Certifications with focus
on raw material
GOTS Global Organic
Textile Standard
Purpose: The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) sets strict ecological and labor criteria for textiles, emphasizing organic materials, strict chemical management, non-toxic processes, and animal welfare.
Required Certification Level: The GOTS standard applies to every stage of textile production—processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, trading, and distribution for products containing at least 70% certified organic fibers, ensuring strict ecological and social compliance across the supply chain.
GOTS certification requires brands to be verified by an independent, third-party certifier to ensure compliance with strict ecological and social standards.
Materials: Cotton • Wool • Alpaka • Yak • Silk • Hemp • Flax/Linen
Organic Content Standard
Purpose: The Organic Content Standard (OCS) is a global standard that ensures traceability of materials from farms certified under recognized organic standards, aiming to promote the growth of organic agriculture.
Required Certification Level: The Organic Content Standard (OCS) certifies all stages of the supply chain for products containing organically grown content, including processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, storage, handling, shipping, and the final business-to-business transaction. To obtain OCS certification, a brand must be verified by an independent third-party certifier, ensuring compliance with OCS standards and proper traceability of organic content throughout the entire supply chain.
Materials: Cotton • Wool • Alpaka • Hemp • Flax/Linen • other organic plant-based fibres
Cotton Made In Africa
Purpose: The Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) standard focuses on key aspects of cotton farming and ginning, specifically addressing the unique conditions found in sub-Saharan Africa. Its principles and criteria outline the desired outcomes of sustainable cotton production. The CmiA standard applies to managing entities, such as cotton companies with one or more ginning facilities, that directly engage with small-scale farmers in the region, aiming to improve their livelihoods and the environmental impact of cotton production.
Required Certification Level: The CmiA standard ensures continuous traceability throughout the cotton supply chain, starting from the farm to the ginnery. To maintain this traceability, CmiA lint is monitored with Chain of Custody guidelines that extend all the way to the spinning mills, ensuring the integrity and transparency of the product at every stage of the process.
Materials: Cotton
Fairtrade Cotton
Purpose: The Fairtrade Small Producer Organization (SPO) Standard aims to help farmers and their cooperatives become more resilient and develop profitable businesses. Through its commitment to continuous improvement, Fairtrade seeks to have a positive impact on farmers and workers by ensuring they receive fair prices for their products and fair wages for their labor. This certification is exclusively for small-scale producer organizations, with the goal of reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development within these communities.
Required Certification Level: The CmiA standard ensures continuous traceability throughout the cotton supply chain, starting from the farm to the ginnery. To maintain this traceability, CmiA lint is monitored with Chain of Custody guidelines that extend all the way to the spinning mills, ensuring the integrity and transparency of the product at every stage of the process.
Materials: Cotton
Global Recycled Standard
Purpose: The Global Recycled Standard aims to verify recycled content in products, align definitions of "recycled" across industries, and help brands and consumers make informed, sustainable choices. It also seeks to reduce the environmental and social impact of production, ensure climate-friendly processing, and encourage the use of higher proportions of recycled materials in products.
Required Certification Level: The GRS is developed with input from global stakeholders and audited by third-party certification bodies. It ensures the traceability of recycled content from feedstock to final product, with materials meeting the ISO definition of "recycled." Both pre-consumer and post-consumer materials are accepted. GRS-certified sites must meet strict social, environmental, and chemical safety standards.
Materials: Various recycled fibres
Recycled Claim Standard
Purpose: The Recycled Claim Standard certifies the presence and traceability of recycled content in materials used in products, ensuring that a specified percentage of recycled material is incorporated. It aligns definitions of "recycled" across industries, verifies the accuracy of recycled content claims, and provides transparency for brands and consumers to make informed, sustainable purchasing decisions.
Required Certification Level: The Recycled Claim Standard is developed with input from international producers, suppliers, brands, and retailers. It involves third-party certification bodies that audit each stage of the supply chain to ensure compliance. The standard includes chain of custody certification, which ensures the identity of recycled content is maintained from feedstock through to the final product.
