KEY - Ethical Certifications and Memberships Australian BMP Cotton The Australian BMP Cotton trademark is the consumer s guarantee that the branded textile product they are buying is made of Australian cotton grown under Best Management Practices by growers who care for the environment. http://www.bmpcotton.com.au Better Cotton Initiative The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is a voluntary program that aims to establish global principles and criteria for cotton growers and retailers. The BCI certification standard focuses on pesticide reduction and improved water usage. http://www.bettercotton.org Bluesign The independent bluesign standard is a certification for the textile industry focusing on legal compliance in relation to environmental health and safety. The certification standard combines aspects of consumer safety, water and air emissions and occupational health, with a particular focus on the reduction of harmful substance usage at early stages of production. http://www.bluesign.com Bra Miljoval Referred to as "Good Green Buy" or "Good Environmental Choice" in English. This Swedish eco-label certifies a wide variety of products and services that have a low impact on the environment. With regards to textiles, environmental requirements are placed on both synthetic and natural fibres throughout the entire production chain, from fibre manufacture to finished garment. http://www.naturskyddsforeningen.se/bra-miljoval/in-english Breeam BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) is an environmental assessment method for both new and existing buildings around the world. BREEAM assessments are tailored to a wide range of buildings utilised for a variety of purposes, and certification provides market recognition of low environmental impact. http://www.breeam.org
BSCI Established in 2002 by the FTA (Foreign Trade Association), The Business Social Compliance Initiative is a leading business-driven scheme for companies committed to improving working conditions in the global supply chain. BSCI membership can assist retail, brand, trading and importing companies in their progress toward social compliance goals. http://www.bsci-intl.org Canada Organic This Canadian Organic eco-label is relevant to the agricultural industry. The Canada Organic label offers assurance that the product bearing it has met the Canadian government's regulatory requirements for organic products. This eco-label is relevant to the agricultural industry, certifying raw materials from organic farms rather than end textile products. http://www.organicbiologique.ca Carbon Reduction Label The Carbon Reduction Label is a public commitment that the carbon footprint of a product or service has been measured and certified and the owner of the product or service has committed to reduce that footprint over the following two years. http://www.carbon-label.com CMiA Launched by the Aid by Trade Foundation, Cotton Made in Africa is an initiative that promotes environmental protection and aims to combat poverty, by providing on-site training courses to smallholder farmers while improving crop yield. http://www.cotton-made-in-africa.org COFTA The Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa - COFTA is a network of Fair Trade producer organisations in Africa involved and working with disadvantaged grass root producers to eliminate poverty through Fair Trade. http://www.cofta.org Cradle to Cradle Cradle to Cradle certification is a multi-attribute eco-label providing a means to demonstrate efforts in eco-intelligent product design. Company efforts across multiple focus areas; eco materials, re-cycling, renewable energy, water efficiency and social responsibility, are awarded either Basic, Silver, Gold, or Platinum level certification. This applies to materials, sub-assemblies and finished products. http://www.mbdc.com EFF Progressive member The Ethical Fashion Forum (EFF) is the industry Body dedicated to a sustainable future for fashion. Progressive membership is the top level of membership of the Ethical Fashion Forum. The EFF works with Progressive members using a formal Ethical Policy Framework process, considering every aspect of their business and production practices. Progressive members set annual social and environmental targets, ensuring that they are continually working towards the highest ethical standards in every aspect of their practices, with the support of EFF expert consultants.an annual consultation process ensures EFF progressive members continue to take effective steps towards their targets. EFF progressive members also have an EFF endorsed Ethical Business Policy that is reviewed and updated every year. http://www.ethicalfashionforum.com ETI member The Ethical Trading Initiative is an alliance of companies, trade unions and voluntary organisations, working in partnership to improve the supply chains of consumer goods which retail in the UK. ETI has a base code developed from core ILO conventions. ETI membership requires a company to adopt the ETI Base Code in full, and commit to improving labour standards in their supply chains. http://www.ethicaltrade.org
EU Eco Label The European Ecolabel is a voluntary scheme, established in 1992 to encourage businesses to market products and services that are kinder to the environment. Ecolabel criteria are based on an analysis of the impact of the product or service on the environment throughout its lifecycle. http://www.ecolabel.eu Fair Wear Foundation Fair Wear Foundation is an independent verification initiative that works with garment companies to improve labour conditions in their supply chains. Membership requires agreeing to the FWF Code of Labour Practices. http://fairwear.org Fairtrade Certified The FAIRTRADE Certification Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on products to signify that Fairtrade standards have been met. Standards concern fairer terms of trade, better prices and longer lead times to promote security and economic selfsufficiency as well as sustainable production practices. These standards are established by the Fair Labelling Organisation and are set in accordance to the requirements of the ISEAL Code of Good Practice in standards setting. In relation to Textiles the Fairtrade mark is only available to certify cotton. http://www.flo-cert.net http://www.fairtrade.org.uk FLA The Fair Labor Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending sweatshop conditions in factories worldwide. The FLA holds its participants accountable to the FLA Workplace Code of Conduct. http://www.fairlabor.org Global Recycle Standard The Global Recycle Standard has been developed to meet demands, in the textile industry and beyond, for verification of the amount of recycled parts or ingredients in a given product. The GRS provides a track and trace certification system that ensures that the claims made about a product can be officially backed up. http://organicexchange.org/oecms/global-recycle-standard.html GOTS certified The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) was developed by leading standard organizations with the aim to unify the various existing standards in the field of eco textile processing and to define world-wide recognised requirements that ensure organic status of textiles, from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally responsible manufacturing up to labelling in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer. http://www.global-standard.org Green mark Green Mark is a certification for organisations improving their environmental performance. Promoting the concept of recycling, pollution reduction and resource conservation. http://www.green-mark.co.uk Greenguard Founded in 2001, GREENGUARD Environmental Institute is a third-party organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification Programs. The Institute s mission is to improve human health and quality of life through programs that reduce chemical exposure and improve indoor air quality. http://www.greenguard.org
