Certificates

The Naturtextil certificate holds strict ecological, social and health related requirements.

There are numerous criteria within the entire chain of textile production; from cultivation standards of resources to the manufacturing process to the disposal of waste, almost all processes are subject to strict requirements.

All substances which are used within the production process need to be declared.

The Naturtextil certificate currently holds the most demanding ecological and social requirements for the textile industry. The certificate is very useful if one wants to deceiver environmentally and socially friendly textiles.

The Control Union (formerly Skal) is a Dutch control agency for ecological agriculture.

The certificate labels products which were made out of resources which were ecologically cultivated according to SKAL Standards (EU VO 2091/92). SKAL distinguishes textiles which are bio-degradable and recycable.

SKAL standards mainly concern the fabrication and processing of yarn. It controls if certain environmental standards are respected and if there is a gross reduction of environmental pollution compared to conventional production methods.

The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) is an international governing body of Eco-Organisations around the world. IFOAM has more than 750 member organisations in over 108 countries.

The Federation’s higher attempt is to subject the worldwide cultivation of eco-products to common standards. Thereby, IFOAM wants to create some sort of common denominator within the Eco-agriculture. The organisation also wants to foster international Eco-agriculture, especially the cultivation of ecological cotton. IFOAM collaborates with international institutions like the United Nations and other multilateral bodies.

IFOAM tries to reduce the application of ecologically harming substances within the agriculture industry on a global scale.

The aim of the Global Organic Textile Standard is to define global requirements for the entire chain of production of organic textiles. The founding members IVN, Soil Association, JOCA and OTA created the GOTS “letter of Intent” and adopted the GOTS certification requirements in September 2006.

Various aspects of the textile chain are regulated: the harvesting of raw materials, an environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing or a trustworthy labelling process which assures consumer credibility.

The Global Organic Textile Standard covers the production, processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, exportation, importation and distribution of all natural fibres. The final products may include, but are not limited to fibre products, yarns, fabrics and clothes. The standards focus on compulsory criteria only.

The Soil Association is a british membership organisation with charitable status which sets standards for organic food and farming. It was established in 1946 to promote organic products to consumers.

Soil Association standards are recognised to exceed statutory organic standards, such as those set by the European Union, and the UK government. Compassion In World Farming regards Soil Association standards to offer the best guarantee of high animal welfare standards in the UK.

The standard tries to inform consumers about the advantages of eco farming for health and nature. The Soil Association offers a credible orientation for healthy and environmentally friendly shopping.

The Öko-Tex Standard 100Plus certificate labels textiles which were produced ecologically compatible and environmentally friendly.

Ist ein Unternehmen nach Öko-Tex Standard 1000 zertifiziert und besitzen seine Produkte bereits die Zertifzierung nach Öko-Tex Standard 100, so kann unter gewissen Bedingungen für diese Produkte der Öko-Tex Standard 100plus erzielt werden.

There are two other certificates which are affiliated to Öko-Tex Standard 100Plus: the Öko-Tex Standard 100 and the Öko-Tex Standard 1000 certificate. If a company is already certified with the Öko-Tex Standard 1000 and the Öko-Tex 100, the company is able to apply to receive the Öko-Tex Standard 100plus. This certificate presents strict health requirements for the final product, in particular clear standards for an environmentally friendly manufacturing process. Although the critical values for harmful substances meet governmental requirements, they rarely exceed them.

The certificate requirements for Öko-Tex Standard 100plus are significantly higher than those for the Öko-Tex Standard 100 and the Öko-Tex Standard 1000 certificate. It particularly gives consumers are good orientation to buy ecologically compatible goods.

The European Environment Certificate presents strict requirements for an ecologically friendly production of textiles. Environmental and health aspects and specifically water contamination during the production process are being controlled during the certification process.

Even though the critical values for harmful substances meet governmental requirements just about, the European Environment Certificate has very clear and strict ecological requirements along the entire chain of production.

The Max Havelaar Foundation is a non-profit certification and public education organization promoting Fairtrade products to improve the livelihood of developing world farmers and workers.