Materials: Various recycled fibres
Leather Working Group
Purpose: The Leather Working Group (LWG) Audit Standard is a globally recognised certification standard for environmentally and socially accountable leather manufacturing.
Required Certification Level: Covering 17 sections, including environmental, chemical, and waste management, energy and water use, and health and safety, the audit is a comprehensive assessment of how a tannery measures, controls, and reports the impact of their manufacturing operations. A complete listing of leather manufacturers certified against the LWG Audit Standard can be found on its website.
Materials: Leather
OEKO-TEX Leather Standard
Purpose: The LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX certifies that a leather product is free from harmful chemicals. Independent testing follows a rigorous OEKO-TEX® criteria catalog that regulates hundreds of substances, with standards stricter than national and international regulations. Criteria are updated at least annually to incorporate new scientific research and legal changes, ensuring ongoing safety and compliance.
Required Certification Level: The LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX applies to leather products at all processing stages, from semi-finished (e.g., wet-blue or wet-white) to final products. Certified items include leather materials, clothing, accessories like gloves, bags, and shoes, and certain animal skins like sheepskin and cowhide. Leather from exotic or protected animals, such as crocodiles and snakes, is excluded.
Materials: Textile chemicals in leather
Regenerative Organic Certification
Purpose: The Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC), managed by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, certifies a range of agricultural products focused on improving soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. This certification applies to food products, textiles, and personal care items, covering crops, livestock, and processed goods.
Required Certification Level: Fiber production must follow practices like crop rotation, cover cropping, and reduced tillage to enhance soil biodiversity and reduce erosion. Furthermore, animal-based fibers, such as wool, require humane treatment and pasture-based grazing systems that enhance land regeneration. ROC textiles must start with USDA organic certification and then meet regenerative benchmarks, setting a high standard for sustainability and social responsibility.
Materials: Cotton • Wool • Hemp • Flax/Linen
Regenagri
Purpose: Regenagri primarily certifies materials linked to agricultural products, especially focusing on regenerative cotton, as well as other fibers that meet sustainability and regenerative standards. RegenagriCS, is designed to support sustainable practices across the supply chain, from farms to final processing stages. This certification applies to both organic and conventional farming operations that adopt regenerative practices.
Required Certification Level: Regenagri requires that at least 50% of the fiber content must be certified regenerative material to earn the certification. The program also allows for blended materials, where, products may include recycled synthetic fibers alongside the certified regenerative fibers. Certification for these products ensures that all actors in the supply chain adhere to regenerative and sustainable practices, verified through transaction certificates and compliance checks for each step.
Materials: Cotton
Soil Association Certification
Purpose: The Soil Association Certification, a founding member of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and the UK’s leading certification body, ensures that sustainable organic farming practices are upheld throughout the entire textile supply chain and processing stages. Through GOTS, the Soil Association promotes sustainability by verifying that organic agricultural principles are consistently maintained from production to final product.
Required Certification Level: To achieve GOTS certification, processors, manufacturers (including ginners, spinners, and weavers), packers, labelers, traders, brands, retailers, and textile distributors in countries such as Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom are eligible to apply.
Materials: Cotton • Wool • Hemp • Flax/Linen • Silk • other natural fibers
Regenerative Cotton Standard
Purpose: Developed by the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), the Regenerative Cotton Standard® (RCS) is a voluntary standard for cotton grown by small-scale farmers using regenerative farming methods. RCS aims to improve the overall resilience and productivity of small-scale farming while adding value to farmland, rural communities, the biosphere, and the quality of life of farm animals. To achieve these aims, RCS targets the entire production system rather than only the cotton itself.
Required Certification Level: The Managing Entity must deliver information for a thorough baseline and use the Continuous Regeneration Plan as a strategic planning document. Regular checks will be performed by independent verification bodies to guarantee the reliability of the standard and to verify whether RCS-associated farmers meet the standard's criteria.
Materials: Cotton
IVN Best Naturtextil
Purpose: Their certifications, like IVN Best for textiles and Naturleder for leather, require 100% organic raw materials, sustainable production processes, fair labor practices, and minimal environmental impact, making them among the highest standards for environmental and socially responsible products.