IFOAM The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements is the worldwide umbrella organization for the organic movement. IFOAM offers accreditation to certification bodies. Ensuring the certifications offered meet IFOAM's Organic Guarantee System (OGS) standards. IFOAM accreditation is carried out by the International Organic Accreditation Service Inc. (IOAS) http://www.ifoam.org ILO The ILO is the international organization responsible for drawing up and overseeing international labour standards. It brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers to jointly shape policies and programmes. The main aims of the ILO are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues. http://www.ilo.org ISO 14001 Developed by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO). This Certification proves that a company has, in conjunction with ISO, developed their own environmental management system. A commitment to compliance with applicable environmental legislation and regulations is required, along with a commitment to continual improvement for which the EMS provides the framework. http://www.iso.org IWTO The International Wool Textile Organisation is an international body representing the interests of the world's wool-textile trade and industry. As such, its membership provides a forum for discussion of problems of joint concern and acts as an industry spokesman with all those bodies and authorities towards whom a common approach is deemed necessary. http://www.iwto.org JAS The Japan Agricultural Standard, established in 2000, dictates required guidelines for the production, processing, labelling and marketing of organic products of plant origins for import into Japan. http://web.mac.com/ecocert.qai/jas_organic_certification/jas_organic_certification.html JOCA The Japan Organic Cotton Association (JOCA) was founded in 2000, as a non-profit organization. JOCA certifies and labels organic cotton products on a 3 tier system, as well as promoting the benefits of Organic Cotton. http://www.joca.gr.jp http://www.joca.gr.jp/joca_2009/english KRAV Krav develops organic standards, inspects to these standards and promotes the KRAV label. A Swedish organisation established in 1985, KRAV is working towards The goal of organic production throughout entire supply chains, social justice and social rights are also integral to the KRAV certification. http://www.krav.se Leed The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices. LEED certification verifies that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures. All certified projects receive a LEED plaque, demonstrating that a building is environmentally responsible, profitable and a healthy place to live and work. http://www.leed.net
MADE BY member Made-By, founded in 2004, is a not-for-profit organisation with an aim to improve environmental and social conditions in the fashion industry. Made-By works with member fashion brands to help them improve and communicate conditions across their supply chain. http://www.made-by.nl Made in Green A label which certifies that the product, made in a fully traceable supply chain, has been manufactured in factories which respect the environment and the universal rights of workers. http://www.madeingreen.com Naturtextile A textile and garment certification which values environmental and social criteria along the whole production chain. Focusing on natural, safe and organic materials throughout production process as well as residue tests in final garments, and adhering to ILO standards plus living wages. http://www.naturtextil.com NOP The National Organic Program (NOP) is the Organic Label offered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for agricultural products, including raw natural fibres such as Cotton and Wool. http://www.ams.usda.gov Nordic Swan Demonstrates that a product is a good environmental choice. The "Swan" symbol is available for 65 product groups. The Swan checks that products fulfill certain criteria using methods such as samples from independent laboratories, certificates and control visits. http://www.nordic-ecolabel.org Oeko-tex The International Oeko-Tex Association has been testing for harmful substances since 1992. It has two certification Labels; The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is a global uniform testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of production. The Oeko-Tex Standard 1000 is a testing, auditing and certification system for environmentally friendly production sites throughout the textile processing chain. http://www.oeko-tex.com Oregon Tilth Oregon Tilth is a nonprofit research and education membership organization dedicated to biologically sound and socially equitable agriculture. Oregon Tilth provides organic certification services to the USDA NOP standards. http://tilth.org SA8000 certified A voluntary social standard certification grounded on the principles of core ILO conventions, UN Conventions, and an ISO-style management system, SA8000 is applicable to virtually all industrial sectors. Social Accountability International (SAI) is a global, multi-stakeholder, standards setting organization whose mission is to advance the human rights of workers around the world. http://www.sa-intl.org SFTMS Sustainable Fair Trade Management System is a recently launched label from the World Fair Trade Organisation. SFTMS is the new worldwide standard for the independent certification of organisations which demonstrate Fair Trade Business practices. It provides a dynamic and integrated approach for the certification of production, trading and communication. http://www.wfto.com/sftms
Soil Association Certified The Soil Association is the UK's leading organic organisation. The Soil Association symbol is a guarantee that a product has been grown or produced to the highest standards of organic integrity. Soil Association Certification Ltd enforces standards through certification and regular inspections of producers, processors and suppliers. http://www.soilassociation.org Textile exchange member Previously known as Organic Exchange, Textile Exchange is a non-profit, member-based organization dedicated to expanding the organic cotton market with a recent strategic shift to include other sustainable textiles. Working in the important areas of certification, organic farming engagement and public education, TE provide exclusive benefits to members who encompass the entire global textile supply chain. http://www.textileexchange.org WFTO member The World Fair Trade Organisation is a global authority on Fair Trade. Membership of the WFTO is limited to organizations that demonstrate a 100% Fair Trade commitment and apply its 10 Principles of Fair Trade. http://www.wfto.com WRAP Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) is an independent, non-profit organisation. Their facilities certification program is focused on lawful, humane and ethical manufacturing within the apparel, footwear and sewn products sectors. Facilities receive a certification of six months to one year based on compliance with the 12 WRAP Principles. http://www.wrapcompliance.org