What TESTEX does

TESTEX (TESTEX AG, Schweizer Textilprüfinstitut) is an independent Swiss testing and certification organization founded in 1846 in Zürich, specializing in textile and leather product analysis. The company operates as a founding member institute of the OEKO-TEX Association and serves as its official representative across approximately 30 locations on five continents, with roughly 40 branch offices supporting global manufacturers, brands, retailers, and supply chain partners. Its core offering is a portfolio of OEKO-TEX certifications covering product safety (STANDARD 100, LEATHER STANDARD), sustainable production (STeP), combined eco/social compliance (MADE IN GREEN), chemicals (ECO PASSPORT), organic cotton, and responsible business practices, supplemented by proprietary testing solutions for UV protection (UV STANDARD 801), circularity, PFAS, and microplastic release.

The underlying methodology relies on laboratory-based analytical testing, annual criteria updates informed by the latest scientific findings, and on-site production audits. Certification criteria are stated to exceed national and international specifications such as REACH. Revenue is generated through professional services fees for testing, certification audits, and ongoing compliance verification, accessed by customers via the OEKO-TEX portal and direct consultation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and quotes are provided on application. Authorized representatives are Dr. Jean-Pierre Haug and Thomas Burkard.

TESTEX's commercial strategy is sales-led and B2B, relying on a comprehensive website, industry events, a centralized OEKO-TEX application portal, and named-expert consultation. Recent strategic activity includes expansion into automotive (first dual-certified vehicle cabin, June 2026), Digital Product Passport support for incoming EU traceability mandates, and active buildout of regulatory-driven testing categories (PFAS, microplastic, circularity), positioning the company to capture demand from tightening textile and leather compliance regimes.

Name

TESTEX

Legal name

TESTEX AG

Website

https://testex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1846

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

TESTEX is a Swiss testing and certification institute that analyzes, tests, and certifies textile and leather products through OEKO-TEX certifications and proprietary testing solutions, serving manufacturers, brands, retailers, and supply chain partners across five continents from approximately 40 branch offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Textile and Leather Testing & Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Textile Testing, Compliance & Quality Assurance (CRAAAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Leather Testing, Grading & Quality Certification (IMAOAGAJ)

Keywords

• Textile testing services
• Leather product certification
• OEKO-TEX certification
• Sustainable textile production
• Harmful substance testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Certification and Testing Services: TESTEX generates revenue through testing and certification services for textile and leather products. Companies pay for certification audits, testing procedures, and ongoing compliance verification according to OEKO-TEX standards.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TESTEX is an independent Swiss testing and certification organization that tests and certifies textile and leather products through the OEKO-TEX certification system. Its offerings include product safety certifications (STANDARD 100, LEATHER STANDARD), sustainable production certification (STeP), combined eco-social labels (MADE IN GREEN), chemical certification (ECO PASSPORT), and specialized testing for UV protection, PFAS, microplastics, circularity, and organic cotton content.