Required Certification Level: The Internationaler Verband der Naturtextilwirtschaft (IVN) is an association focused on promoting sustainable practices within the textile industry.
Naturtextil covers all stages of textile production—sourcing, processing, packaging, and distribution. Certified products include fiber goods, yarns, fabrics, garments, accessories, toys, home textiles, bedding, and personal care items.
Materials: Cotton • Wool • Hemp • Linen • Silk • Leather • other organic fibers
Masters of Linen™
Purpose: Masters of Linen™ guarantees the traceability of linen produced by European companies, using European and Euromed sites for all stages of production. From European Flax fibre to yarn and fabric, the process remains local at every step, ensuring a fully traceable and sustainable product.
Required Certification Level: The Masters of Linen™ certification is open to European spinners, weavers, and circular knitters, ensuring independently verified traceability for yarns and fabrics made from pure linen or containing at least 50% linen. This certification guarantees that all stages of production, from flax to yarn and fabric, are fully traceable and produced locally in European and Euromed sites.
Materials: Linen • Hemp
European Flax™
Purpose: European Flax™ ensures traceability for high-quality flax fibre grown in Western Europe, sourced from environmentally sustainable agriculture that avoids the use of irrigation (except in rare cases) and GMOs. The fibre is 100% obtained from spinners certified by Masters of Linen™️, guaranteeing its authenticity and commitment to sustainable practices.
Required Certification Level: To ensure traceability of European Flax™ materials, every step in the supply chain, from the fibre producer to the final product, including all processing and trading stages up to the last business-to-business transaction, must be certified. This certification process guarantees the integrity and authenticity of the materials throughout their journey. The European Flax™️ certification provides traceability that is independently verified by a third-party organization for products made from pure linen or containing at least 50% linen.
Materials: Flax • Linen • Hemp
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
Purpose: The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international certification system ensuring that wood and forest-derived materials are sourced from responsibly managed forests. In fashion, FSC certification ensures fibers like viscose, lyocell, and modal come from sustainable, environmentally and socially responsible sources. Using FSC-certified materials helps reduce environmental impact and supports sustainable sourcing in the textile industry.
Required Certification Level: Requirements include environmental protection, respect for social rights, fair labor practices, economic viability, and traceability throughout the supply chain. Continuous improvement in managem.ent practices is also key to maintaining certification. This helps reduce the environmental impact and promotes sustainability in industries like fashion.
Materials: Man made cellulose fibers
Canopy – Hot Button Report
Purpose: Canopy - The Hot Button Report is a sustainability initiative that guides companies in the textile, fashion, and packaging industries to protect endangered forests, reduce environmental impact, and promote alternative, eco-friendly materials. Through voluntary participation, companies commit to sustainable sourcing, transparency, and responsible production practices.
Required Certification Level: Canopy Hot Button Report evaluates companies on their commitment to sustainable fiber sourcing, particularly avoiding materials from endangered forests. To qualify, companies must assess supply chains, prioritize alternative fibers, and implement traceability. Through an annual assessment, Canopy assigns a “Hot Button” score reflecting each company's environmental impact and sustainability practices.
Materials: Man made cellulose fibres (Viscose Staple Fibre • Rayon • Lyocell • Viscose Filament Yarn • Acetate)
Responsible Wool / Alpaca / Mohair Standard
Purpose: The Responsible Wool Standard, Responsible Alpaca Standard, and Responsible Mohair Standard all aim to promote animal welfare, land management, and social responsibility within their respective fibre industries. These standards provide tools to recognize farmers who practice progressive land management and responsible animal care, while setting benchmarks for improvements in these areas. Additionally, each standard ensures a robust chain of custody from farm to final product, promoting sustainability and ethical practices throughout the supply chain.
Required Certification Level: RWS, RAS and RMS all require certification for every site in the supply chain, from farms to the final business-to-business transaction. These standards ensure that farmers and ranchers comply with requirements related to animal welfare, land management, and social responsibility.
