Product-specific labels

When you’re buying paint or textiles, there are two green labels that can help you make a more environmentally friendly choice. The VOC label (paint) and the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 label (textiles) both tell you about harmful substances in a product.

Paint: VOC Labels

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are found in most paints, varnishes, woodstains and primers. VOCs cause air pollution and may be harmful to human health, animals and plants.

The European Union (EU) has set legal limits for the amount of VOCs in paints and varnishes. Most that are for home use have to carry a label that tells you:

the EU’s legal limit for VOCs in grams per litre (g/l)
the product's actual VOC content

Some manufacturers use other VOC logos that they have developed themselves, but they must always use the label shown above as well.

The British Coatings Federation

Textiles: Oeko-Tex Standard 100

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is an international label that tells you textiles (like clothing) don’t contain substances that can harm human health.

Products are awarded the Oeko-Tex label after being independently tested, at all stages of their production, to make sure they are free from:

dyes that might cause cancer
substances that are controlled by law, like formaldehyde or heavy metals
substances known to be harmful to health, like pesticides or dyes that cause allergies

They are also tested to make sure they are colourfast (don't leak colour) and have a pH-value that won’t irritate skin – ie not too acid or alkaline.