What are OEKO-TEX Bath Towels?

I recently went on a hunt for OEKO-TEX bath towels. It had been raining for days (ahhhh spring!), and I used a few of our older towels to cleaning our pups’ muddy paws. Honestly, they had seen better days anyway, so it was no big loss. It was officially time to invest in some new towels for our human family members!

Problems with Traditional Towels

Cheap towels are sometimes made with a mixture of polyester and cotton. Polyester is a form of plastic that derives from petroleum. You don’t need plastic in your bath towels. 100% cotton towels are the way to go, but even 100% cotton towels are often dyed with ingredients that aren’t skin-friendly and harm the environment.

Since harsh dyes and other ingredients used in manufacturing can irritate sensitive skin, it’s always a good idea to wash new clothes, towels, etc. before using them. This will at least remove some of the residual substances remaining on the fabric.

The dyes themselves are often toxic—containing heavy metals and other carcinogens that impact the fabric and the people who work with them. These dyes also pollute the ground water, which is a big problem for countries like China who produce a lot of textiles and don’t have strict disposal measures in place.

One great thing about OEKO-TEX bath towels is that they are made with low-impact dyes that are safer dyes for our bodies and the planet. The ingredients used in low-impact dyes are safer and the dyes are absorbed into the fabric at a higher rate. This equals less waste and contamination. You will often see eco-friendly towels in light colors like tan, sage or pale gray, because lighter colors require less dye.

What is Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX?

Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX is one of the world’s best-known labels for harmful substance testing in textiles. The label ensures that every component of a piece of clothing is tested for harmful substances and considered nontoxic to humans.

I have noticed a HUGE increase in amount of products carrying this certification in recent years. When I first learned about OEKO-TEX almost ten years ago, I only found it after hours of searching online. Now, I regularly see the certification on item tags at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Home Goods and Aldi.

Characteristics of Eco-Friendly Bath Towels

Now that we’ve covered OEKO-TEX, let’s look at some other key words to look for when searching for high quality, eco-friendly towels.

Turkish Cotton

100% Turkish cotton is a great place to start. What is so special about Turkish cotton? To be honest, I didn’t fully know until I started researching for this blog post. I only knew they were considered high quality and often OEKO-TEX certified.

I discovered several cool things about Turkish cotton. It grows exclusively in the Aegean Region, and Turkish towels can be called Peshtemal, Hammam or Fouta towels. Turkish cotton has extra-long fibers and requires fewer joins, which results in stronger and smoother cotton threads. The Aegean Region is known for its eco-friendly towels and other textiles.

Turkish towels actually become softer, fluffier and more absorbent after a few washes due to their unique makeup. Basically, they are like a fine wine :)! Turkish cotton towels often carry safety certifications. These certifications assure the buyer that an item is ethically made. Let’s take a look at some of these.

GOTS

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibers, including ecological and social criteria. This is an independent certification that is available to the textile industry.

As a focus on sustainability, GOTS evaluates the processing and manufacturing of textiles on the basis of both, environmental and social criteria. This includes assessments on everything from the chemical inputs used to the ethical treatment of workers. A company must meet all criteria to obtain a GOTS certification.

The GOTS standard covers the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, trading and distribution of all textiles made from at least 70% certified organic fibers. There are two GOTS label-grades: “organic” requiring a minimum of 95% organic fibers and “made with organic materials” requiring at least 70% organic fibers.

Eco-Friendly Bath Towels to Consider

We all have different levels of dedication to clean living and different budgets, so I’ll offer a range of options to consider. From Walmart to Williams Sonoma, here are some eco-friendly bath towels at varying price points:

As a member of the Amazon affiliate program, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Low-Medium Price Point

Target Enchante Home Turkish Cotton Bath Towel

These towels are Turkish cotton. I assume these are OEKO-TEX certified, because the Aegean region is specifically mentioned in the description. As mentioned earlier, this region is known for their quality and safety standards. These are also fairly inexpensive in the world of bath towels.

TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Home Goods

These discount designer stores usually have a good selection OEKO-TEX certified towels when you visit in-person. They have websites, but I didn’t find much to choose from likely because their products change so frequently. If you live near one of these stores, it may be worth checking out.

Medium-High Price Points

Under the Canopy Classic Organic Towel

Under the Canopy towels makes their towels in Pakistan with 650 GSM (gram per square meter) cotton. They are also GOTS certified and OEKO-TEX certified. The cost is slightly higher than the first options, but they offer 15% off your first order when enter the website.

Williams Sonoma/West Elm/Pottery Barn Organic Towel Sets

Williams Sonoma owns West Elm and Pottery Barn. Because of this, you will see very similar products, and the variety and price points for towels is also similar. All of these stores offer basic Turkish cotton towels as well as GOTS Turkish cotton towels. There is also a newer option and more expensive option—a fast drying organic cotton towel.

OKEO-TEX Bath Towels on a Budget

I always like to offer a budget option in case money is tight or it’s just not the time to splurge on, say, bath towels. Most of us have been there at one time or another, and it doesn’t mean you can’t make healthy choices for your family.

Mainstays 18-Piece Bath Towel Set

This towel set is 100% cotton and is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified. These towels likely won’t last you twenty years, but they are a solid low-toxin choice and have pretty good reviews on Walmart.com. Also, you can’t beat that price for an 18-piece towel set!

To recap, some things to look for in towels are 100% cotton (Turkish cotton if possible), Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX and/or GOTS. You can apply these guidelines to kitchen towels, beach towels and even sheets/blankets. The guidelines for fabric is the same for most textile products in the home.