Sustainability ABCs
From RDS to FSC there’s a world of information to learn about sustainability. Let us help break it down and don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to learn more. If there are any questions about sustainability that are not answered here, contact us. Let us know if we missed anything, we’re happy to do the research for you!
Sustainability Certifications, Assessments, and Standards
+ B-Corp
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. https://bcorporation.net/
+ Higg Index
The Higg Index is an apparel and footwear industry self-assessment standard for assessing environmental and social sustainability throughout the supply chain. Now recognized as Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly. https://higg.com/
+ Green America
Green businesses adopt principles, policies and practices that improve the quality of life for their customers, employees, communities, and the planet. https://www.greenamerica.org/
+ Bluesign
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. Now recognized as an REI Preferred Attribute and as Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly. https://www.bluesign.com/en
+ OekoTex
If a textile article carries the STANDARD 100 label, you can be certain that every component of this article, i.e. every thread, button and other accessories, has been tested for harmful substances and that the article therefore is harmless in human ecological terms. Now recognized as Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly. https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/
+ Leather Working Group Certified
The objective of Leather Working Group is to provide, maintain and develop environmental auditing protocols, which assess the compliance and environmental performance of leather manufacturers across the globe, whilst also promoting sustainable and appropriate environmental business practice. Now recognized as an REI Preferred Attribute. https://www.leatherworkinggroup.com/
+ Green Screen
GreenScreen Certified™ enables formulators to communicate actions they are taking to reduce the use of chemicals of high concern, meet the ZDHC requirements for safer chemicals in manufacturing and give brands a clear platform to communicate their requirements for safer chemicals in textile formulations. https://www.greenscreenchemicals.org/certified
+ REACH
REACH is a regulation of the European Union. It was formed to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry. https://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_en.htm
+ Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)
BPI is a science-driven organization that supports a shift to the circular economy by promoting the production, use, and appropriate end of lives for materials and products that are designed to fully biodegrade in specific biologically active environments. https://bpiworld.org/
+ How2Recycle
The How2Recycle® Label is a standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. Now recognized as an REI Preferred Attribute. https://how2recycle.info/
Fair Labor Certifications, Assessments, and Standards
+ Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP)
Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production is a not-for-profit 501 organization dedicated to promoting safe, lawful, humane and ethical manufacturing around the world through certification and education. http://www.wrapcompliance.org/
+ Fair Labor Association (FLA)
FLA creates lasting solutions to abusive labor practices. They offer tools and resources to companies and deliver training to factory workers and management. FLA conducts due diligence through independent assessments, and advocates for greater accountability and transparency from companies, manufacturers, factories and others involved in global supply chains. https://www.fairlabor.org/
+ Fair Trade Certification
The Fair Trade Certified™ seal ensures the product was made according to rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards. Now recognized as an REI Preferred Attribute and as Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly. https://www.fairtradecertified.org/
+ Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP)
The Social and Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) aims to bring together unique perspectives to create an efficient, scalable and sustainable solution for social audits. https://slconvergence.org/
+ BSCI
The Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) is a leading supply chain management system that supports companies to drive social compliance and improvements within the factories and farms in their global supply chains. https://www.amfori.org/content/about-amfori
+ SA8000
The SA8000® Standard is the leading social certification standard for factories and organizations across the globe. SA8000 measures social performance in eight areas important to social accountability in workplaces, anchored by a management system element that drives continuous improvement in all areas of the Standard. https://sa-intl.org/programs/sa8000/
+ SEDEX
Sedex is one of the world’s leading ethical trade service providers, working to improve working conditions in global supply chains. Sedex provides practical tools, services and a community network to help companies improve their responsible and sustainable business practices, and source responsibly. https://www.sedex.com/
+ Fair Factories Clearinghouse (FFC)
The mission of Fair Factories Clearinghouse is to facilitate informed ethical business decisions for a better and more livable world. FFC builds scalable software that facilitates continuous improvements in social, environmental and security issues. https://www.fairfactories.org/
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
+ Non-Profit Social Enterprise
Non-profit social enterprise is a powerful model to do good. A social enterprise is an organization that advances a social mission through market-based strategies. Non-profit status can be verified as can most of the mission based work. https://socialenterprise.us/about/social-enterprise/
+ Women's Business Enterprise National Council
The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs. https://www.wbenc.org/
Animal Welfare, Land Management, Healthy Planet
+ Responsible Down Standard (RDS)
