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Short answer: before a claim goes on a pack or a listing, ask one question: if a customer, a marketplace or a regulator asked for proof tomorrow, what would I send? If the answer is "the supplier told me", it is not ready. Write claims from documents you hold.
We had to do this ourselves
In 2026 we went through our own website and removed certification claims that belonged to units we work with and not to us. Nobody had complained. It was the right thing to do, and it taught us how easily a loose claim spreads. This checklist comes from that work.
Common towel claims and what backs them
| Claim | What you need on file | Common trap |
|---|---|---|
| 100% cotton | Fibre composition test or supplier declaration | Polyester in the border or the sewing thread is allowed within limits. Decorative bands may not be |
| 600 GSM | Weight measurements from the delivered goods | Sample was 600, bulk is 560 |
| Organic cotton | A valid organic certificate covering the supply chain down to your product, plus a transaction certificate for your order | A certificate for the mill is not a certificate for your towel |
| Egyptian cotton, Pima, Supima | Evidence of fibre origin. Some names are licensed trademarks | Using the name because the towel "feels like it" |
| OEKO-TEX | A certificate number that covers this article | Printing the logo without a licence |
| Antibacterial, antimicrobial | Test data, and in the EU and US, biocide rules may apply | Treating it as a marketing word |
| Quick dry, extra absorbent | A comparison you can explain: against what, measured how | No comparison at all |
| Eco-friendly, sustainable, green | A specific, provable fact | Vague words. Regulators in the EU and UK are acting on these |
| Hotel quality, luxury | Nothing. These are opinions | Fine, as long as nothing factual is implied |
| Made in India | True origin | Fine. Don't imply another origin with flags or names |
Safer wording
| Instead of | Write |
|---|---|
| Eco-friendly towel | Made from 100% cotton. Paper packaging |
| Antibacterial | Dries quickly, which helps it stay fresh |
| Lasts forever | Double-stitched hems. Wash care inside |
| Certified organic (when only the cotton is) | Made with organic cotton, with the certifier and licence number |
| 5-star hotel towel | 600 GSM, the weight used in many upscale hotels |
Rules for numbers
- Weigh the delivered goods and claim what they weigh.
- If your tolerance is plus or minus 5 percent, a "600 GSM" towel that measures 572 will draw complaints. Claim a figure the lightest piece meets.
- State sizes after washing, or say "size before first wash".
Whose certificate is it
A certificate belongs to the company named on it, for the products listed on it. Ask your supplier:
- Whose name is on the certificate?
- Does it cover this exact product?
- Is it current? Check it on the certifier's website.
- May I use the logo, and what licence do I need?
Our own position: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is available on certified lines, and we confirm the certificate for your product before you order. Organic and social certificates sit with specific certified units and are confirmed per order.
Keep a claims file
One folder per product: spec sheet, test reports, certificates, weight records and the date you checked each. When a marketplace asks, you answer in minutes.
Our guide to what textile certifications cover explains each scheme. To build a product whose claims you can prove, tell us what you want to say and we'll tell you what evidence exists.
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Written by
Dr Abin Babu
Founder & Chairman, Anabyn Global Ventures
Anabyn exports hotel and home linen from Kerala, India. These guides come from the questions buyers ask our desk. About the team
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