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Certifications and labels for textiles

The world of eco-labels and socially responsible labels and certifications can be a jungle. There are several compilations and guides, and since Earth Pledge has just launched theirs - this is one of the most up-to-date lists.

Sustainable certifications cover many attributes of the fiber, fabric and garment sectors of the global market, and sorting through them to find out which - if any - would be best for you is quite a feat. There are also organizations (like the Ethical Trade Initiative) who prefer to that companies always strive to better themselves, and therefore do not have a standard or certification.

If you click on the link below, you can also access a chart detailing the area of application as well as the focus area of each certification. But, remember, this is Earth Pledge's list, not NICE's! Here are two certification standards not mentioned in Earth Pledge's list, the former is not yet operative. The second is.

A new standard?
Labelling Ecologically Approved Fabrics (LEAF) is hoping to become a trusted, user-friendly clearing-house where US consumers can learn if an apparel product has met various environmental and social responsibility standards within the often complex supply chain process. Already in talks with several leading standards-development organisations around the world, including GOTS, Organic Exchange and Social Accountability International, LEAF founder Elinor Averyt said the aim of the program was to act as a unifying force across the fashion industry. A non-profit organisation, LEAF will not actually issue any accreditations or certificates. Instead, it will use the company logo to confirm whether a garment has been certified by any of some 15 or more third-party certification organisations. Proposals for this include logos on hang tags or attached to apparel, incorporated into company marketing campaigns or made available on LEAF’s website.

Initially, the program plans to focus on three elements of the supply chain; sustainable and/or organic source materials, environmentally responsible manufacturing and fair labour practices in associated manufacturing facilities. It is hoped this will expand to include issues such as fair trade for farmers, packaging and distribution practices and humane animal treatment.

Global Recycling Standard
Control Union’s GRS labelling focuses on the percentage of pre- and post-consumer recycled content of a textile product. The amount is expressed as a percentage with a minimum of 5%. The Global Recycling Standard has strict provision for how waste is handled during the production process. The standard includes environmental processing criteria in addition to raw material specifications. This includes strict water treatment requirements and chemicals use based on GOTS and the Oeke-Tex 100. An element of social responsibility is also incorporated into GSR, which ensures workers’ health and safety, and upholds workers’ labour rights in accordance with the International Labor Organization (ILO) criteria. (Source: EcoTextileNews)
If you click on the link below for the Global Recycling Standard, you will also access the link for GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and for ISO9001.