CERTIFICATIONS GLOSSARY
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
Covers: Organic fibers travel throughout the entire supply chain, from production on the farm, through all processing steps, to the labeling of the finished textile product.
Products: GOTS covers textile products across the entire textile supply chain, including fibers, yarns, garments and personal care products. There are two labeling categories – products with more than 95% organic fiber content can be labeled as organic, and products with 70-95% organic fiber content can be labeled as “made with x% organic materials.”
Requirements: To be GOTS certified, a product must meet all criteria throughout the supply chain. GOTS covers the entire processing chain, including manufacturing, dyeing, weaving, knitting, CMI, finishing, packaging, labeling, distribution and wholesale. It contains environmental requirements, specifies banned chemicals, establishes social conditions, prohibits genetic modification, protects worker safety and sets chemical residue limits. The GOTS logo can only be used if the certification system covers the entire textile value chain. Companies trading GOTS certified products must be certified and audited by an accredited certification body.
Blue Sign
Covers: The bluesign® system adopts a holistic approach called Input Stream Management. It minimizes environmental and human impact, promotes responsible resource use, and ensures the highest level of consumer safety.
Products: The bluesign® system involves assessments of factories, chemicals, textile and accessory components, and consumer products throughout the entire value chain.
Requirements: A bluesign® system partner must meet the most stringent criteria for environmental and human protection, and commit to continuously improving sustainability performance in the following areas:
- Consumer safety
- Resource productivity
- Occupational health and safety
- Chemicals management
- Water emissions
- Soil
- Air emissions
- Waste management
Cotton Made In Africa (CmiA)
Covers: The CmiA standards are established by Cotton made in Africa (CmiA). CmiA encompasses cotton grown and processed in participating African partner countries, covering the journey from the field to the gin. The initiative has developed social, environmental, and economic standards and criteria to improve the living conditions of African smallholders and to promote environmentally friendly cotton production.
Products: Cotton sustainability standards are verified at both the cotton farmer and ginning levels. At the cotton farmer level, standards include soil fertility, water management, responsible pesticide use, fair pay, and transparency in the exchange of goods. At the ginning level, standards cover employment contracts, fair working hours, and worker health and safety. The implementation status is rated using a traffic light system: “red,” “yellow,” or “green,” with green indicating sustainable management.
Requirements: The CmiA standards’ two-tier requirements include exclusion criteria determining the eligibility of smallholder farmers and cotton companies to participate in the program. To qualify, they must meet minimum requirements, such as practicing rainfed agriculture, prohibiting child labor, adhering to ILO standards, avoiding deforestation, regulating pesticide use, refraining from using genetically modified seeds, maintaining business relationships compliant with OECD guidelines, and ensuring equal gender pay. Participation is restricted to smallholder farmers managing small parcels of land (average 1-3 hectares). While immediate compliance is not necessary, participants must develop improvement plans and demonstrate progress toward sustainable production.
Cradle To Cradle
Covers: Cradle to Cradle (C2C) is a multi-attribute standard that certifies products made from materials safe for humans and the environment. These products are designed for reutilization through recycling or composting and are manufactured using renewable energy, water stewardship, and social fairness principles. Materials are intended for reuse in either biological or technological cycles.
Products: Materials, sub-assemblies, and finished products are all evaluated under the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) standard. A product receives an achievement level in each category—Basic, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum—with the lowest achievement level representing the product’s overall mark.
Requirements: To achieve higher levels of certification and become ideal Cradle to Cradle (C2C)\, products must be optimized over time. All materials and their chemical ingredients in a finished product must be identified and assessed based on their impact on human and environmental health, as well as their recyclability. Materials are also evaluated on their potential for reuse in biological or technological cycles. The product manufacturing process is scrutinized for water effluent, air emissions, energy consumption, worker safety, consumer safety, social criteria, restricted substances list (RSL) compliance, chemical residues, and responsible water use.
Der Blaue Engel
Covers: The Blue Angel is the world’s first and oldest environmental label for products and services. The focus is on health, safety and environmental impact, depending on the product group.