The Max Havelaar Foundation is the Swiss member of FLO International, which unites 23 Fairtrade producer and labelling initiatives across Europe, Asia, Latin America, North America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. It was founded in 1992 by the Third World aid organisations Brot für alle, Caritas, Fastenopfer, HEKS, Helvetas and Swissaid.

Farmers enjoy stable prices and work under better conditions; the entire production process is created environmentally friendly. Max Havelaar began as a certification for foods but certifies textiles since April 2005.

The Nordic Swan is the official Nordic ecolabel, introduced by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Nordic Ecolabelling aims to contribute to reducing the total burden on the environment. The great aim of this certificate is to reduce the harmful effects of general manufacturing processes on the environment.

The production and distribution criteria are being audited by independent bodies on a regular basis. Companies have to reapply for this certificate every three years.

The Nordic Swan is a useful label for consumers make environmentally friendly consumption decisions.

The mission of Social Accountability International (SAI) is to promote human rights for workers around the world as a standards organization, ethical supply chain resource, and programs developer.

SAI promotes workers' rights primarily through our voluntary SA8000 system. Based on the International Labour Organization (ILO) standards and U.N. Human Rights Conventions, SA8000 is widely accepted as the most viable and comprehensive international ethical workplace management system available.

SAI works with an array of stakeholders who are instrumental in the ever-continuing effort to improve and implement the SA8000 system. SAI accredits the certification bodies for SA8000 auditing to ensure that workers receive the just and humane treatment they deserve.

The International Fairtrade Certification Mark is an independent certification mark used in over 50 countries. It appears on products as an independent guarantee that disadvantaged producers in the developing world are getting a better deal.

The International Fairtrade Certification Mark is owned and protected by FLO International, on behalf of its 23 member Fairtrade producer networks and labelling initiatives.

For a product to carry the Fairtrade Certification Mark, it must come from FLO-CERT inspected and certified producer organizations. The crops must be grown and harvested in accordance with the International Fairtrade standards set by FLO International. The supply chain is also monitored by FLO-CERT to ensure the integrity of labelled products. Only authorized licensees can use the Fairtrade Certification Mark on their products.

The dutch Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) is an organisation which tries to ensure a minimum of social standards within the production of textiles. The certificate guarantees that all member companies commit to increase the social standards within the production process of textiles.

All members must demand the same standards from all their suppliers so that the entire final product is ensured to be socially friendly produced. All criteria are being observed and controlled on a regular basis.

Although FWF is Dutch based, it is an international Institution with many members in different countries. The Fair Wear Foundation is a vital opponent against Child Labour.

The Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) is the garment industry's largest alliance of labour unions and non-governmental organizations. The civil society campaign focuses on the improvement of working conditions in the garment and sportswear industries.

Formed in the Netherlands in 1990, the alliance is international, currently active in 11 European countries: Austria, (North and South) Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

In an effort to end garment industry exploitation of workers, the CCC pressures companies to ensure their products are produced in appropriate conditions, offers support to garment workers and organizations of garment workers, educates consumers about working condition concerns, and advocates legally for protection for employees in garment companies.

The Biore certificate is a private brand of the Swiss Remei AG, a producer of ecological yarn. The certificate labels ecological cotton which was cultivated according to EU Standards and is traded fairly.

Biore specifically considers environmental standards within the manufacturing process. In the production of bioRe materials, the use of chemicals is substituted with environmentally friendly alternatives in all stages of production. Materials can not be bleached with Chlorine, colouring processes need to be ecologically optimised, etc. All manufacturing criteria are controlled by the independent bodies bio.inspecta and SGS International Certification Services.

The certificate meets the SA 8000 social standard which among other things guarantees that no child was involved in the production, that the working process was under humane conditions and that adequate minimum wage was paid to the workers.

(KLJB). The certificate emerged from a campaign called „Wear eco-fair, cloths for a sustainable future”.

Lamu Lamu is cooperating with partners like the Clean Cloths Campaing, the IVN and many others.

The certificate guaranties that the products come from free trade sources and that all profits are directly given to the workers.

