Certifications: organic materials
GOTS
• Organic fibres: Cotton and natural fibres
• Sustainable processing (no toxic dyes or harmful chemical)
• Social criteria for workers
ORGANIC CONTENT & ORGANIC BLEND CONTENT STANDARD
• Verifies organic fibre content
• Does not certify environmental processing standards, toxic chemicals nor social/labour conditions
USDA ORGANIC
• Organic Fibers
• No GMOs, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers, organic farming methods
• USA grown
• Applies primarily to cotton yarns
Certifications: Recycled Materials
GRS
• Recycled content in yarn.
• Applies to recycled cotton, wool, polyester, nylon • Verifies recycled materials
• Social and environmental production practices
RECYCLED CLAIM STANDARD
• Pre- and post-consumer recycled fibre
• Ensures traceability from recycler to final product.
• Does not include toxic chemicals restrictions, social standards, environmental impact audit
Certifications: Responsible Sourcing
FSC
• Wood based fibres: viscose, Modal, Lyocell, …
• Responsible sourcing of wood-based materials,
• Products come from sustainably managed forests
PEFC
• Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
• Sustainable forest management
• Ensures wood, paper, and related products come from responsibly managed forests
• Protects biodiversity and ecosystems
• Supports local communities and workers
• Follows strict environmental, social, and ethical standards
Certifications:
Wool Quality
Animal welfare
RWS - RMS - RAS
• Animal welfare and sustainable land management
• No mulesing (no flesh is removed)
• Ethical treatment of animals.
• Environmental farming and land use practices
WOOLMARK
• Guarantees fibre purity
• Quality assurance (shrink tests, colourfastness, pilling)
• Is not a sustainable standard but promotes natural biodegradable wool as a sustainable fibre.
• Collaborates with animal welfare initiatives
• Woolmark: 100% pure new wool (i.e., not recycled or reused).
• Woolmark Blend: 99–50% new wool
• Wool Blend: 49–30% new wool
Certifications: Chemical Use
OEKO-TEX® Standard 100
• Product safety and chemical-free textiles.
• Applies to all yarn ( Natural and synthetic).
• Skin safe
BLUESIGN
• Guarantee the absence of dangerous chemical in final products.
• Social criteria for workers
• Chemicals are controlled during the manufacturing process, not during the farming of plant fibres
Certifications: Social criteria
FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED
• Focus on fair labour practice, fair wages and safe working conditions.
• Controls the company and it’s entire supply chain
• Applies to some yarn (hand spun or artisanal), knitting and confection facilities
WRAP
• Focus on fair labour practice, fair wages and safe working conditions within the facility
• Does not control the entire supply chain
SA 8000 – SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY
• Focus on social certification standard, workplace conditions, human right, decent work and ethical labour practices
• Applies to all industries
• Does not focus on fair wages
Certifications: Environmental Criteria
ZDHC - ZERO DISCHARGE OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS
• Asses the amounts of hazardous chemicals discharged in wastewater streams
• Focuses on safer chemicals, smarter processes, and better output
ISO 14001 – ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
• Verifies that companies reduces its environmental impact
• Covers waste management, energy use, emissions, water treatment.
• Applies to spinning mills, dye houses, or full textile supply chains.
ISO 9001 – QUALITY MANAGEMENT
• Ensures consistent quality control across production processes
• Not specific to sustainability, but important for reliable yarn manufacturing