Products: It certifies the best ecological characteristics of products (except food) and services. The Blue Angel Award is given to products that are more environmentally friendly than other products with the same purpose.
Requirements: The Blue Angel sets benchmarks for product control, transparency in product selection, safe purchasing practices, and health and safety standards. Before awarding the Blue Angel, a comprehensive review of the product’s entire life cycle is conducted. The degree of environmental benefit is determined by comparing similar products and considering the product’s usage. The Basic Award Criteria are established for each product group.
DETOX
Covers: The Detox campaign, initiated by Greenpeace in 2011, aims to eliminate hazardous chemicals from the supply chain. Companies that sign up to the Greenpeace Detox protocol commit to eradicating a specified list of hazardous chemicals from their production processes by 2020. This proactive approach demonstrates a commitment to environmental sustainability and the protection of human health throughout the supply chain.
Products: The Detox campaign, initiated by Greenpeace in 2011, aims to eliminate hazardous chemicals from the supply chain. Companies that participate in the campaign commit to removing a specific list of harmful chemicals by the year 2020 by signing up to the Greenpeace Detox protocol.
Requirements: For a commitment to be credible within the Detox campaign, it must be founded upon three fundamental principles:
- Zero discharge of all hazardous chemicals: This entails the complete elimination of releases, including those through wastewater pipe discharges and other production emissions like air and solid wastes.
- Prevention and Precaution: This involves taking proactive measures to eliminate hazardous chemicals, even in situations where there is scientific uncertainty about their effects.
- Right to know: Brands and their supply chains must prioritize transparency and publicly disclose information regarding the presence and management of hazardous chemicals.
Ecocert
Covers: Founded in 1951, ECOCERT® is an independent French body specializing in organic inspection and certification. It conducts quality control by ensuring strict adherence to all product specifications.
Products: ECOCERT primarily specializes in certifying food and food products, but it also extends its certification services to cosmetics, detergents, perfumes, and textiles. The company inspects approximately 70% of the organic food industry in France and about 30% globally. Additionally, ECOCERT is a prominent certifier of fair trade food, cosmetics, and textiles, adhering to ECOCERT Fair Trade standards. Its operations span over 80 countries worldwide.
Requirements: Products labeled as “organic” must meet the regulatory requirements for agriculture and organic produce in their respective country or region. Ecocert then inspects and certifies these products, ensuring traceability throughout the value chain, including production, processing, packaging, storage, and distribution. The criteria defining an organic agricultural product include:
- Organic agricultural products: Grown without the use of chemical fertilizers or synthetic products, with soil fertilized using organic fertilizers and natural minerals that promote soil health, and following the precautionary principle.
- Animals: Fed predominantly on organic feed, raised under non-intensive husbandry conditions, provided access to the outdoors, and given maximum living space.
- Processed products: Made from controlled organically-sourced farm ingredients, and may include non-agricultural ingredients as authorized by European regulations or the National Organic Program (NOP).
EU Ecolabel
Covers: The EU Ecolabel is a certification that identifies products with a reduced environmental impact across their entire life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials through production, use, and disposal. It is recognized throughout Europe as a symbol of environmental responsibility and sustainability.
Products: The EU Ecolabel encompasses a diverse array of product groups, including materials and manufacturing processes. Criteria for each product group are developed by key experts in consultation with main stakeholders to mitigate the primary environmental impacts across the entire life cycle of the product. Since the life cycle of every product and service varies, the criteria are customized to address the unique characteristics of each product type.
Requirements: The criteria for the EU Ecolabel are reviewed approximately every four years to incorporate advancements in technology, such as developments in materials, production processes, emission reduction, and changes in the market landscape. Products seeking the EU Ecolabel must adhere to stringent criteria, which consider the entire product life cycle—from the extraction of raw materials, production, packaging, transportation, through to end use and recycling. This comprehensive life cycle approach ensures that the product’s main environmental impacts are minimized.
Fair Wear Foundation
Covers: The Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) collaborates with brands and industry stakeholders to enhance working conditions in clothing manufacturing locations. FWF operates in 11 production countries across Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe.
