(‘100% organic’, ‘cruelty-free’, ‘fair trade’ are just some of the many labels that help us breathe easy and feel good about the products we buy. Similarly, when it comes to sustainability, there are a bevy of certifications that can help shoppers reassure them of their Sustainable Fashion Choices.
With greenwashing becoming more prevalent than ever, skepticism among consumers is at an all time high when it comes to trusting brands with their sustainability claims. According to recent insights by Compare Ethics , only 20% of shoppers trust brand’s with their Best Sustainable Women's Clothing claims. The study also claimed that 83% percent of consumers would be a lot more likely to trust a product’s sustainability declaration if it had been verified by a third party — better known as certifications. Ahead, we list some of the most credible certifications or eco-labels to watch out for;
*please note that a single brand may not possess all of the following certifications, but only the ones that have the most value and relevance to them.
B Corp is an advanced certification system that evaluates the overall social and environmental conduct of businesses. They do this by considering their impact on workers, customers, communities and the environment.
Bluesign evaluates the use of chemicals, materials, processes and also the finished textile products against 5 key sustainability principles. The 5 principles being; resource efficiency, consumer safety, air emissions, water emissions, occupational health and safety.
GOTS verifies the organic status of textiles across the supply chain — from raw materials to processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling and distribution. To obtain their authentication, products must contain the minimum of 70% natural organic fibres.
The GRS is intended to meet the needs of brands looking to verify the recycled content of their products. This certification also verifies responsible social, environmental and chemical practices in their production.
If products carry the STANDARD 100 label, you can be assured that every component has been tested for harmful substances and can be deemed harmless for human health. This includes checks against every component; right from the threads, zippers to buttons.
The Organic Content Standard verifies the presence and amount of organic material in a final product right from its origin source. The product should contain 95-100% organic material to meet their standards.
The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) acknowledges the best practices in wool production with animal welfare at the centre of its purpose. It provides verification of the practices that are happening at farm level.
Published by: Vibhuti Vazirani/ 2020-12-03