The Top 38 Fashion Industry Certifications Creating a Healthier Fashion Industry
- Alyssa Couture
- Nov 9, 2020
- 10 min read
Updated: Mar 31, 2021
Get to know the top 38 fashion industry certifications
I have created a list of fashion certification companies that support fashion for both human health and environmental health. This is a free resource and certification list to help your fashion wardrobe or your fashion company.
There are many more certification companies, but these are several of the top certification companies. I have put them in categories:
TEXTILES // ORGANIC // RECYCLED
ENVIRONMENTAL // SUSTAINABILITY
ETHICAL // FAIRTRADE
Included below are 20 apparel + textile certification companies. The 40 certification labels listed will help you. Whether you are a fashion consumer, have a fashion company, or if you are a fashion activist, these verifications are important because they help us know if a product is either safe to wear, and/or if it is safe for the environment.
If you have the time, money, and resources to buy apparel products that are certified, then you are not only helping yourself-- but the world around you. The more certified products we purchase, the more demand there will be for certified apparel.
If you don’t have the budget to buy fashion that is certified (many, but not all fashion products are a little more expensive when they are certified,) you can research a list of brands online that are certified to see which brand carries products that are for your budget. Also, once you find brands that are certified, you can trust these brands and can assume they are supported by fashion industry certifications.
Stay tuned, because I will be creating a sample list of several companies/brands that carry certified apparel and certified textiles.
Many people have different motives about where they like to shop, or what they want to wear. I don’t personally only look for certified products, however, it doesn’t mean I don’t have brand name fashions that are certified. It is something I would like to become more aware of, and I think the trend of transparency is great because it is easier for companies and brands to start being more interested in label certifications too, and promoting them.
I would like to purchase more apparel items that are certified. Just because a company has certified its products, however, it doesn’t mean the product is 100% healthy. Yet, typically if they are using certifications they are more than likely a wholesome company and carry a good product. Many brands aren't using fashion industry certifications-- and a lot of them produce a healthy product.
I feel more satisfied when I go to a grocery store, and I see certification labels like USDA ORGANIC or NON-GMO PROJECT VERIFIED on food products I want to buy. It just makes me feel like I am eating a healthier product. The same should go for apparel products.
I have personally designed and sewn many fashion designs made from cotton, linen, and hemp fabrics that were certified by multiple apparel certifiers-- and the quality, feel, and look of the fabric is noticeable.
Surprisingly, these fashion industry certifications are being found in mainstream retail stores. You will not just find luxury fashion labels or eco-fashion labels that are certifying their apparel and textile-based products.
Certifying fashion apparel products are becoming much more popular. Target, for example, has a full collection of home textiles that are either GOTS certified or OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified. It really makes you feel like buying sheets and pillowcases at Target when they are made of plant-based fabrics, and with textile certifications included. You can feel and see the difference.
Additionally, one of Target’s popular brand Universal Threads is certified Fair Trade. They have partnered with FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED FACTORY. Target has also partnered with BETTER COTTON INITIATIVE.
The Top 40 Fashion Industry Certifications
Each certification company is listed by category, including a brief description of their company and its logo image. Click on their company name to visit their website!