Products: Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) concentrates on activities in the cut, make, trim (CMT) stage and related processes involved in transforming fabric into clothing, shoes, bags, and other sewn goods. This phase of production is highly labor-intensive and presents an opportunity for clothing brands to have a significant impact on working conditions.
Requirements: Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) verifies factories at the factory level and maintains a complaints procedure in all countries of operation to provide a safety net for workers. Additionally, FWF conducts company-level verifications to ensure effective implementation of the FWF Code of Labour Practices in management systems. Membership is open to European garment companies that meet the following criteria: (a) minimum annual turnover of €2.5 million, (b) more than 50% of production in countries where FWF is active, with production in other countries also counting towards this threshold, and (c) at least 50% of own production. Companies do not need to have advanced corporate responsibility practices to join; FWF’s approach meets companies where they are in their journey towards responsible business practices.
Fairtrade Cotton
Covers: Cotton that bears the FAIR-TRADE Cotton Mark certification meets rigorous social, economic, and environmental Fair Trade Standards. These standards encompass various aspects, including ensuring fair prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and equitable terms of trade for farmers and workers in developing countries.
Products: The certification process extends to cotton producer organizations and supply chain operators involved in processing the cotton, assisting them in optimizing business opportunities. This encompasses various stages, including ginning, spinning, weaving, cutting, and finishing processes, among others.
Requirements: Fairtrade promotes sustainable cotton production and stands as the sole standard offering economic advantages, including a guaranteed Fairtrade Minimum Price and additional Fairtrade Premium for seed cotton farmers. Moreover, businesses have the option to participate in The Fairtrade Cotton Program, enabling them to procure more cotton on Fairtrade terms and extend market access under Fairtrade terms to additional farmers.
Fairtrade Textile Production
Covers: The Fairtrade Textile Standard is designed to encompass the workers involved in textile manufacturing, with the goal of promoting best practices throughout the textile supply chains, thereby enabling workers to achieve secure and sustainable livelihoods. Additionally, it serves as a processing standard for Fairtrade cotton and other sustainable fibers, ensuring ethical practices from production to processing.
Products: The Fairtrade Textile Standard guidelines are applicable to all certified operators within the textile supply chain, irrespective of the specific product being certified. These guidelines also extend to companies or brands involved in manufacturing products using certified supply chains. Through License Agreements, brands and companies selling the final products commit to paying a fair price and adhering to fair terms, thereby supporting ethical practices throughout the supply chain.
Requirements: Living wages must be implemented within a defined timeframe of six years, with brand owners bearing contractual responsibility for fair and sustainable purchasing practices. All stakeholders in the supply chain, including brands, are required to establish equitable, dependable, and transparent contract arrangements to enhance workers’ conditions. This standard is applicable only in countries where Freedom of Association is feasible. Additionally, the standard is open to other responsible fibers, alongside Fairtrade cotton, based on the Fairtrade Responsible Fibre Criteria. All subcontractors must be registered and consent to audits to ensure compliance. www.fairtrade.org.uk
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Covers: The FSC® Chain of Custody certification plays a crucial role in tracing wood through the supply chain, thereby ensuring that the fibers originate from responsibly managed forests and are not sourced from ancient or endangered forests. To achieve certification, forests must adhere to strict standards based on FSC’s 10 Principles of Forest Stewardship, which encompass environmental, social, and economic considerations. Independent organizations conduct inspections of forests to assess compliance with these principles, providing assurance to consumers that wood products bearing the FSC label are sourced sustainably.
Products: Absolutely, the FSC system plays a critical role in conserving forests and protecting the ecosystems, wildlife, and communities that rely on them. By certifying products derived from responsibly managed forests or verified and recycled sources, FSC enables businesses and consumers to make informed choices and support sustainable forestry practices. This not only helps safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem health but also promotes social responsibility and economic viability in forest-dependent communities.
Requirements: To apply for FSC certification, follow these steps:
- Contact FSC accredited certification bodies to request quotes and information about the certification process.