Materials: Wool • Alpaca • Mohair
Responsible Down Standard
Purpose: The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certifies the ethical and responsible sourcing of down and feathers, ensuring that they come from ducks and geese that have been treated humanely throughout their lives. The standard requires compliance with animal welfare practices, such as no live-plucking or force-feeding, and mandates traceability from farm to final product. The RDS aims to protect animal welfare while promoting sustainable practices in the down supply chain.
Required Certification Level: The standard applies to all stages of the down and feather production process, from farm through to final product manufacturing. RDS certification guarantees that down and feathers are ethically sourced and meet high standards of animal welfare.
Materials: Down
The Good Cashmere Standard
Purpose: The Good Cashmere Standard® was developed to enhance the welfare of cashmere goats, aligning with the Five Domains of animal welfare, while also improving the economic, social, and ecological conditions for cashmere herders, their families, and communities in Inner Mongolia. The standard provides a clear and thorough set of guidelines for sustainable cashmere production.
Required Certification Level: The Good Cashmere Standard®applies to goat management for cashmere production, focusing on animal welfare, social criteria, and operational practices, which are relevant to all cashmere farming systems. Independent audits ensure that farmers and processing stations comply with the standards to maintain The Good Cashmere Standard® verification. The certificate is valid for one year
Materials: Cashmere
ZQ
Purpose: The ZQ programme focuses on ensuring the well-being of animals by adhering to the Five Freedoms of animal welfare. Growers who supply ZQ wool must care for their livestock in accordance with these freedoms. The program also supports various capacity-building initiatives, such as research in production science, to enhance animal welfare.
Required Certification Level: The ZQ programme focuses on certification for wool production up to the farm gate, but does not extend beyond that. ZQ Natural Fibre is sourced from a select group of accredited farms in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. All ZQ farms, regardless of their location, undergo regular audits to ensure they meet the same ZQ standards. These audits are carried out by an independent, third-party Certified Accreditation Body.
Materials: Wool
The Sustainable Fibre Alliance
Purpose: The Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) is a non-profit organization that holds standards and offers membership. It unites global stakeholders and industry experts to ensure the long-term sustainability of the cashmere industry. The SFA Cashmere Standard outlines five principles for responsible production: management, labor practices, biodiversity and land use, animal welfare, and fiber quality improvement.
Required Certification Level: SFA collaborates with the entire supply chain, linking livestock herders to global fashion brands and retailers. The SFA Cashmere Standard and Clean Fibre Processing Standard focus on raw cashmere fiber production and primary processing in Mongolia and China, while the SFA Chain of Custody certification tracks the supply chain worldwide. SFA operates across 17 provinces in Mongolia and 7 provinces in China.
Materials: Cashmere
Certificates & standards
with focus on production
Bluesign
Purpose: The Bluesign System is a service solution for chemical suppliers, textile manufacturers, and brands, promoting safe chemical use and responsible practices across the supply chain. It improves occupational safety, reduces environmental impact, and supports continuous environmental performance improvements. Bluesign®️ partners focus on high safety standards and responsible resource management.
Required Certification Level: The "textile products" category for Blue Angel certification includes items like clothing, accessories, home textiles (including carpets), functional apparel, bedding, various types of bags, textiles for food contact, fibers, yarn, and fabrics, with certain weight restrictions. For over 45 years, the Blue Angel ecolabel from the German Federal Government has set high standards for environmentally friendly products and services, ensuring credibility and independence.
Materials: Chemicals in textile
OEKO-TEX
Standard 100
Purpose: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 tests every component of a product, including coatings, outer materials, stitching, applications, and zippers, for harmful substances. It ensures that textiles and leather are free from chemicals that could pose risks to health. The criteria are globally standardized and updated annually based on new scientific and regulatory information. Testing and certification are conducted exclusively by independent, neutral OEKO-TEX institutes.
Required Certification Level: STANDARD 100 certification applies to all textile products at any processing stage, from threads to finished items. Each component, including buttons, zippers, linings, prints, and coatings, is tested for harmful substances before the final product can carry the label. The testing follows a modular system based on the specific criteria for each material.
