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Textile Certification

LEED
GREEN SEAL
CCS
GOTS
GRS
Green Screen
Natur Textil
OCS 100
OCS BLENDED
RS
RCS 100
RCS BLENDED
RDS
RWS

What is LEED Certification and Why is it Important?

The demand for more sustainable buildings is growing. The combined effects from growth in environmental legislation and the demand from tenants and shareholders to reduce environmental impacts are requiring property managers to both understand and take responsibility for the environmental performance of their facility. The best way to benchmark and report your building’s sustainability performance is through LEED Certification.  In this article, we define LEED Certification, review the benefits of LEED Certification, and go over how to achieve LEED certification.

What is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)?

LEED or (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to set a benchmark for design, construction, maintenance, and operation of high-performance green buildings and homes.  According to USGBC, Green building is the practice of designing, constructing and operating buildings to maximize occupant health and productivity, use fewer resources, reduce waste and negative environmental impacts, and decrease life cycle costs. LEED Certification is the most widely used global standard that recognizes buildings that are efficient, cost-effective, and better for occupants and the environment. LEED certification can be applied to new or existing buildings and homes looking to become sustainable.  

Why is LEED Certification Important? 

LEED certification is beneficial for you, your occupants, and the environment. 

For You:

Green buildings are becoming increasingly important and tenants are demanding more sustainable buildings. 

LEED certification will enhance your facility’s image and establish you as a leader in green building. Because sustainable buildings are more positively perceived in today’s market, you will be able to charge higher lease rates.

Green buildings also cost less to operate. They use fewer resources like water and energy and generate less waste, leading to decreased utility costs. 

MADE IN GREEN – The Label for Sustainably Produced Textiles

One solution to this issue is the MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® label. MADE IN GREEN designates consumer products and semi-finished products from all stages of processing in the textile value chain. These products have not only been thoroughly tested for hazardous substances but have also been manufactured in environmentally friendly facilities and under socially fair working conditions. MADE IN GREEN gives consumers a great way of opting for products that are made in a sustainable and socially fair manner at the point of sale. Brands, manufacturers, and merchants also have the chance to highlight their commitment to sustainability to their consumers right on the product thanks to MADE IN GREEN.

The added value of MADE IN GREEN also lies in the fact that it uses an unambiguous product ID or QR code on the label, providing full transparency about the manufacturing route taken by a textile product bearing this designation. from yarn to the finished consumer product.

Six out of ten people want their textiles to be free of harmful substances

Testing textiles in accordance with STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® is part and parcel of the MADE IN GREEN label. Textile products may only bear the STANDARD 100 label if all elements meet the required testing criteria set forth by the OEKO-TEX® Association and thus help bring about high and effective consumer protection in terms of potentially harmful substances. This includes accessories, such as studs, buttons, zippers, and linings. Products bearing the STANDARD 100 or MADE IN GREEN label have been thoroughly tested for harmful substances using the strict OEKO-TEX® catalog of criteria.

Independent, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible

Environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and socially responsible working conditions at participating facilities are documented for MADE IN GREEN using the thorough STeP by OEKO-TEX® certification process. STeP stands for Sustainable Textile and Leather Production.

STeP certification can be issued for all facilities in the textile chain — from spinning mills to the clothing industry, including manufacturers of foam and textile logistics firms. In essence, STeP meets companies where they are when it comes to sustainability.

Why With GIGC Certification?

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product.

With 100+ certification programs, directives, and schemes , we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.

CCS – Content Claim Standard

The CCS (Content Claim Standard) provides companies with a tool to verify the content of specific input materials. Each organization along the supply chain is checked by an independent third party. Any type of input material may be claimed. The CCS is the foundation for all of Textile Exchange’s chain of custody standards.

The CCS verifies the presence and amount of a given material in a final product. It tracks the flow of a material from the source to the final product and is certified by an accredited third party. It allows for transparent, consistent, comprehensive and independent evaluation and verification of material content claims on products. This includes companies in ginning, spinning, weaving and knitting, dyeing and printing and stitching. CCS can be used as a business-to-business tool. On the one hand, it gives companies the means to ensure that they are selling quality products and getting what they pay for. On the other, it also serves as the foundation for content claim standards that are developed around specific raw materials. 

Benefits of Certification

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product. With 100+ certification programs, we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.

Why With GIGC Certification?

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product.

With 100+ certification programs, directives, and schemes , we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.

GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is an internationally recognized organic textile standard. Since its introduction in 2006, GOTS has demonstrated its practical feasibility and is supported by the growth in consumption of organic fibers and the demand for a unified processing criteria from the industry and retail sectors.

GOTS ensures the organic status of textiles from the harvesting of the raw materials through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing all the way to labelling, in order to provide credible assurances to the consumer. The standard covers the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, trading and distribution of all textiles made from at least 70 percent certified organic natural fibres. The final fibre products may include, but are not limited to, yarns, fabrics, clothes and home textiles. However, this standard does not set criteria for leather products.

Why With GIGC Certification?

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product.

With 100+ certification programs, directives, and schemes , we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.

