Certificates and what they mean
Certificates at a glance
Certificates for textile products come in various forms and, as building blocks, provide a transparent and traceable view of the entire supply and production chain. Essentially, they cover ecological sustainability aspects, working conditions, social standards, animal welfare, and raw materials. The certificates listed below are an important selection from a wide range of others.
Social aspect
| The BSCI certificate highlights efforts in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR). BSCI stands for “Business Social Compliance Initiative” and aims to improve social standards in a global value chain. The initiative offers certified companies a systematic monitoring and qualification system to improve working conditions for people worldwide. | |
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Fair Wear aims to improve working conditions in the global clothing industry. The focus is on the particularly labor-intensive production phase of garment manufacturing, where fabrics are sewn together to make finished textile products. At the heart of Fair Wear is a code of labor practices and workers' rights, the “Code of Labor Practices,” which is based on international standards.
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Different countries also have different regulations governing working conditions and social conditions. For companies that operate in several countries, for example because raw materials, processing, and distribution take place in different locations, it can therefore be important to have minimum requirements that are applicable and monitored everywhere. That is why SAI designed the SA8000 standard as one of the first verifiable social certificates that can be applied to any industry. SA 8000 contains 8 criteria
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WRAP is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting safe, legal, humane, and ethical manufacturing conditions in the global apparel, footwear, and sewing industries (see Home - WRAP Compliance). Key features of WRAP:
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Raw materials / Raw material issues
| The OCS 100 logo is used for products that contain 95% or more organic material (organically produced fibers). | |
| OCS Blended is used for products that contain at least 5% organic material (organically produced fibers) mixed with conventional or synthetic raw materials. | |
| The organic logo indicates textiles that contain a certain percentage of organic material (organically produced fibers) mixed with other conventional/synthetic raw materials. |
Sustainability/environmental aspects
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The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 ensures that textiles have been tested for harmful substances and serves as a reliable guide for consumers looking for clothing that is free of harmful substances. In order for a product to be certified according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100, it must be proven that all companies along the entire production chain—i.e., everyone involved in the manufacture of the end product—comply with the requirements of Oeko-Tex STeP certification (see OEKO-TEX® STeP - Hohenstein). |
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| REACH is a European Union regulation that was introduced to protect human health and the environment from the dangers posed by numerous chemicals. It also aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the chemical industry within the EU and promote alternative methods of assessing chemical risks in order to reduce the number of animal experiments, for example. The REACH regulation applies to all chemicals. It affects not only industrial applications, but also everyday products such as cleaning agents, paints, textiles, furniture, and household appliances. For this reason, REACH has an impact on companies in a wide range of industries (see REACH tests - EUROLAB). |
Animal welfare aspect
| PETA awards a special logo to make vegan clothing and home furnishings more recognizable. This enables companies to showcase their vegan products and their commitment to animal welfare. The label contributes to the growing awareness of vegan fashion, accessories, and home goods—and supports more conscious shopping. The PETA-Approved Vegan seal identifies products that have been manufactured without animal ingredients. This is because materials of animal origin often mean animal suffering—and many of these ingredients, for example in clothing or textiles, are not directly recognizable on labels. The PETA seal offers consumers clear guidance on how to easily identify animal-friendly fashion. The seal is awarded to textiles that do not contain any animal materials such as leather, fur, wool, or silk, and do not contain any animal ingredients in additives such as dyes or adhesives (see PETA-Approved Vegan: The seal for vegan textiles). |