TEXTILES // ORGANIC // RECYCLED
"The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) — a global not-for-profit organisation — is the largest cotton sustainability programme in the world. In the 2018-19 cotton season, 2.3 million BCI Farmers received training on more sustainable farming practices and produced 5.6 million tonnes of Better Cotton – that equates to 22% of global cotton production." - BCI
"The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognised as the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibres. It defines high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain and requires compliance with social criteria as well." - GOTS
"The Soil Association is the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use." - Soil Association
"Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy." - Certified B Corps
"The Organic Content Standard (OCS) applies to any non-food product containing 5-100% organic material. It verifies the presence and amount of organic material in a final product. It tracks the flow of a raw material from the source to the final product and this process is certified by an accredited third party." - Textile Exchange
"The Responsible Down Standard safeguards the welfare of geese and ducks that provide down and feathers for the products we all love." - Responsible Down
"Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) is a revolutionary new certification for food, fiber, and personal care ingredients. ROC farms and products meet the highest standards for soil health, animal welfare, and farmworker fairness." - ROC
8. Greenguard
"GREENGUARD Certification is an internationally recognized product emissions certification labeling program for manufacturers of low-emitting indoor products, furnishings, and materials. Products can be certified under two different standards." - Greenguard
9. Made safe
"MADE SAFE® is a program of Nontoxic Certified, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We provide America’s first comprehensive human health and ecosystem-focused certification for nontoxic products across store aisles, from baby to personal care to household and beyond." -Made Safe
10. Reach
"REACH (EC 1907/2006) aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment through the better and earlier identification of the intrinsic properties of chemical substances. This is done by the four processes of REACH, namely the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals. REACH also aims to enhance innovation and competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry." - European Commission
11. SMaRT Certified
"Provide Substantial Global Benefits for the world’s products with Environmental, Social, & Economic criteria" -SMaRT
"We want to protect the planet by reducing industry's chemical footprint. That means working hand-in-hand with the entire value chain. We collaborate with global brands, chemical suppliers, manufacturers and other organisations that share our vision. Together we create a new way forward." - ZDHC
"Naturtextil IVN certified BEST is a standard for eco-friendly textiles with the strictest requirements for ecological textile production at the highest technical levels."- Control Union
14. One Cert
"OneCert, Inc. was founded in 2003 by Sam Welsch to provide certification to the US NOP, EU, JAS, and the GOTS and TE textile programs. We are known for our dedication to the integrity of the organic label." - OneCert
"The Global Recycle Standard (GRS) was originally developed by Control Union Certifications in 2008 and ownership was passed to the Textile Exchange on 1 January 2011. The GRS is an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of recycled content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices and chemical restrictions."- Control Union
ENVIRONMENTAL // SUSTAINABILITY
16. Ecocert
"Obtaining an Ecocert certification allows you to highlight your environmentally friendly and socially conscious practices, and to establish a bond of trust with your stakeholders. Our teams help you choose the certifications that are best suited to your needs.
We strive to enable production processes that respect the environment, better management of available energy and of natural resources (water, air, soil fertility), socially responsible sectors, and better product quality and safety. All of these elements are essential to address today's economic, social and environmental challenges in order to build tomorrow's world." - ECOCERT
"Ecolabel is a label of environmental excellence that is awarded to products and services meeting high environmental standards throughout their life-cycle: from raw material extraction, to production, distribution and disposal. The EU Ecolabel promotes the circular economy by encouraging producers to generate less waste and CO2 during the manufacturing process. The EU Ecolabel criteria also encourages companies to develop products that are durable, easy to repair and recycle." - ECO LABEL
18. Sourcemap
"Sourcemap is the pioneer in supply chain transparency software, the gold standard for brands and NGO's alike. Our rigorous and time-tested approach is a way to future-proof your reputation." - Sourcemap
"Having a WRAP certification shows potential buyers that you are dedicated to ethical and responsible business standards. It demonstrates that you obey the laws of your country, treat your workers with dignity and respect, and are conscious of the impact your operation has on the environment. The WRAP certificate is a recognized symbol of a commitment to uphold social and ethical standards." - WRAP
20. Bluesign
"THE BLUE WAY by BLUESIGN represents the vision and mindset of responsible and sustainable manufacturing of textile consumer products. BLUESIGN is a system that provides safer and more sustainable environments for people to work in and everyone to live in. Powered by a holistic approach, BLUESIGN traces each textile’s path along the manufacturing process, making improvements at every stage from factory floor to finished product. BLUESIGN changes the environmental impact of textiles for good. As a solution provider and knowledge broker, BLUESIGN acts as an independent verifier to secure trust and transparency. Corresponding to this approach, BLUESIGN encourages the industry to increase their efforts in sustainable processes step by step." - Bluesign