- Submit a certification application to the FSC certification body of your choice.
- Ensure that an appropriate FM/COC (Forest Management/Chain of Custody) or CoC Management System is in place to meet FSC standards.
- Undergo an on-site audit by your chosen certification body to assess compliance with FSC requirements.
- Upon successful completion of the audit, gain certification approval and receive your FSC certification code (XXXCOC- 000000) and trademark license code (FSC-C000000).
- Forests are inspected and certified against strict standards based on FSC’s 10 Principles of Forest Stewardship, with inspections conducted by independent organizations.
- You can apply for either chain of custody certification or Forest Management Certification, depending on your organization’s needs.
FSC certificates are typically valid for five years, after which re-certification may be required to maintain compliance with FSC standards.
Global Recycled Standard (GRS)
Covers: The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) indeed encompasses the utilization of recycled materials in any product.
Products: The standard allows for its application to any product containing a minimum of 20% recycled material. However, only products with at least 50% recycled material, whether pre-consumer or post-consumer, are eligible to display the GRS logo on consumer-facing products.
Requirements: The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) collects information from Material Collectors and Concentrators. Facilities engaged in Material Recycling and supply chain members must fully comply with the standard’s requirements. This includes verifying that materials are indeed recycled and tracking them throughout production. Additionally, production facilities must adhere to social and environmental requirements. The use of chemicals identified as toxic is strictly prohibited in the production of GRS products.
GreenScreen® For Safer Chemicals
Covers: GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals is a method used for chemical hazard assessment, with the goal of identifying chemicals of high concern and safer alternatives in products and processes.
Products: GreenScreen has indeed been adopted in various certification programs and standards aimed at enhancing sustainability throughout all stages of chemical use in production.
Requirements: The Benchmark scores offer a high-level indicator of chemical hazards, while the Hazard Summary Table provides specific information on relevant hazards associated with each chemical. Manufacturers can earn two credits by using GreenScreen to evaluate and communicate hazards: one for disclosure and another for eliminating highly hazardous chemical ingredients. To earn the disclosure credit, companies must identify all ingredients in products that meet or exceed certain thresholds. For proprietary ingredients, the chemical identity can be redacted if a GreenScreen List Translator score or GreenScreen Benchmark is provided, along with information on chemical hazards, ingredient role, and amount.
International Wool Textil Organisation (IWTO)
Covers: The International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) provides standards and test methods for measuring wool fiber, yarn, and fabric properties. Additionally, since 2012, IWTO has been collecting various Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) data and information from across the wool industry. This effort aims to offer a more informed assessment of the environmental attributes associated with wool fiber.
Products: IWTO’s Full Test methods offer the objective, technical, and scientific measurements necessary for issuing IWTO test certificates. Regarding wool’s environmental credentials, wool’s Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) now encompass all aspects of the industry on a cradle-to-cradle basis. This comprehensive approach allows for a thorough examination of wool’s environmental impact throughout its entire lifecycle, from production to disposal or recycling.
Requirements: Standards and test methods provided by IWTO cover all stages of the wool supply chain, from greasy wool to scoured wool, carded wool, sliver, top, yarn, and fabric. IWTO collects and analyzes Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data from various stages of the supply chain, including co-products within the sheep production system, water footprints, product wear life, recycling, and carbon cycles. WTO test certificates can be obtained from IWTO licensing labs. All standards and specifications can be found in the WTO Red and White Book. Additionally, the report on wool’s LCAs can be downloaded from the IWTO website.
IVN NATURLEDER
Covers: In parallel with the IVN certificate for textiles, IVN Naturleder focuses on ensuring a high-quality standard for certified leather products. This standard is based on both technical and ecological advancements, aiming to uphold rigorous criteria for leather quality and environmental sustainability.
Products: The guidelines for IVN Naturleder cover all production stages from the raw material to the sale and use of the finished leather itself, rather than the finished leather products. This comprehensive approach ensures that every step of the leather production process adheres to the specified quality and environmental standards.
Requirements: In adherence to IVN Naturleder guidelines:
- Environmental impact and health concerns for both production workers and end users are carefully monitored and documented.