Materials: Harmful substances in textile and leather process
STeP by OEKO-TEX
Purpose: OEKO-TEX STeP (Sustainable Textile & Leather Production) is a modular certification for textile and leather facilities aimed at fostering sustainable production, enhancing health and safety, and supporting social responsibility. Unlike other certifications, STeP evaluates the entire production process, including chemical management, environmental impact, social responsibility, and workplace safety.
Required Certification Level: STeP certification covers the entire textile and leather production chain, including fiber production, spinning, weaving, knitting, finishing, and assembly. In leather, it applies to tanning, dyeing, fat liquoring, and finishing. Logistics centers and manufacturers of accessories, foams, and mattresses can also apply, ensuring sustainable practices across all production stages and related sectors.
Materials: Textile and leather production chain
Bluesign
Purpose: The Bluesign SYSTEM is a service solution for chemical suppliers, textile manufacturers, and brands, promoting safe chemical use and responsible practices across the supply chain. It improves occupational safety, reduces environmental impact, and supports continuous environmental performance improvements. Bluesign®️ partners focus on high safety standards and responsible resource management.
Required Certification Level: The Bluesign SYSTEM covers the entire textile and leather supply chain, from chemical suppliers and manufacturers to brands, extending from raw chemical products to finished consumer goods.
Materials: Textile chemicals (incl. leather)
ZDHC
Purpose: The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) initiative promotes the elimination of harmful chemicals in the textile, apparel, and footwear supply chains. It provides tools and standards, including the Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) for chemical restrictions and Wastewater Guidelines for pollutant limits, to enhance environmental safety and transparency. ZDHC supports safer chemical management practices to protect workers, consumers, and ecosystems.
Required Certification Level: ZDHC is not a certification but complements existing systems like bluesign®, OEKO-TEX STeP, and GOTS by integrating its standards and fostering sustainable practices across supply chains.
Materials: Textile chemicals
OEKO-TEX
Eco Passport
Purpose: The OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT is a certification system for chemicals, dyes, and auxiliaries used in textile and leather production. It verifies that these inputs are free from harmful substances and comply with legal and environmental requirements, ensuring safe and sustainable materials for textile manufacturing. This certification supports transparency and promotes eco-friendly supply chains.
Required Certification Level: To obtain the ECO PASSPORT, chemical products must undergo a rigorous, three-stage verification process. This includes a screening against the OEKO-TEX® Restricted Substance List (RSL), analytical testing for banned substances, and an on-site assessment to ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and legal standards. Certification is renewed annually, requiring consistent adherence to these strict criteria and continuous improvement in chemical safety and sustainability.
Materials: Chemicals
OEKO-TEX
Detox to Zero
Purpose: The OEKO-TEX DETOX TO ZERO program supports textile manufacturers in reducing harmful substances and improving their environmental performance. It focuses on monitoring and managing chemical usage in production processes, aligning with the goals of Greenpeace’s Detox Campaign. The program helps facilities transition toward sustainable and transparent chemical management practices, ensuring safe and eco-friendly production.
Required Certification Level: To achieve status, manufacturers must implement a robust chemical management system and meet strict requirements for wastewater and sludge testing. These include minimizing hazardous chemicals, adhering to legal regulations, and demonstrating progress in reducing environmental impacts. Facilities undergo annual evaluations, including on-site assessments and detailed documentation reviews, to verify compliance and track continuous improvement.
Materials: Textile chemicals
Land to Market
Purpose: The Land to Market program, created by the Savory Institute, aims to promote and verify regenerative agricultural practices. The primary goal is to improve land health, including soil quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience, by encouraging regenerative grazing, cropping, and land stewardship methods. By certifying materials derived from verified regenerative land, Land to Market connects consumers with products that contribute to environmental restoration and ecosystem balance.
Required Certification Level: Certification is based on the Savory Institute’s Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) system, which tracks environmental outcomes such as soil health, water retention, and ecosystem vitality, ensuring that certified products genuinely contribute to land regeneration.
