For brands, How to find your way between all labels? Publics, private labels, and also certified or not? Here are the main labels to help you see more clearly.
Why labels exist :
As a sign of excellence, eco-labels guarantee a high level of requirement in terms of limiting the impacts of products and services on the environnement and health, while maintaining their level of performance.
LABELS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER AWARDS SHALL INFORM THE BUYER OF THE ECOLOGICAL OR SOCIAL QUALITY OF A PRODUCT OR SERVICE
In addition, the textile industry uses a quarter of the world’s chemicals and has been accused of 20% of water pollution by industry, making it the second largest freshwater polluter on the planet, which is why, in addition to standards and regulations, labels have a role to play in terms of support for brands, and also as a guarantee of quality to end consumers.
Each label verifies and prioritizes one or more aspects of the value chain. From fabric production to the finished product. Here are some examples of areas where labels specialize :
- Ecology – Environmental protection – Ethical and sustainable approach – CSR
- Social – Respect for the human condition
- Fair trade
- Organic – Pesticide -Free certified products – Eco-leather – Vegan products
- Health
Ecology labels – Environmental protection – Ethical and sustainable approach – CSR
The fair certification by Ecocert according to a reference framework taking into account the production conditions in accordance with the French regulatory definitions of fair trade. France
GOTS certification – GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD GOTS
certifies the Organic origin of cotton, it is the result of a harmonization of seven historical actors. This reliable label is taken into account environmental criteria of course but also social. The control is carried out by independent(IMO, Ecocert, Soil Association, IVN, ICEA, ETKO, Control Union, Japan Organic Cotton Association). GOTS certification is a system for the certification of textile products that guarantees the organic origin of fibres and ensures that at all stages of textile production and processing the production processes used are socially responsible and environmentally friendly (Heavy metals, formaldehydes, GMO enzymes and carcinogenic amines are prohibited). The very famous brands EKYOG and PeopleTree put this label on their products.
Health
The European Ecolabel aims to “promote the design, production, marketing and use of products with a lower impact on the environment throughout their life cycle” and “better inform consumers of the environmental impact of products, without compromising the safety of the product of workers, or significantly influencing the qualities that make the product dit for use.”
Fair trade
This label is given to brands that work for a real development of working and living conditions of producers. The label is also concerned with the environment and, by extension, the health of workers, who are not exposed to pesticides and other hazardous products used in traditional agriculture.
Organic – Pesticide free certified products – Eco-leather – Vegan products
SKAL International – Certification ProgramsSustainable Textile certification : Product using 100% certified organic material (evening regulation (EEC) 2092/91 or USDA NOP) Organic Exchange certification : Allows traceability of a percentage of certified organic cotton
GOTS (GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD) certifies the organic origin of cotton, it is the result of a harmonisation of seven historical actors. This label is reliable and takes into account environmental and also social criteria.
OeKO-TEX Description : The first label to guarantee textiles free of toxic products for the body and the environment. A reliable label but which can also certify synthetic materials and therefore polluting upstream.
Petit Bateau, La Redoute, DoYouGreen have opted for this label.
THE OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 SYSTEM PROVIDES :
- Internationally identical and scientifically sound control criteria,
- The annual revision and updating of the threshold values and established criteria,
- The inspection and certification of textile products by independent inspection institutes with the required expertise,
- Control of raw, semi-finished and finished products at all levels of processing (this is the “principle of modules”),
- Conformity of production through quality management in entreprises,
- Increased monitoring of products through regular checks on trade controls and visits to companies by independent auditors of Öko-Tex association.
CradleToCradle : It’s not a label, It’s a certification. It’s an approach, a concept. The idea is to think about the end of product life from the beginning of its creation. Fabric suppliers, dye manufacturers , designers, fashionistas and other influencers are helping transform the fashion industry by implementing the Cradle to Cradle ™ certified products program . The pineapple leaf fabric applies the concept of CradleToCradle.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is a non-profit association, which is délicate to establishing and protecting the rights of all animals.Like humans, animals are able to feel suffering and have an interest in disposing of their own lives. So they’re not meant to be used. Not for our food, our clothing, our experiments, our hobbies, or for any other reason. PETA and its affiliates raise awareness of animal cruelty among politicians and the public. They promote the right of all animals to be treated with respect.
ORGANICA OFFERS PREMIUM SERVICE WITH A TRACEABLE SUPPLY CHAIN
Organica’s pillar is the high-end service it offers to brands. The label guarantees the certification of each player in the value chain and the traceability of wool, from the farm to the garment.
Organica Precious Fiber is an eco-responsible wool label that guarantees wool of incomparable purity and quality while respecting the environment, animals and people throughout the production chain.
I just discovered the BlueSign label :
The Bluesign label is aimed at all players in the textile industry.It is an independent industry standard that is considered to be the most comprehensive in the world. It thus guarantees a safe and sustainable textile production.The textiles marked with the Bluesign guarantee a virtually flawless fabric and a ecological manufacturing at all levels, from fiber, dyes, to the finished product.
Vision BlueSign : « unifying the textile production chain and pooling actions to reduce its environmental impact.”
To achieves this, Bluesign strives to offer solutions and alternatives to produce products that are both safe and sustainable. By unifying the fabric supply chain, Bluesign® can control production standards and ensure that they are safe for both humans and the environment.
5main principles :
- Production of resources
- Consumer of safety
- Water use
- Emission of air
- Health and safety
To conclude,Voluntary initiatives and certification can play a role in accelerating more sustainable practices, labels can not replace government and international regulations.
For the Fashion industry, the lack of access to clean and sufficient water supplies represents a major commercial risk that already affects business activity.
The industry must realize that the scale of the challenge requires actions that go beyond the low demands of voluntary initiatives, and that meet its own commitments consumer demand for more sustainable products.
Sources :
https://madeinresponsable.com/2017/06/14/guides-des-labels-textiles/
http://www.ecolabelindex.com/ecolabels/?st=category,textiles
https://www.maxhavelaarfrance.org/producteurs/impact.html
https://www.eco-sapiens.com/label-19-Oko-Tex.html
http://www.linternaute.com/dictionnaire/fr/definition/commerce-equitable/
http://www.madeingreen.com/en/_mig/mig_label_information/mig_label_information.xhtml
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