- Hazardous substances, disposal methods, and potential recycling of goods are scrutinized.
- Wild or endangered animals are prohibited from being used in IVN Naturleder products.
- Preservation and cleaning processes must utilize cooling and salting methods rather than chemical preservatives.
- The use of chrome and mineral tanning agents in leather tanning is prohibited.
- Regulations are established for overlaying, dyeing, and finishing processes to ensure compliance with quality and environmental standards.
NATURTEXTIL IVN BEST
Covers: Naturtextil IVN Certified BEST sets the highest requirements for textile ecology by implementing the maximum achievable levels of ecological production. This quality standard surpasses current legal mandates within the European Union, signifying the strictest requirements for ecological textile production. It represents the pinnacle of technical excellence currently attainable in this field.
Products: Since 2000, Naturtextil IVN Certified BEST has reflected the standards developed and implemented by IVN for eco-friendly textiles. It involves inspecting the entire textile chain, encompassing both ecological considerations and social accountability.
Requirements: The company is required to implement an environmental policy outlining measures to minimize and monitor waste and pollution. It must specify actions in the event of waste or contamination and document employee training on the economical use of water and energy, correct minimization and disposal of chemicals, and programs aimed at improving production processes. Textiles used must be 100% natural and sourced from certified organic production (bA) or certified organic animal husbandry (kbT). Synthetic fibers, such as elastic fibers, acrylic, or rayon, are permitted only up to 5% for accessories or, as an exception, in elastic fabrics used, for instance, for ribbing or lace.
OEKO-TEX® DETOX TO ZERO
Covers: DETOX TO ZERO evaluates a manufacturer’s chemical management systems, conducts a comprehensive chemical inventory aligned with the DETOX TO ZERO Manufacturing Restricted Substance List (MRSL), and assesses the quality of their wastewater and sludge.
Products: DETOX TO ZERO by OEKO-TEX® focuses on evaluating chemical and environmental performance in textile production processes, including:
- Wet spinning, twisting, and related processes
- Dyeing, printing, finishing, coating, and related processes
- Manufacturing of accessories such as zippers, buttons, and labels
Requirements: The 12 priority groups of chemicals outlined in DETOX TO ZERO’s MRSL Annex A serve as the foundation for testing chemicals, wastewater, and sludge. The required documents include:
- Full chemical management system or policy
- Inventory of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) chemicals
- Wastewater and sludge test reports
- Chemical and environmental hazard emergency plans
- Staff safety training records
- Site plan
- Licenses/permits for waste discharge.
OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT
Covers: The ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX is an independent certification system through which textile chemical suppliers showcase that their products can be utilized in sustainable textile production.
Products: The ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX® applies to chemical products such as those used as bases for textiles, colorants, and auxiliaries, as well as their preparations. These products are intended for use in the textile, clothing, and closely related industries.
Requirements: The ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX® program consists of two distinct but complementary stages:
- Stage 1: Restricted Substance List (RSL) and Manufacturing Restricted Substance List (MRSL) screening.
- Stage 2: Analytical verification conducted in an OEKO-TEX® member institute laboratory.
Products that meet the requirements of both stages are awarded the ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX® certification and are listed in the OEKO-TEX® buying guide. This guide serves as the central sourcing platform for pre-certified articles and materials.
OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD
Covers: The LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX® is a globally consistent, independent testing and certification system designed for leather and leather articles at all stages of production. It examines harmful chemicals utilized in leather and leather articles, encompassing those that are legal or not yet regulated, as well as substances such as lead and various environmentally relevant substance classes.
Products: Examples of articles that can be certified by the LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX® include:
- Semifinished leather products (e.g., Wet-blue, Wet-white, Crust, etc.)
- Finished leather
- Leather fiber material
- Ready-made articles such as garments of all types, accessories, leather gloves, leather handbags, leather covers, and more.
- Some furs may also apply.
The certification encompasses four product classes. For further details, please visit the OEKO-TEX® website.