The COOP Naturaline label is part of the Swiss retailer group COOP and exists since 1996. The label signifies Bio-products which were produced according to strict ecological and social standards.

COOP Naturaline products are constantly tested by independent institutions like the SGS International Certification Services AG; additionally, products are regularly tested in external laboratories for any sort of contaminant.

The Green Cotton label is part of the Danish company Novotex. The ecological cotton cultivation is supervised by SKAL and Bioland.

The certificate considers the entire chain of production; from the cultivation of cotton to the final product, almost all aspects have to satisfy strict criteria.

The Minimum criteria of Green Cotton generally exceed governmentally imposed ones. Thus, the label is a good orientation for consumers to find environmentally friendly textiles.

PURE WEAR is a private brand of the Otto (GmbH & Co KG). The cotton used for PURE WEAR articles stems from controlled organic cultivation and the textiles are tested for harmful substances on a scale that exceeds statutory requirements. So PURE WEAR textiles meet two requirements: they don't pose any health hazard to the consumer and their production is eco-friendly.

- The percentage of organic cotton in PURE WEAR textiles must be at least 50%. Only blends with selected non-cotton fibres are permitted (modal, silk, lyocell, elasthane, linen and wool). The use of conventional cotton yarn (yarn from non-controlled organic cultivation) is forbidden. Moreover, only yarn from organic cotton certified by SKAL (also known as 'Control Union Certifications') may be used as a raw material. Other certificates may only be considered following discussions with OTTO's Corporate Responsibility Department in Hamburg and extensive testing.

- Almost 100 percent of OTTO's entire textile assortment carries the 'Kind to your skin – tested for harmful substances' seal. The seal's requirements are orientated towards the Öko Tex 100 profile and textiles carrying this seal are laboratory tested for these parameters. Alongside tests for various heavy metals, parameters such as formaldehyde content, pH value, phenols, arylamine, chlororganic carriers, organostannic compounds, phthalates, allergy-inducing dispersant dyes, carcinogenic dyes and PVC content are checked. However, the requirement profile for PURE WEAR textiles also includes testing parameters for selenium, tin and zinc. In all cases, PURE WEAR textiles must additionally remain within the toxicity thresholds which otherwise only apply to clothing for babies.

- OTTO suppliers are trained within the framework of the Otto Group's Social Programme and are regularly and independently audited for their adherence to the Code of Conduct. Auditors must be accredited by Social Accountability International (SAI). A more stringent qualification process is applied to producers of PURE WEAR textiles: only companies that have achieved a 'Good' audit score may be accepted as PURE WEAR producers.

The Hess Natur certificate is part of Hess Natur an ecological fashion label founded in 1976.

Hess Natur demands from its suppliers that all yarn or other resources used in the manufacturing process must either comply to the IVN standard or the Öko-Tex Standard 100.

Ever since its creation, the Hess Natur standards have strived to reduce the detrimental impact of textile production on the environment.

Demeter International is the largest certification organisation for Biodynamic agriculture, and is one of three predominant organic certifiers. The Demeter certification program was established in 1928, and as such was the first ecological label for organically produced foods.

Demeter Biodynamic Certification is used in over 50 countries to verify that biodynamic products meet international standards in production and processing. The certification is the oldest traditional organic certification in Europe and is regarded as the highest grade of organic farming in the world. Certification is difficult to come by and must be renewed annually.

The criteria for the cultivation of resources are supervised by IVN certificate. Demeter’s “biodynamic” certification requires biodiversity and ecosystem preservation, soil husbandry, livestock integration, prohibition of genetically engineered organisms and viewing the farm as a living “holistic organism”.

The Maas Natur quality guidelines are part of the Maas Natur fashion label. The guidelines hold for all Maas Natur products.

This company certificate is subject to the IVN certifificate principles and therefore just as monitored as products with the IVN label. Maas Natur applies its standards to all stages of cultivation, production and manufacturing. It hereby especially attempts to reduce the use of chemicals.

The Maas Natur guidelines are regularly monitored and examined through random laboratory test.