UL ECOLOGO® Certification helps companies and manufacturers gain a competitive edge in the marketplace by credibly communicating the reduced environmental impact of their product, service or package." - Eco Logo
"Ecocert IMOswiss AG is a leading provider of international certification services according to organic, environmental and social standards. From agriculture and aquaculture to forestry and fair trade, we provide and develop solutions that really make a difference." - IMO
23. Green Seal
"Green Seal® is a global nonprofit organization that pioneered the ecolabeling movement with a mission to transform the economy for a healthier, greener world. For 30 years, Green Seal’s rigorous standards for health, sustainability and product performance have driven permanent shifts in the marketplace, empowering better purchasing decisions and rewarding industry innovators. With thousands of certified products, services and spaces from the world’s leading companies, the Green Seal certification mark is a universal symbol that a product or service meets the highest benchmark of health and environmental leadership." - Greenseal
"Leaders across the globe have made LEED the most widely used green building rating system in the world with 1.85 million square feet of construction space certifying every day. LEED certification provides independent verification of a building or neighborhood’s green features, allowing for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of resource-efficient, high-performing, healthy, cost-effective buildings. LEED is the triple bottom line in action, benefiting people, planet and profit." -LEED
25. GreenScreen
"GreenScreen Certified™ Standard for Furniture & Fabrics simplifies the roadmap for purchasers wanting environmentally preferable products that enhance the health of people and the planet. And it meets the specifications of one of the largest non-profit healthcare organizations in the U.S. – Kaiser Permanente - a leader in setting standards for environmentally preferable purchasing." - GreenScreen
"The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal. We are building an alliance to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote their human rights, and help them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis." - Rainforest Alliance
"ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 165 national standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges." -ISO
"With its foundation in agriculture, Control Union Certifications has focused its efforts in developing services around the sustainability of the industry's supply chains which feed into the food, feed, forestry, biomass, bioenergy, social compliance and textiles markets. With 'boots on the ground' in more than 70 countries, Control Union Certifications is uniquely placed to manage challenges with today's global marketplace." - Control Union
"Cradle to Cradle Certified™ is a globally recognized measure of safer, more sustainable products made for the circular economy. "- C2C
"FSC certification ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. The FSC Principles and Criteria provide a foundation for all forest management standards globally, including the FSC US National Standard ." - FSC
ETHICAL // FAIRTRADE
"The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is a leading alliance of companies, trade unions and NGOs that promotes respect for workers' rights around the globe. Our vision is a world where all workers are free from exploitation and discrimination, and enjoy conditions of freedom, security and equity." - Ethical Trading Initiative
32. WFTO: World Fair Trade
We are the global community of social enterprises that fully practice Fair Trade. Our Guarantee System verifies that our members are truly Fair Trade Enterprises. This means they pioneer models of business that put people and planet first." - WFTO
"People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 6.5 million members and supporters. More than 1,000 companies are using the “PETA-Approved Vegan” logo to highlight clothing, accessories, furniture, and home decor items made of vegan alternatives to animal-derived materials such as leather, fur, silk, feathers, or bone."- Peta
"Cruelty Free International works to end animal experiments worldwide. We do this by investigating and exposing the reality of life for animals in laboratories. We challenge decision-makers to make a positive difference for animals. And we champion better science and cruelty free living." Cruelty-Free International
35. HIGG Index
"Developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, the Higg Index is a suite of tools that enables brands, retailers, and facilities of all sizes — at every stage in their sustainability journey — to accurately measure and score a company or product’s sustainability performance. The Higg Index delivers a holistic overview that empowers businesses to make meaningful improvements that protect the well-being of factory workers, local communities, and the environment." - Apparel Coalition
36. Fair for Life
"Fair for Life Certification assures that human rights are safeguarded at any stage of production, workers enjoy good and fair working conditions and smallholder farmers receive a fair share. Fair trade improves the livelihood of thousands of smallholder farmers and workers by providing the means for social community projects and empowerment of people." -Fair for Life
37. Responsible Care
"Responsible Care® is the chemical manufacturing industry’s environmental, health, safety and security performance initiative. For more than 30 years, Responsible Care has helped American Chemistry Council (ACC) member companies significantly enhance their performance and improve the health and safety of their employees, the communities in which they operate and the environment as a whole." -Responsible Care
38. SA8000
"SAI’s mission is to advance human rights in workplaces globally. We believe that socially responsible workplaces benefit business while securing fundamental human rights for workers. We help businesses understand their responsibilities to workers and communities and work with them to adopt socially responsible business practices and convene stakeholders from unions, government, and business to advance socially responsible policy." - Social Accountability International
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