Requirements: For certification, all components of an article must meet the required criteria, not just the leather. This includes textile fabrics, sewing threads, prints, labels, as well as non-textile accessories like buttons, zip fasteners, and rivets. The leather materials must comply with the conditions and criteria outlined in the latest valid LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®. Meanwhile, non-leather components (e.g., textiles, metallic accessories, etc.) must meet the requirements specified in the latest valid STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®.
After submitting an application and providing a test sample, an OEKO-TEX® member institute conducts laboratory tests on articles (or groups of articles) according to the OEKO-TEX® criteria catalog.
OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN
Covers: MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX is an independent textile label designed to spotlight consumer products and semi-finished products across all levels of the textile chain. These products are made from materials tested for harmful substances and have been manufactured using environmentally friendly processes, as well as under safe and socially responsible working conditions.
Products: The MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX certification is available for production facilities at all processing stages, ranging from fiber production and spinning mills to weaving mills, knitting mills, and even fishing facilities. This certification can also be granted to manufacturers of ready-made textile items. Finished textile items and semi-finished products at all levels of the textile supply chain, including clothing and furnishings, are eligible to receive the MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX label.
Requirements: During the STeP certification process, six core modules are individually evaluated based on scoring: management, occupational health and safety, social responsibility, and quality management. The overall scoring for a production facility is derived from the average of all module scores. Companies seeking the MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX certification must hold both the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX and STeP by OEKO-TEX certifications, in accordance with OEKO-TEX guidelines.
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
Covers: The STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® is a thorough third-party testing and certification system for textile products. It aims to guarantee consumer safety by certifying textiles only if all components meet the specified requirements.
Products: The STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® label can be granted to textile raw materials, intermediate products, and end products at all stages of production. This includes textile accessories, dyes, and textile auxiliaries.
Requirements: At every stage of production, from raw materials to intermediate and end products, adherence to required criteria is assessed. Products are categorized into one of four product classes based on the level of contact they will have with the skin. Testing parameters encompass banning legally prohibited, regulated, and harmful substances, as well as ensuring colorfastness and a skin-friendly pH value to safeguard consumer health. Test criteria are updated annually and exceed existing legal regulations.
OEKO-TEX® STeP
Covers: The Step by OEKO-TEX is a certification system that utilizes a modular analysis of all pertinent areas within textile production facilities. STeP evaluates sustainable manufacturing conditions and is constructed upon a benchmarking and scoring system. This framework empowers facilities to establish a traceable pathway toward sustainable textile production.
Products: The STeP by OEKO-TEX program tests, audits, and certifies environmentally friendly and socially responsible production facilities across all processing stages. This includes fiber production, spinning mills, weaving mills, knitting mills, finishing facilities, and manufacturers of ready-made textile items.
Requirements: The Step by OEKO-TEX program specifically evaluates:
- Management of chemicals
- Environmental management
- Quality management
- Environmental protection
- Social responsibility
- Health and safety
The STeP by OEKO-TEX certification comprises three different levels indicating the degree to which a company has attained sustainable production and working conditions:
- Level 1: Entry level
- Level 2: Good implementation, exemplifying best practices
Organic Content Standard (OCS)
Covers: The Organic Content Standard (OCS) encompasses the use of certified organically grown materials in any product, including organic raw materials, and addresses concerns related to genetic modification.
Products: The Organic Content Standard (OCS) ensures that certified organically grown materials are used in any product, encompassing organic raw materials and addressing concerns related to genetic modification.
Requirements: The Organic Content Standard (OCS) tracks and documents the purchase, handling, and use of certified organically grown material in any product, but it does not extend to covering production processes. Products meeting the OCS and containing 95 to 100 percent organically grown material should be labeled as “Contains organically grown [raw material]” or “Contains 100% organically grown [raw material]” as long as the product does not also contain conventional ingredients of the same raw material.
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)
Covers: PEFC is indeed an international and independent organization dedicated to promoting Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) through independent third-party certification.
Products: Indeed, the verification of sourced material is essential to ensure that only certified materials are used in the production of certified goods. This requirement underscores the importance of procuring certified material throughout the production process to maintain the integrity of certified products.
