We've compiled a list of some of the most common and talked about Accreditations in the range!
Sifting through the alphabet soup of accreditations is baffling at the best of times, so we have come up with your go to glossary to help you get the best responsible merchandise on the market.
Auditors:
Whilst these are not specific accreditations, these do signal to the purchaser that the company is undertaking a rigorous approach to accreditation by using a third party methodology.
BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative)
- Organisation: amfori (The Foreign Trade Association)
This provides a framework for auditing the supply chain for social responsibility. In addition to providing access to a network of experienced 3rd party auditing companies, every BSCI member must have a minimum of ? of their suppliers audited.
SMETA (SEDEX Members Ethical Trade Audit)
- Organisation: SEDEX (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange)
This provides a framework for auditing the supply chain for social responsibility. In addition to providing access to a network of experienced 3rd party auditing companies, they also provide a web based system in which data regarding labour practises can be managed and exchanged.
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Accreditations:
EU EcoLabel
- Organisation: European Commission
- Tags: Environment
Recognised throughout Europe, this uses independent assessors to confirm that a product or service meets high environmental standards.
ISO 14001
- Organisation: ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation)
- Tags: Environment
This sets out the international standard for a company’s environmental management system.
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & Restriction of Chemicals)
- Organisation: European Commission
- Tags: Environment, Chemical Management
This protects humans and the environment from adverse impact from chemicals, whilst also promoting innovation and methods of chemical assessments that do not use animals.
Fair Labour Accreditation
- Organisation: Fair Labour Association
- Tags: Workers’ Rights
Based on the principles as outlined by the International Labour Organisation, OECD and UN, the Association works alongside companies to ensure that workers rights are protected throughout the supply chain.
Ecovadis Medals (Platinum, Gold, Silver & Bronze)
- Organisation: Ecovadis
- Tags: Sustainability
This rates businesses on their sustainability and shares these ratings with stakeholders. The Medals indicate how well a company manages its sustainability relative to others also assessed by Ecovadis. Please note, this does not mean that a company's products or services are more sustainable than others.
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
- Organisation: Global Standard
- Tags: Textiles, Organic
This concerns the processing standard of organic fibres, ensuring that they meet environmental & social standards throughout the supply chain. Textiles with this accreditation have a minimum of 70% certified organic fibres.
Global Recycled Standard (GRS)
- Organisation: Textile Exchange
- Tags: Textiles, Recycled Materials
This standardises the meaning of 'recycled' fibres internationally and confirms the recycled content in textiles. It also covers environmental practices as well as ensuring the chain of custody.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- Organisation: OEKO-TEX
- Tags: Textiles, Chemical Management
Textiles with this accreditation have been tested and certified that it is free of harmful and/or unregulated substances. The products include a label that can be checked by the end user to see if the certificate is still valid.
PETA Approved Vegan
- Organisation: PETA
- Tags: Animal Welfare, Textiles, Vegan
This certifies that the product is 100% vegan.
Better Cotton Initiative
- Organisation: Better Cotton
- Tags: Textiles, Environment, Workers’ Rights
This organisation works with cotton farmers on farming practices, water stewardship, biodiversity, workers' rights, fair pay, high fibre quality, and management systems. Please note, they use a mass balance tracking system which means that certified cotton can be mixed or substituted without negatively impacting the farmer. This is not a traceable supply chain.
Organic Content Standard
- Organisation: Textile Exchange
- Tags: Textiles, Organic
This is an initiative to help farmers go organic and for companies to be able to verify organic claims.
Fair Wear
- Organisation: Fair Wear Foundation
- Tags: Textiles, Workers’ Rights
They are concerned with workers rights, pay and conditions, and seek to boost workers' voices as well as promoting the implementation of OECD's guide for human rights due diligence.
FSC Certified
- Organisation: FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
- Tags: Environment, Woodland
The wood/paper certified is sourced from sustainably managed woodland.
Fairtrade Mark
- Organisation: Fair Trade
- Tags: Workers’ Rights
This means that the product meets Fairtrade Standards and is sourced from a lower income country. Fair Trade works with producers to ensure the protection of fair pay, as well as workers rights and environmental protections. They ensure that farmers are paid a minimum price as well as a Fairtrade Premium. They are independently audited by FLOCERT.
FSI (Fairtrade Sourced Ingredients) is a secondary accreditation that means one or more ingredients in a product has been sourced according to the Fairtrade Standard.
Rainforest Alliance Certification
- Organisation: Rainforest Alliance
- Tags: Environment, Workers’ Rights
The Rainforest Alliance works alongside producers to reduce environmental impact and cost, whilst boosting productivity. Similar to Fair Trade, they have a stronger focus on sustainability, and rather than a premium, buyers must invest in the producers thereby centring the producers’ voices. This is known as the Sustainability Differential & Sustainability Investment, and can vary in amount.
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