What is organic Content Standard (OCS)?
The Organic Content Standard verifies how much certified organic fiber a product contains and tracks it through the supply chain.
What OCS certifies
The Organic Content Standard is owned by Textile Exchange. It confirms that a product contains the organic fiber it claims, by certifying each company in the supply chain that handles the material, from raw fiber to the final product.
There are two labels:
- OCS 100: the product contains 95 percent or more organic material.
- OCS Blended: the product contains at least 5 percent organic material, blended with other fibers.
Socks almost always need some polyamide and elastane for durability and stretch, so an organic cotton sock is typically an OCS Blended product.
Scope and transaction certificates
A scope certificate shows a company is certified to handle OCS goods. A transaction certificate covers a specific shipment and is what proves the organic content of your order.
What OCS does not cover
OCS tracks fiber content only. It does not test for chemicals, which is OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and it does not audit working conditions. Ask for a current scope certificate and a transaction certificate for your order.