Requirements: Ensuring compliance with the PEFC International Chain of Custody standard, PEFC Standard 2002:2013, requires several key steps. Firstly, personnel responsible for tasks affecting the implementation and maintenance of the chain of custody, such as buyers, marketing, and sales personnel, must be identified, briefed, and trained accordingly. Secondly, records demonstrating compliance with requirements must be meticulously maintained. Additionally, internal audits should be conducted annually to assess adherence to standards. Finally, management systems outlining procedures should be in place to ensure ongoing compliance. This information can be integrated into existing systems, such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 procedures, to streamline processes and enhance efficiency.
Recycled Claim Standard (RCS)
Covers: The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) encompasses the use of recycled materials in any product. This standard includes verifying that the material is indeed recycled and tracks its journey through production.
Products: The “100” logo is permitted for products containing a minimum of 95% recycled material, provided that the remaining percentage is not the same type of material. The “Blended” logo, on the other hand, is designated for products containing between 5% to 95% recycled materials.
Requirements: The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) ensures that reclaimed material would otherwise have entered the waste stream. It tracks and documents the purchase, handling, and use of recycled material in any product, but does not extend to covering production processes. Products complying with the RCS and containing 95-100% (or 5-95% blended) recycled material should be labeled as “Contains X% recycled [raw material]” or “Contains 100% recycled [raw material]” as long as the product does not also contain virgin ingredients of the same raw material.
Responsible Down Standard (RDS)
Covers: The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) is designed to guarantee that down and feathers are sourced from animals that have not been subjected to unnecessary harm.
Products: The down and feathers certified under the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) are typically utilized as insulation in consumer products like jackets, coats, blankets, and other insulation materials.
Requirements: The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) applies to various entities involved in the supply chain, including farms, slaughterhouses, transportation providers, and small farmer groups. Each step of the supply chain must adhere to animal welfare criteria based on the Five Animal Freedoms:
- Freedom from hunger or thirst
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from pain, injury, or disease
- Freedom to express (most) normal behavior
- Freedom from fear and distress
Furthermore, a chain of custody system is required to maintain the identity of certified down throughout the production process, ensuring traceability from the source to the final product.
Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)
Covers: The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) serves as a tool for the industry to identify and acknowledge the best practices of farmers. It ensures that wool originates from farms that employ a progressive approach to land management and prioritize responsible treatment of sheep.
Products: The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) implements a robust chain of custody system from farm to final product. This ensures that consumers can have confidence that the wool used in the products they choose is genuinely RWS Certified.
Requirements: To attain RWS certification, every facility within the supply chain must be certified, extending up to the seller in the final business-to-business transaction. According to this standard, certified products can either be 100% certified wool or blended certified wool containing from 5% to 99% of certified material. Final products that incorporate non-certified wool are not permitted to be labeled with the RWS name or logo.
SA8000® Standard – Social Accountability International (SAI)
Covers: The SA8000® Standard is an auditable certification that encourages organizations to develop, maintain, and apply socially acceptable practices in the workplace. This certification covers a range of important areas including child labor, forced or compulsory labor, health and safety, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practices, working hours, remuneration, and management systems. It provides a framework for ensuring that organizations uphold ethical and responsible practices in their operations.
Products: SA8000 applies to any organization, including brands, organizational buyers, independent codes of conduct, private sector initiatives, and industry leaders, that is committed to maintaining the highest standards of social compliance in their supply chains. It provides a framework for ensuring ethical practices while also considering business interests. This standard enables organizations to demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility and ethical conduct throughout their operations.
Requirements: The evaluation process for the SA8000® Standard involves reviewing documentation, observing working practices, conducting interviews with employees, and examining operational records. The criteria of the SA8000 Standard are rooted in the principles of international human rights norms outlined in conventions by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Facilities seeking certification must demonstrate adherence to the eight performance criteria, which require them to exceed basic compliance with the standard and actively promote social responsibility and ethical practices.
