In today's world, where environmental consciousness and ethical clothing production practices are very important, certifications play a vital role in identifying the sustainability claims of clothing brands. With numerous certifications available, navigating the landscape can be difficult. That's why we've put together this comprehensive guide to help you understand some of the most prominent certifications in sustainable fashion.
At The Revivas, we are leading a new culture of transparency, where clothing brands are evaluated according to their sustainable and ethical practices. Our platform is committed to eliminating greenwashing, and our brand's environmental and ethical claims must be independently verified by various acclaimed resources. When assigning our values, we look for third-party certifications to ensure that sustainability is evidence-based, not claim-based.
In this guide, we dive into the world of certifications in sustainable fashion, explaining some of the most prominent standards and what they mean. Whether you're a conscious consumer looking to make informed and ethical purchases in the UK or a fashion brand seeking to align with sustainable practices, understanding these clothing certifications is essential for navigating the complex landscape of sustainable fashion.
People Conscious Sustainable Fashion Certifications:
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Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA)
SMETA streamlines ethical auditing for suppliers by combining different techniques into one audit, reducing duplication. Sedex measures suppliers based on criteria such as no forced labor, fair wages, health and safety, and other ethical standards, while also considering factors like entitlement to work, business ethics, and community benefits.
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B-CORP Certification
B Corp certification assesses the social and environmental performance of for-profit businesses. Unlike traditional certifications, B Corp aims to create a new system where companies prioritize both purpose and profit, aiming for a balanced approach. Companies applying for B-Corp certification receives a B Impact score, which evaluates their social and environmental practices.
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Living Wage Employer
The Living Wage Foundation accredits companies that want to prove they are responsible employers. Becoming a Living Wage Employer is a positive step for businesses, indicating that they pay their employees a wage that allows them to live comfortably, demonstrating their commitment to employee well-being.
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Business Social Compliance Initiative
The Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) is a movement led by the industry, focused on monitoring and evaluating workplace standards throughout the global supply chain. Through Aamfori BSCI audits, businesses can effectively oversee their supply chains, ensuring that all suppliers adhere to ethical and legal standards in their treatment of workers.
We award our brands which carry these certifications, or are part of these organizations with the ethically-made value.
Animal Conscious Sustainable Fashion Certifications:
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PETA-Approved Vegan
The PETA-Approved Vegan certification guarantees complete absence of animal materials in clothing, shoes, and accessories. This includes leather, fur, wool, skin, exotic animal skins, and any other fabric derived from animals. This label ensures ethical shoppers make informed choices. It recognizes companies committed to compassion and sustainability by ensuring their products are entirely free of animal-derived materials.
We award PETA-Approved Vegan brands with our vegan value.
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LWG (Leather Working Group) Gold Certification
The LWG Gold certification signifies a leather manufacturer or trader's commitment to responsible practices throughout its operations. To achieve this recognition, businesses undergo a rigorous audit that evaluates various aspects, including supply chain transparency, social responsibility, environmental impact, chemical management, and operational efficiency. A fashion brand that works with an LWG Gold-certified tannery signifies that it receives its materials through a fully sustainable supply chain and business.
We award LWG Gold certified brands with our cruelty-free value.
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RWS (Responsible Wool Standard)
The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) addresses animal welfare and environmental concerns in the wool industry. This voluntary program certifies farms and businesses throughout the supply chain, ensuring sheep are raised ethically and grazing land is managed responsibly.
We award RWS-certified brands with our cruelty-free value.
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SFA (Sustainable Fiber Alliance) Cashmere Standard
The SFA Cashmere Standard sets the gold standard for sustainable cashmere production. It tackles key sustainability issues at the farm level, focusing on responsible practices by herders. By adopting this standard, producers ensure the well-being of cashmere goats, protect the environment and support local communities.
We award SFA-certified brands with our cruelty-free value.
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Peace Silk
Peace Silk, also known as Ahimsa Silk, prioritizes ethical production by allowing silkworms to complete their metamorphosis into butterflies. This eliminates harm to the insects and creates a cruelty-free silk option. Peace Silk production often adheres to rigorous social and environmental practices, particularly in India.
We award our brands, which use Peace Silk, with our cruelty-free value.
Planet Conscious Sustainable Fashion Certifications:
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GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)
A textile product carrying the GOTS label must contain a minimum of 70% certified organic fibres, and a product with the label grade 'organic' must contain a minimum of 95% certified organic fibres. Organic fibres are natural fibres grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or GMOs, according to the principles of organic agriculture.
GOTS certification is not granted for just one step of the process; for a textile to be fully certified, all stages must meet GOTS standards. To ensure compliance, a dual system combining on-site auditing and residue testing was devised, guaranteeing that companies adhere to GOTS criteria throughout their production processes.
We award GOTS-certified brands with our organic value.
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OEKO-TEX®
Oeko-Tex certifies that both the final products and all the parts used to make them are safe from hazardous chemicals. Items with the Standard 100 label have been tested to ensure they don't contain harmful amounts of toxins. The tests for harmful substances under STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® consider key legal rules, like banned azo dyes, formaldehyde, nickel, pentachlorophenol, cadmium, and more.
We award OEKO-TEX certified brands with our toxic-free value.
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GRS (Global Recycle Standard)
The Global Recycle Standard (GRS), created by Textile Exchange, is an international standard to monitor the use of recycled materials in production. This means that every stage of production must be certified. The standard covers the entire supply chain and deals with traceability, environmental practices, social standards, chemical composition, and labelling.
The GRS serves as a business-to-business tool for products incorporating a minimum of 20% recycled material, with certain exceptions. However, for consumer-facing labeling, the product must contain at least 50% recycled material. Regrettably, as a customer, you won't have visibility into the precise percentage of recycled material utilized in the end product.
We award GRS-certified brands with our recycled value.
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BCI (Better Cotton Initiative)
Better Cotton Initiative ensures the standards that farmers produce cotton in a way that is better for themselves and their communities, such as decent working conditions and the environment (i.e., promoting regenerative practices and mindful water consumption). Better Cotton accounts for 22% of global cotton production.
We award BCI-member brands with our responsible value.
Shop Sustainable Clothing in the UK at The Revivas
Check out our sustainability section to learn more about how we assign our values for each of these ethical clothing certifications.