What OEKO-TEX, CertiPUR-US and eco-INSTITUT mean on a play mat

Published 19 October 2026 · 8-minute read

What does OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 mean on a play mat or cushion cover?

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 means a textile has been tested for harmful substances and passed. OEKO-TEX says every thread, button and accessory is tested against a list of over 1,000 harmful substances, and that the more intensive the skin contact, the stricter the requirements. On a play mat or play couch, it speaks only for the textile parts it was issued for.

The four OEKO-TEX product classes are:

• Product Class 1: products for babies and children up to 3 years, with the strictest limit values.
• Product Class 2: products with direct skin contact, such as bed linen.
• Product Class 3: products without direct skin contact, such as jackets.
• Product Class 4: home textiles and decoration materials, such as curtains.

An OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certificate is issued for one year, and its number can be checked in the OEKO-TEX Label Check. STANDARD 100 is about harmful substances; OEKO-TEX’s separate MADE IN GREEN label adds checks on chemical management, wastewater and working conditions.

What does CertiPUR-US certified foam mean?

CertiPUR-US certified foam is flexible polyurethane foam that meets the programme’s standards for content, emissions and durability, analysed by independent, accredited laboratories. The CertiPUR-US name belongs to a non-profit, the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, and it certifies the foam only. CertiPUR-US says certified foam is:

• made without formaldehyde, with less than 0.1 parts per million verified in a small-chamber emission test;
• made without ozone depleters;
• made without the phthalates regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission;
• made without mercury, lead and other heavy metals;
• low in emissions, with total VOCs below 0.5 parts per million after 72 hours in an ISO small-chamber test;
• screened for flame retardants and other chemicals classified as carcinogens, mutagens or reproductive toxins.

CertiPUR-US certified foams are tested twice in the first year, recertified every year and subject to random verification testing.

“We do not certify furniture, product lines or companies. We only certify flexible polyurethane foam.”

Source: CertiPUR-US, Frequently Asked Questions

CertiPUR-US also says latex foam is outside the scope of its certification. A product with a latex layer can carry the CertiPUR-US name as long as its polyurethane foam is certified.

What does eco-INSTITUT certification test for?

eco-INSTITUT certification tests a product for pollutants and for emissions, meaning which substances it releases into indoor air and how much of each. The eco-INSTITUT-Label covers construction products, floor coverings, furniture, and mattresses and bedding, including foam mattresses, latex mattresses and toppers. Its criteria also set requirements on odour and on what a product contains.

For mattresses and bedding, the label names VOCs among the pollutants it keeps out. An eco-INSTITUT certificate is generally valid for two years, with a conformity check after the first year, and every certified product is listed with its ID and validity in a public database.

The certifier, eco-INSTITUT Germany GmbH, is also an independent testing laboratory, so ask whether an “eco-INSTITUT” claim means the label or a lab test. Test reports are not published; the eco-INSTITUT-Label FAQ tells buyers to ask the manufacturer.

What does “SGS tested” mean on a product?

“SGS tested” means a product, or part of it, was tested by SGS, a testing, inspection and certification company based in Switzerland. SGS is a company, not a standard, so the phrase alone does not say which test was run, against which limits, or on which part. The useful follow-up: tested for what, and can I see the report?

SGS offers customers certificates and reports on its testing, and a free service to verify SGS-branded documents as genuine.

OEKO-TEX vs CertiPUR-US vs eco-INSTITUT: how do the labels compare?

Each label answers a different question. OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 covers harmful substances in textiles, CertiPUR-US the content and emissions of polyurethane foam, eco-INSTITUT the pollutants and indoor-air emissions of a certified product, and SGS who did the testing. Read them as checks on materials, not as instructions for use.

Does a certified play mat or play couch make a safe sleep surface for a baby?

No. A materials label describes what a product contains and gives off; it says nothing about whether a surface is safe for your baby to sleep on. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises a firm, flat sleep surface that does not indent when the baby lies on it, in a cot, bassinet or play yard that meets safety standards, with a fitted sheet only.

“Don't use products for sleep that aren't specifically marketed for infant sleep.”

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org

The AAP’s advice covers babies up to 1 year and recommends daily tummy time while your baby is awake and supervised, so for a baby under 12 months, play cushions and play mats are for awake, supervised play. Bettar Play’s guide to the age range for a play couch also asks for parental supervision for children up to 18 months.

How can you check a label yourself?

Checking a label on a play mat or play couch takes minutes: find which part it covers, look up the certificate with the certifier’s own tool, check it is still valid, and ask for the report behind any “tested” claim. Each of the three certifiers runs a public lookup.

1. Read which part the label names: cover, foam, latex or the whole product.
2. Look up the certificate: enter an OEKO-TEX number in the Label Check, search the eco-INSTITUT database by certificate number, product or maker. For CertiPUR-US, ask the seller for the foam maker’s certificate.
3. Check the dates: one year for an OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certificate, generally two for eco-INSTITUT, yearly recertification for CertiPUR-US foam.
4. For “SGS tested”, ask to see the report; SGS can confirm whether an SGS-branded document is genuine.

Where do the labels sit on a Bettar Play set?

You can feel the fabric first with Bettar Play’s RM10 fabric sample set, or see the sets at a store on its Product Locations page. On the labels, the Bettar Play FAQ says: “The fabric is OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified and SGS tested. It is a double layer, water resistant fabric”. It describes the inside as “The core CertiPUR-US® certified and ECO INSTITUT certified HIGH Density Polyurethane Foam and 100% natural latex”.

CertiPUR-US can only cover the polyurethane foam, because it does not certify latex. The FAQ does not say whether the eco-INSTITUT certificate covers the foam, the latex or both. The Signature 9-pc Triangle Set page puts it as “Made with 100% natural latex and high-density CertiPUR-US® foam”.

For the certificate details behind each label, contact Bettar Play.

Bettar Play’s sets are made in Malaysia, in the family factory that grew out of the founder’s grandfather’s mattress and cushion trade. Its Signature Topper Play Mat (90 x 190 x 2.5 cm) is described for “newborn tummy time, rolling, crawling and play” and lists a 100% natural latex inner layer.