The goals of the Responsible Down Standard are to provide the industry with a tool to recognize the best practices of farmers; ensuring that down comes from farms that have a progressive approach to managing their land, practice holistic respect for animal welfare of the animals and respect the Five Freedoms of animal welfare. Now recognized as an REI Preferred Attribute. https://textileexchange.org/standards/responsible-down/
+ Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)
The goals of the Responsible Wool Standard are to provide the industry with a tool to recognize the best practices of farmers; ensuring that wool comes from farms that have a progressive approach to managing their land, practice holistic respect for animal welfare of the sheep and respect the Five Freedoms of animal welfare. Now recognized as an REI Preferred Attribute and as Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly. https://textileexchange.org/responsible-wool/
+ PETA - Vegan Approved
The “PETA-Approved Vegan” logo allows companies that sell apparel, accessories, furniture, or home decor to highlight their vegan offerings. This helps consumers find animal-free products at a glance and make purchases that align with their values. https://www.peta.org/living/personal-care-fashion/peta-approved-vegan-logo/
+ Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
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 (v1.0) that guides forest management certification in the U.S. Now recognized as an REI Preferred Attribute and as Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly. https://fsc.org/en
+ Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)
The Better Cotton Initiative is a non-profit, multistakeholder governance group that promotes better standards in cotton farming and practices across 21 countries. https://bettercotton.org/
+ 1% for the Planet
One Percent for the Planet is an international organization whose members contribute at least one percent of their annual sales to environmental causes. Their mission is to "build, support and activate an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet." https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/
Sustainable Materials and Certifications
+ Recycled Claim Standard
The RCS is a chain of custody standard to track recycled raw materials through the supply chain. Now recognized as an REI Preferred Attribute and as Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly. https://textileexchange.org/standards/recycled-claim-standard-global-recycled-standard/
+ Global Recycled Standard
The Global Recycled Standard is a holistic certification for products with recycled content. The desired effect of the GRS is to provide brands with a tool for more accurate labeling, to encourage innovation in the use of reclaimed materials, to establish more transparency in the supply chain, and to provide better information to consumers. Now recognized as Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly. https://textileexchange.org/standards/recycled-claim-standard-global-recycled-standard/
+ Organic Trade Association
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. https://ota.com/
+ Global Organic Textile Standard
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognized as the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibers. It defines high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain and requires compliance with social criteria as well. Now recognized as an REI Preferred Attribute and as Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly. https://global-standard.org/
+ USDA Organic
USDA certified organic foods are grown and processed according to federal guidelines such as, soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives. Organic producers rely on natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible. Now recognized as an REI Preferred Attribute. https://www.usda.gov/topics/organic
+ Repreve
REPREVE is the leading, most trusted, branded performance fiber made from recycled materials (including plastic bottles). https://repreve.com/
+ Tencel
TENCEL™ branded lyocell and modal fibers are produced by environmentally responsible processes from the sustainably sourced natural raw material wood. https://www.tencel.com/
+ Sorona Fiber
37% of the polymer in Sorona is made using annually renewable plant-based ingredients. The material uses 30% less energy Releases 63% fewer greenhouse gas emissions. http://sorona.com/
+ Micromodal (Recycled Beechwood)
Modal and Micromodal are recognized for being environmentally superior fabrics. They are made in a closed loop process with sustainably harvested wood. https://www.lenzing.com/
Electronic Certifications
+ RoHS
RoHS is an EU legislation restricting the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and promoting the collection and recycling of such equipment. https://www.rohsguide.com/
+ EPEAT
EPEAT is the leading global ecolabel for the IT sector. The EPEAT program provides independent verification of manufacturers’ claims and the EPEAT online Registry lists sustainable products from a broader range of manufacturers than any comparable ecolabel. Now recognized as Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly. https://epeat.net/
+ EcoLogo
ECOLOGO Certifications are voluntary, multiattribute, life cycle-based environmental certifications that indicate a product has undergone rigorous scientific testing, exhaustive auditing or both, to prove its compliance with stringent, third-party, environmental performance standards. These standards set metrics for a wide variety of criteria in some or all of the following categories: materials, energy, manufacturing and operations, health and environment, product performance and use, and product stewardship and innovation. Now recognized as Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly. https://www.ul.com/resources/ecologo-certification-program
+ GreenGuard
Products that have achieved GREENGUARD Certification are scientifically proven to meet some of the world’s most rigorous third-party chemical emissions standards, helping to reduce indoor air pollution and the risk of chemical exposure. http://greenguard.org/en/index.aspx
+ TCO
TCO Certified products must meet comprehensive environmental and social criteria throughout the life cycle. For instance, factories where certified products are made must follow criteria on working hours, working environment and wages. Products must meet criteria for energy efficiency, ergonomic design and limited hazardous substance content. https://tcocertified.com/tco-certified/
+ EnergyStar
ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency. https://www.energystar.gov/