Product overview

TESTEX is an international, independent Swiss testing and certification organization specializing in textile and leather testing. As a member institute of the OEKO-TEX® Association and its official representative on five continents, TESTEX offers a comprehensive portfolio of certification and testing services. The core offering includes OEKO-TEX® certifications: OEKO-TEX® STeP (Sustainable Textile & Leather Production) for supply chain sustainability, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 for product safety, OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD for leather products, and OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN combining product safety with environmental and social criteria. Additional certifications include OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT for chemicals, OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON, and OEKO-TEX® RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS. Specialized testing solutions include UV STANDARD 801, TESTEX CIRCULARITY, TESTEX PFAS Testing Solutions, and TESTEX MICROPLASTIC. The company conducts extensive textile and leather testing for harmful substances, manufacturing processes, and workplace conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OEKO-TEX STeP (Sustainable Textile & Leather Production) Certification that verifies socially acceptable and safe working conditions as well as sustainable production practices at textile and leather production sites throughout the supply chain.
• OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 One of the best-known labels worldwide for textile products and accessories that pose no health risks, signalling exceptional product safety and customer confidence.
• OEKO-TEX LEATHER STANDARD Testing and certification system for leather products that pose no health risks, with annually updated criteria based on the latest scientific findings.
• OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN Comprehensive label distinguishing textile and leather items that pose no health risks and have been produced under ecological and socially responsible conditions.
• OEKO-TEX ECO PASSPORT Certification system for chemicals, dyes, and auxiliaries used in textile and leather production, verifying that they meet ecological and toxicological standards.
• OEKO-TEX ORGANIC COTTON Certification verifying that cotton used in textile products has been produced in accordance with organic farming standards.
• OEKO-TEX RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS Certification addressing social responsibility and sustainable business practices throughout the textile and leather supply chain.
• UV STANDARD 801 Testing standard that measures the UV protection factor (UPF) of fabrics under realistic conditions, certifying textiles for reliable UV protection.
• TESTEX CIRCULARITY Testing solution that assesses recyclability and circular-economy aspects of textile products in line with circularity requirements.
• TESTEX PFAS Testing Solutions Specialized testing solution for detecting and quantifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in textile and leather products.
• TESTEX MICROPLASTIC Testing solution that measures microplastic release from textile products during washing.
• Textile Testing Extensive laboratory testing services enabling textile and leather companies to meet customer specifications and international standards for product safety and performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Limits and test criteria largely exceed national and international specifications
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• OEKO-TEX AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTESTEX is a founding member institute of the OEKO-TEX Association and serves as its official representative on five continents. TESTEX conducts OEKO-TEX certifications including STANDARD 100, LEATHER STANDARD, STeP, MADE IN GREEN, and ECO PASSPORT.
• ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTESTEX collaborates with ZDHC to support chemical management and sustainability in the textile and leather supply chain, as part of their commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS: Global testing, inspection, and certification giant with extensive textile and leather testing capabilities across multiple geographies; competes with TESTEX for enterprise testing contracts but as part of a much broader services portfolio spanning many industries.
• Intertek: Global quality assurance and testing provider with dedicated softlines (textile/apparel) testing services that overlap directly with TESTEX's textile and leather certification offering, particularly for brands needing global multi-region testing.
• Eurofins Scientific: International laboratory testing group with textile and chemical testing capabilities relevant to harmful-substance analysis (OEKO-TEX-style testing), competing with TESTEX particularly on chemical and contaminant screening work.
• Bureau Veritas: International TIC (testing, inspection, certification) company offering textile and leather testing services alongside its broader consumer-goods and industrial portfolio, competing with TESTEX on large multi-country brand engagements.
• TÜV Rheinland: Major German certification and testing body offering textile, leather, and consumer-product testing as part of its diversified industrial services portfolio, with comparable authority on regulatory compliance certifications in Europe and Asia.

Direct peers

• Hohenstein Institute: German textile testing and research institute that is also a founding member of the OEKO-TEX Association and directly competes with TESTEX in issuing STANDARD 100, LEATHER STANDARD, and STeP certifications across its own European territories.
• Shirley Technologies (SDL Atlas): UK-based textile testing laboratory and consultancy offering physical and chemical testing of textiles and apparel, overlapping with TESTEX's core textile testing service line for brands and manufacturers seeking European testing partners.

Others

• ZDHC Foundation: Industry collaborative (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) of which TESTEX is already a partner; the foundation sets chemical-management standards in textiles that increasingly overlap with TESTEX's ECO PASSPORT, positioning it as an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct testing competitor.

Emerging players

• bluesign technologies: Swiss-based sustainability solutions provider for the textile industry offering chemical and sustainability certification (bluesign label) that competes with TESTEX's OEKO-TEX ECO PASSPORT and STeP in the chemical-management and sustainable-production certification space.

Regional players

• Centexbel: Belgian collective research center for the textile and plastics industry, providing textile testing, certification support, and R&D services primarily for European manufacturers and brands in a role comparable to TESTEX's testing function.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TESTEXAG
• Facebookfacebook.com/TESTEXHK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/testex-swiss-textile-testing-co.-ltd.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TESTEX