Soil Association Organic Standards
Covers: The Soil Association played a key role as a founder member of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and is a quarter owner of Global Standard GmbH, the entity that oversees GOTS. GOTS certification evaluates organic fibers across the entire supply chain, addressing aspects such as genetic modification, water effluent, worker safety, consumer safety, social criteria, and restricted substance list (RSL)/chemical residues. Additionally, GOTS includes specific standards for leather, skins, and hides.
Products: The Soil Association certification is granted to brands, processors, and traders who adhere to GOTS standards and/or the Organic Content Standard. Furthermore, Soil Association Certification’s own standards can be applied to products derived from leather, skins, and hides.
Requirements: The requirements for Soil Association certification align with those of GOTS and OCS. Additionally, Soil Association Certification can certify organic farms to globally recognized organic standards. Certified goods must meet the criteria outlined by GOTS and/or OCS. For products certified to GOTS, the Soil Association Organic symbol can be utilized, which is widely recognized as the leading organic symbol in the UK.
USDA Certified Biobased
Covers: The symbol you’re referring to indicates that a product or package is USDA Certified Biobased. The biobased content of these products and packages is third-party tested at independent laboratories to ensure accuracy and compliance with certification standards.
Products: Biobased products are sourced from plants and other renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materials, offering an alternative to conventional petroleum-derived products. These products span various categories, including lubricants, cleaning products, inks, fertilizers, and bioplastics. However, it’s important to note that for the Biopreferred program, biobased products specifically exclude food, animal feed, and fuel from their definition.
Requirements: A business producing a biobased product that meets USDA criteria can apply for certification, enabling them to display the USDA Certified Biobased Product label on their product. This label provides assurance to consumers that the product contains a verified amount of renewable biological ingredients, referred to as biobased content. Consumers can trust the label’s integrity because manufacturer claims regarding the biobased content are third-party certified and rigorously monitored by the USDA.
V-Label
Covers: The V-Label is an internationally recognized and registered symbol used for labeling vegan and vegetarian products and services. It aims to promote transparency and clarity by adhering to standardized criteria.
Products: Vegetarian and/or vegan products licensed with the V-Label undergo inspections to verify their composition, as well as each individual production step involved in their development. Mono-products such as teas, spices, mineral water, and raw foods, such as unprocessed vegetables, are inherently plant-based and therefore do not require special labeling with this standard.
Requirements: Vegetarian products are those that do not contain animals or parts of animals but may involve the use of living animals or animal-derived products in their creation. Vegan products, on the other hand, do not contain any animals or parts of animals, and they must not involve the use of living animals or animal-derived products in any production or processing steps. The V-Label is not licensed for products in the following cases: (a) Products declared to contain GMOs (b) Products containing eggs from caged hens.
ZQ Merino Fibre
Covers: ZQ Merino Fibres™ adhere to standards ensuring animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and social sustainability through a traceable supply chain. These fibers were developed under The ZQ Merino Programme, a responsible merino standard initiated by The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM).
Products: ZQ Merino™ Fibres are premium-quality fibers sourced from ZQ Merino accredited farms. These fibers are utilized by spinning, weaving, knitting, and textile mills, as well as garment producers. Notable qualities of ZQ Merino™ Fibres include a fine, soft, and silky texture, along with UV protection properties. Additionally, they are renewable and biodegradable, contributing to sustainable textile production practices.
Requirements:Accredited farms undergo audits every 3-5 years to ensure adherence to animal welfare and fair trade principles. Following this, the fibers are supplied to brand partners via forward contracts, which offer price stability for both brand partners and growers. Moreover, these contracts facilitate investment and innovation in Merino production and programs. The maintenance of ZQ Merino accreditation relies on ongoing compliance, determined through third-party auditing. This auditing process involves self-assessments and on-farm inspections, where sheep, farms, and facilities are visually examined. The ZQ accreditation program mandates growers to prioritize the welfare of their animals, ensuring compliance with the five basic freedoms outlined in The Animal Welfare Act 1999 and the Animal Welfare (Sheep and Beef Cattle) Code of Welfare 2010,which includes the prohibition of mulesing.