Materials: Agricukture practice
Certificates & standards
with focus on product & company
Cradle to Cradle certified
Purpose: The Cradle to Cradle framework, from W. McDonough and M. Braungart, sets standards in five core areas: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air & Climate Protection, Water & Soil Stewardship, and Social Fairness. These principles drive companies to create actionable roadmaps for sustainable change, foster collaboration across the value chain, and measure progress rigorously, with the goal of a safer, circular, and more equitable future.
Required Certification Level: The Cradle to Cradle Certified Products Program provides a single certification standard for materials, components, and finished products, encouraging improvement in five key categories across four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. To earn a certification level, products must meet all criteria for that level and the ones below it. Certified products are listed in the Cradle to Cradle Certified Products Registry.
Product Level
Green Button
Purpose: The Green Button is a German government-backed certification aimed at ensuring the sustainability and social responsibility of textiles. It focuses on both environmental and social standards, requiring certified products to meet strict criteria in areas like resource conservation, waste reduction, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
Required Certification Level: The Green Button certification requires compliance with strict environmental and social standards across the entire supply chain, including certifications for fair labor practices and sustainable production, with a focus on transparency and continuous improvement. he certification ensures that textiles are produced in a way that respects both people and the planet, covering the entire supply chain from production to finished product.
Product Level
The EU Ecolabel
Purpose: The EU Ecolabel is a voluntary certification scheme that highlights textiles meeting strict environmental standards throughout their lifecycle, from raw material sourcing to disposal. Recognized across Europe, it serves as a trusted mark of sustainability, helping consumers and businesses identify eco-friendly textile products.
Required Certification Level: To obtain the EU Ecolabel for textiles, manufacturers must meet stringent criteria tailored to the industry. These include sustainable sourcing of fibers, reduction of hazardous substances, energy-efficient production processes, and waste minimization. The standards are developed and periodically reviewed by the European Commission in collaboration with scientific experts and industry stakeholders. Compliance requires thorough documentation and independent verification, ensuring the label’s credibility and environmental integrity.
Product Level
B Corporation
Purpose: The purpose of B Corp certification is to recognize companies that prioritize social and environmental responsibility, going beyond profit to benefit workers, communities, customers, and the planet. B Corps aim to balance purpose with profit, meeting rigorous standards that assess the impact of their operations and products across areas like governance, employee treatment, community support, and environmental stewardship.
Required Certification Level: To achieve certification, a company must earn a minimum score of 80 out of 200 on the B Impact Assessment, which covers governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. The certification process also includes legal accountability requirements, where companies must amend their governing documents to be accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders. Chain of custody requirements come into play for companies whose products rely on traceable and ethically sourced materials.
Company Level
Fair Wear Foundation
Purpose: The Fair Wear Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on fostering an apparel industry where workers' rights to safe, dignified, and fairly compensated employment are upheld. Fair Wear advocates for a model of *shared responsibility* within the global garment supply chain, encouraging brands, factories, and other stakeholders to collectively commit to social compliance and improved working conditions.
Required Certification Level: The Fair Wear Foundation does not issue a traditional certification like a label on products. Instead, it works with member brands to improve labor conditions throughout their supply chains in the garment industry. Fair Wear focuses on ensuring that brands meet specific standards related to safe working conditions, fair wages, reasonable working hours, and freedom of association for workers in garment factories.
Labor Level
Higg Index
Purpose: The Higg Index, developed by Cascale, is a set of tools to help companies assess and improve sustainability performance across the apparel and textile supply chain. It aims to promote transparency, drive sustainability, and allow brands to evaluate their environmental, social, and labor impacts in a standardized way.
Required Certification Level:
- Higg MSI: Evaluates raw materials and processing impacts, focusing on water, energy, and emissions for sustainable choices.
- Higg FEM: Assesses manufacturing environmental performance, covering waste, chemicals, and energy, with third-party verification in VFEM.
- Higg FSLM: Examines social and labor conditions, including fair wages and worker safety.
- Higg PM: Evaluates product lifecycle impacts, including carbon footprint, water use, and chemicals, to enhance transparency and sustainability.
- Higg BRM: Assesses environmental and social impacts of brand and retail operations, focusing on supply chains, transportation, packaging, and employee well-being.
Labor Level
