decorations.
To test textile products, they have created a standard that is divided in 4 classes. Each class or category has their own range of values for residues. The lower the values, the higher your product will be categorized. The values are based on the amount and frequency of skin contact. Based on this, products are categorized as follows:
Article code | Yarn | OEKO-TEX® | Certificate number |
YAC000001 | Must-have | 1 | 09.HBG.68250 |
YAC000002 | Fabulous | 1 | 09.HBG.68250 |
YAC000003 | Super Must-have | 1 | 09.HBG.68250 |
YAC000005 | Charming | 1 | SHYO.110207 |
YAC000007 | Epic | 1 | 09.HBG.68250 |
YAC000009 | Furry | 1 | SHYO.110207 |
YAC000010 | Happy | 1 | 16.HTR.77775 |
YAC000011 | Joy | 1 | 16.HTR.77775 |
YAC000012 | Elegant | - | New application pending |
YAC000013 | Cheerful | - | New application pending |
YAC000014 | Serene | 1 | 09.HBG.68250 |
YAC000015 | Zen | - | New application pending |
YAC000016 | Glamour | 1 | SHYO.110207 |
YAC000017 | Baby Fabulous | 1 | SHYO.110207 |
YAC000018 | Favorite | 1 | 09.HBG.68250 |
YAC000020 | Amazing | 1 | 16.HTR.77775 |
YAC000021 | Gentle | 1 | 09.HTR.65422 |
YAC000099 | Must-have Minis | 1 | 09.HBG.68250 |
REACH is an abbreviation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and restrictions of Chemicals. This European standard is one of the most comprehensive and far-reaching environmental legislation in the world. The main purpose is to protect people, companies, and the environment against the danger of chemical goods. This legislation can be applied to all chemicals. Not only the ones used in industrial process but also in daily products. A few examples of these products are paint, cleaning materials, clothing, furniture, and yarn. It is up to the companies to prove they produce by these standards.
To do so REACH is divided in to 17 different chapters called an ANNEX. Each chapter provides a list of rules, criteria, or values which you need to comply to if this is applicable for you as a company. For instance, ANNEX I consists out of general provisions for assessing substances while ANNEX VII contains values for testing and detection for productions and imports larger than 1 tonne (1.000 kg) but smaller than 10 tonnes (10.000kg). However, OEKO-TEX® already complies to these standards due to the strict values for these standards. Next to that OEKO-TEX® also complies to the stricter ANNEX XVII which is applicable regardless of order size and has a long list of prohibited substances and strict values. Stating from the OEKO-TEX® website, they are way ahead and cover many other parameters that are not included in the ANNEX XVII but do relate to consumer protection.
This brings us to the question, “does the yarn of Yarn and Colors comply to the REACH legislation?” Yes, we do. And wecover many more parameters related to consumer protection due to fact that we only work with OEKO-TEX® certified manufacturers.
Products that are made from recycled materials can be certified in two different ways: RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) and GRS (Global Recycled Standard). Both are international but voluntary standards for the use of recycled materials to create end products. The basic standard is the RCS and covers:
The GRS standard goes a step further. This not only assures the standards above but also the additional objectives:
Our Amazing and Gentle yarn both have an GRS certification. Meaning that both are made from certified recycled materials and comply to strict social and environmental requirements. Both also apply for an OEKO-TEX® class 1 certification.
Have you ever noticed the CE marking on a toy or product? If it has such marking, then it indicates that this product complies to the requirements listed in the EU Toy Safety Directive. In Europe and the UK, every toy that is being imported to or created in must be safe. To meet these requirements, toys must pass tests according to harmonized standards. Each European country has these requirements implemented in their laws.
These harmonized standards are divided in 13 categories. Depending on the type of product and other certification, the requirements can vary. Hereby an overview of each category:
Category | Tested | Remarks |
EN71-1 | Mechanical and physical properties | - |
EN71-2 | Flammability | Only applicable on final products. In specific required for headwear such as beards, wigs, masks, hoods, headdresses. However, toy disguises, toy costumers and soft filled toys are excluded. |
EN71-3 | Migration of certain elements | Total migration of chemical elements based on digestion instead of skin contact. |
EN71-4 | Chemical toys for chemistry and experiments | - |
EN71-5 | Chemical toys other than the above | - |
EN71-6 | Age warning labeling | Inactive and replaced by EN71-1. |
EN71-7 | Finger paints | - |
EN71-8 | Swings, slides, and similar active toys for outside and inside | - |
EN71-9, EN71-10, EN71-11 | Organic chemical compounds | Covered by OEKO-TEX® certification. |
EN71-12 | Certain chemical substances | |
EN71-13 | Board games, cosmetic kits and gustative games | - |
EN71-14 | Trampolines for domestic use | - |
Yes, it sure is. And the regulations and certifications are continuously updated! The tests are getting more and more strict to assure safety for people and the environment. As a company we follow this closely to assure the quality of our products. And if required, we’ll re-evaluate our products according to regulation developments. This way we can assure you that our products are certified to the latest standards.
Do you have a question regarding this topic, or would you like to learn more? Then feel free to contact us! You can find all our details on our contact page.