Third party certifications are part of a broader due diligence strategy for brands who want to make their sustainability efforts more transparent and verifiable.
Verification has become crucial since EmpCo came into force in the European Union at the end of September. The rules against greenwashing became stricter to protect consumers against misleading environmental claims.
Third party certifications support brands in establishing an independent baseline when it comes to social and environmental claims. That was the case for mey.
Founded in 1928, mey® is a well-known German brand producing underwear, lingerie and loungewear for women and men. mey has been holding OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification issued by Hohenstein since 2020 and introduced the OEKO-TEX® STeP facility certification for all its own production sites in 2021 to be able to label its products with OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN. Around 15% of mey's products now carry the MADE IN GREEN label. The company is continuing to work actively to increase it further.
We interviewed mey to understand what the certification and labelling process meant for the company, was the learning curve and how it helped the brand with their supplier and end-consumer communication.
OEKO-TEX®
mey describes sustainability as a tradition rather than a trend. At what point did you decide to back that up with external certification, and what were the reasons behind pursuing OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN?
mey
At mey, sustainability has always been part of our company approach, not a short-term communication topic. We decided to support that with external certification in order to make our standards more transparent and more independently verifiable. We chose OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN because it combines product testing with traceability and facility-level assessment. For us, that creates a clear framework to communicate how products are managed and where they come from.
In 2021, mey certified all of its own production sites with OEKO-TEX® STeP, covering six modules from chemicals management to occupational health and safety. What was the motivation and has the certification process revealed any gaps or opportunities for improvement you had not previously identified?
In 2021, we certified all of our own production sites with OEKO-TEX® STeP because we wanted a structured framework to evaluate our processes across key areas such as chemicals management, environmental performance, occupational health and safety, and social responsibility.
The audit confirmed a number of existing strengths, particularly in the social modules. As a family-owned company, people—whether working in our own operations or within our supply chain—have always been at the centre of our business activities.
At the same time, chemical management has not previously been a major focus area for us, as no chemicals are used in the production processes at our STeP-certified facilities. We only use chemicals for maintenance of our machines or household chemicals and laundry detergents in restroom facilities, locker rooms, or the cafeteria. Through the STeP certification, we established the relevant structures and processes for this topic and have continued to develop them across all our production sites ever since.
Around 80% of mey's supply chain is located in Europe, in owned factories and external partners. How does STeP certification help you maintain consistent social and environmental standards across multiple production sites? What advice would you give to companies with multi-location supply chains?
STeP helps us apply a common reference framework across owned factories and external partners. Across our three production sites, for example, we have implemented an environmental management system that serves as a strategic framework for managing our environmental activities. Through continuous improvement and clearly defined objectives, it helps ensure that environmental priorities are addressed consistently across the group.
For our external partners, STeP certification is also a clear indicator that social and environmental aspects are considered at their production sites. It provides a structured basis for dialogue and helps us apply consistent expectations across different locations. For companies with multi-location supply chains, my advice would be to use certification as a management framework, not just as a label. It can help align internal teams, clarify expectations for partners, and make performance more comparable across locations.
How do OEKO-TEX® certifications fit into your sustainability approach when working with production sites outside Europe?
OEKO-TEX® certifications remain relevant for us outside Europe because they provide a clear and recognized framework for responsible production practices. The local implementation can differ, but the underlying principles of transparency, product safety, and process responsibility remain the same.
When working with sites outside Europe, we see certification as one part of a broader due diligence and supplier management approach. It helps establish a consistent baseline when it comes to social and environmental standards while still taking local conditions into account.
What has going through the STeP audit process changed in the way mey operates day to day?
The audit process influenced our daily operations in a practical way, especially in management structures, documentation, and routines. In many cases, it did not require starting from scratch, but rather strengthening structure, traceability, and accountability. One clear effect was that responsibilities became even more defined internally. Certification supports continuous improvement by making processes more transparent and easier to monitor over time.
OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN label allows customers to trace a product back to specific countries and production facilities via a QR code. How do you use this in your communication with end consumers and supply chain partners, and has it had any noticeable effect on brand trust?
The traceability feature of OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN gives us a concrete way to communicate product-related information. Through the QR code, consumers can see where a product was produced and which production facilities were involved. We use that in a factual and transparent way. For us, the label is not a substitute for broader sustainability communication, but a tool that helps make specific product-related information accessible.
What are today's end-consumer expectations when buying underwear in terms of sustainability? Do certifications play a role in purchasing decisions, and has this changed over the years?
Consumers today expect underwear to meet high standards of comfort, quality, and product safety. Sustainability is increasingly part of that expectation. Certifications can play a role in purchasing decisions because they provide orientation in a complex market. At the same time, consumers are becoming more sensitive to vague claims, which makes clear and verifiable communication even more important.
Did OEKO-TEX® certifications strengthened or changed your relationship with suppliers? Has certification made it easier to identify and onboard new partners?
Yes, certification has had an impact on our supplier relationships because it creates a more structured basis for discussion. It helps clarify expectations and gives us a shared language for quality, process responsibility, and improvement topics. It can also support onboarding when new partners already work with comparable standards or are willing to align with them. In that sense, certification helps reduce ambiguity in supply chain cooperation.
Certification involves cost, external auditing, internal resources, and ongoing renewal. What has the return on that investment looked like for mey?
The return on investment from certification is not only financial. For mey, it has contributed to stronger process discipline, clearer communication with business partners, and a more structured basis for external transparency.
It also helps meet expectations from retail partners and supports consumer-facing communication where traceability and certification are relevant. The main value lies in combining credibility, operational structure, and external recognition.
If you could give advice to a company considering OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN today, what would you say based on your experience?
Our advice would be to approach MADE IN GREEN as part of a broader responsibility strategy, not as a standalone communication measure. The label is most valuable when it reflects real processes, real controls, and real accountability in the supply chain. It is also important to see the certification process as a learning opportunity. It can help identify where systems are already strong and where further development is needed.
Learn more about mey here.
Discover OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN here.
