We all want to take care of our nature now and here and in the future. The industry has taken these demands from us consumers, and therefore there are several industry organizations that have developed environmental certifications for their industries.
As we have products primarily in the textile area, with this article we will focus on these sustainable certificates, and hope that it will make you as a customer more aware when you buy a product from us, what impact it has on nature and the environment.
Textile industry labels
Unfortunately, there is no single certificate where you as a customer can make sure that when you buy clothes, which it complies with all sustainable requirements. There are many different international sustainable brands that manufacturers use and therefore it can be a jungle for you as a customer to know for sure what requirements the clothing meets in terms of sustainability. There are clothing brands that do not have a certificate, even if they are produced in an environmentally friendly way and comply with the sustainable certifications. To get a certificate can be a costly affair and therefore smaller companies do not have the same resources as the big companies. If you have questions about products in our shop that do not have a certificate then feel free to contact us for more information.
Below we will list the most recognized certifications, and added brands that we sell with us. We hope that this article will help you know more about which products fit your attitude towards sustainability.
OEKO-TEX (https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/)
OEKO-TEX is an internationally reliable certification, which has several certifications within sustainability:
- MADE IN GREEN, which ensures responsible and environmentally friendly production processes.
- STANDARD 100. This certification tests for substances such as toxic chemicals that are harmful to humans.
- LEATHER STANDARD. This certification is specifically aimed at leather goods, where tests are performed for chemicals used in the production process.
- STeP. A certification that focuses on the supply chain on 6 areas: Chemical management, Environmental performance, Environmental management, Social responsibility, Quality management, Health protection and safety at work.
- DETOX TO ZERO, which takes into account wastewater discharge and sludge.
- ECO PASSPORT, which looks at chemicals but contains several environmental factors.
Brands with us:
- Baleno (STeP)
- Pinewood on selected products (Standard 100)
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) (https://global-standard.org/)
GOTS is one of the most reliable and comprehensive certifications. It covers the processing, manufacture, packaging, labeling, trade and distribution of all textiles made from at least 70% certified organic natural fibers. The textiles must meet a certain set of environmental standards (toxicity, wastewater, etc.) as well as social criteria in accordance with the International Labor Organization. There are a number of different certification bodies that can actually award certification, but all use the same standards.
Brands with us:
- Pinewood on selected products
Sustainable Apparel Coalition SAC (https://apparelcoalition.org/)
SAC has developed the Higg Index and is a suite of tools that enable brands, retailers and manufacturers of all sizes - at all stages of their sustainability journey - to accurately measure and score the sustainability of a company or product. The Higg index provides a holistic overview that enables companies to make meaningful improvements that protect the well-being of factory workers, the local community and the environment. SAC is currently working on developing validation programs to increase transparency and accountability.
Brands with us:
- Odlo
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) (https://ic.fsc.org/)
FSC is a global non-profit organization that ensures that companies using wood from an FSC-certified forest meet their standards throughout the supply chain. FSC has three different brands:
- FSC 100% (completely from FSC-certified well-managed forests),
- FSC recycled (everything comes from recycled material)
- FSC Mix (the product is from FSC-certified forest, recycled material or controlled wood).
Brands with us:
Blue sign (https://www.bluesign.com/en)
Bluesign is a common certification given to textile manufacturers who manufacture in a way that is safe for both people and the environment. They take into account everything from wastewater to color toxicity to worker and consumer safety and more.
Brands with us:
- Non-Stop dogwear (Non-Stop dogwear's goal is to be certified in Blue sign in the near future)
REACH: Stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances (https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/reach/understanding-reach).
REACH aims to ensure that the 100,000 different types of chemicals used in the EU are documented in terms of human and environmental safety. The proposal has implications for all chemicals produced, imported or used in a quantity of min. 1 tons annually by a company in an EU Member State. For a number of the most hazardous chemicals to health and the environment, companies are required to use a less hazardous chemical if possible.
The purpose of REACH is to ensure the competitiveness of the EU chemical industry, including ensuring the protection of humans and the environment, shifting the burden of proof from authorities to industry, obtaining data / information on the environment and health, establishing safety, deciding measures to limit risks and limiting animal testing.
Brands with us:
- Baleno
- AKAH leather products (Moose leather from Kokkolan.com in Finland)
Organic Content Standard (OCS) (https://textileexchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Organic-Content-Standard-v1.pdf)
OCS originally developed for cotton but later expanded to other types of textiles. By being certified in OCS, the manufacturer must fulfill a very restrictive production process throughout the supply chain from organic raw material to the finished product. The OCS certification was written by Textile Exchange (originally called Organic Exchange), an international, member-supported, non-profit organization.
Textile Exchange also has several other certifications, including the standard for recycling requirements (which is similar to the fact that it provides a strict storage chain from input to end product), Global Recycled Standard (until 2011 GRS was a separate certification, but is now under OCS). GRS also ensures social and environmental practices throughout production), and the responsible down standard (which verifies responsible animal welfare standards on farms in the supply chain and tracks the feathers from input to end product).
Brands with us:
- Pinewood on products that contain organic cotton and recycled polyester.
- Northern Hunting on selected products in relation to recycled polyester.