GRS – Global Recycle Standard

The Global Recycle Standard (GRS) was originally developed by Control Union Certifications in 2008 and ownership was passed to the Textile Exchange on 1 January 2011. The GRS is an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of recycled content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices and chemical restrictions.

The GRS is intended to meet the needs of companies looking to verify the recycled content of their products (both finished and intermediate) and to verify responsible social, environmental and chemical practices in their production. The objectives of the GRS are to define requirements to ensure accurate content claims and good working conditions, and that harmful environmental and chemical impacts are minimized. This includes companies in ginning, spinning, weaving and knitting, dyeing and printing and stitching in more than 50 countries.

Why With GIGC Certification?

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product.

With 100+ certification programs, directives, and schemes , we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.

Green Screen

GreenScreen Certified™ is a new certification standard that promotes the use of inherently safer chemicals in products. The certification meets increasing demand for: a) safer chemicals in manufacturing and/or products and b) a simple platform that enables the communication of safer chemicals in products and formulations across supply chains.

GreenScreen Certified is based on the GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals, a globally recognized tool that identifies hazardous and safer chemicals through a rigorous benchmark scoring system. GreenScreen Certified will be applied to different product categories, with formulated products used in the manufacture of fabrics and other textiles representing the first product application.

Why do we need this certificate in the fashion industry?

There is a common misconception that the products on store shelves are safe. Most people believe that if a chemical causes harm to human or environmental health and safety, it cannot and is not used. Unfortunately, that is not true. GreenScreen Certified provides a clear, new, and transparent communication tool on chemical hazards in textile formulations.

Green Screen Certified enables:

  • Brands to clearly specify their preferences and requirements for safer chemicals in textile formulations to their suppliers.
  • Formulators of textile chemicals to visibly promote their avoidance of known chemicals of high concern (Bronze level) and use of safer chemicals (Silver and Gold levels) to brands and the public.

GreenScreen Certified is valuable because it:

  • Is developed and maintained by Clean Production Action, an independent, mission-driven NGO that creates strategies and solutions for safer chemicals.
  • Establishes three levels of certification from Bronze to Silver to Gold that specify increasingly more stringent requirements for safer chemicals.
  • Allows transparency around chemical hazard, while protecting proprietary formulations.
  • Provides a clear platform for communicating chemical hazards in products across supply chains.
  • Builds on a scientifically robust, transparent, peer reviewed hazard assessment method developed by an NGO (GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals).
  • Assures that any certified product conforms with the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (a group of apparel and footwear brands and retailers working together to lead the industry towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals) manufacturing restricted substances list MRSL, which is a list of chemical substances that should be banned from intentionally use by the industry in the production of textile, apparel, leather and footwear.

With the help of your certification, how do you expect the future will be like?

GreenScreen Certified creates market signals and market drivers to incentivize companies to use safer chemicals in their products and supply chains and enable brands and consumers to purchase products made with safer chemicals. The overall impact is a fashion industry with safer products for people and the planet.

What keeps you motivated to do the work you are doing?

Transparency. I want consumers to be able to make informed choices and send market signals to companies. In turn, I want companies to actively respond to make safer healthier choices. Overall, I want to protect our children, our grandchildren, and this planet that we live on.

Why With GIGC Certification?

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product.

With 100+ certification programs, directives, and schemes , we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.

IVN – NaturTextile

The organization IVN (Internationale Verband der Naturtextilwirtschaft e. V.) was founded in 1999 and has developed two quality seals: Naturtextil IVN certified BEST and Naturleder IVN certified. These two seals are responsible for safeguarding and reviewing the entire textile production chain, both in terms of ecological standards and social accountability.

The IVN standard provides ecological quality and encourages eco-friendly textile and leather products. Certified textiles may carry the IVN certified or IVN certified BEST label. This certification brings a greater sense of confidence to the consumer, as residue limits are much more stringent than those legally permitted. Naturtextil IVN certified BEST is a standard for eco-friendly textiles with the strictest requirements for ecological textile production at the highest technical levels. Only a select range of products can meet this standard and the minimum requirement for this certification is the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). It addresses all production stages from raw material to sale and the use of the finished leather (not the finished leather products). Naturleder IVN certified is a standard for eco-friendly leather products in Europe.

Benefit of IVN

The IVN standard provides ecological quality and encourages eco-friendly textile and leather products. Certified textiles may carry the IVN certified or IVN certified BEST label.
As far as the consumer is concerned, this certification brings a greater sense of confidence as residue limits are much more stringent than those legally permitted.

Why With GIGC Certification?

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product.

With 100+ certification programs, directives, and schemes , we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.

OCS 100 – Organic Content Standard

The Organic Content Standard (OCS) applies to any non-food product containing 95-100 percent organic material. It verifies the presence and amount of organic material in a final product and tracks the flow of the raw material from its source to the final product.

The OCS 100 relies on third-party verification to confirm whether a final product contains the accurate amount of a given organically grown material. OCS allows for transparent, consistent and comprehensive independent evaluation and verification of organic material content claims on products. OCS 100 covers the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, trading and distribution of a product that contains at least 95 percent certified ‘organic’ materials. It can be used as a business-to-business tool to give companies the means to ensure that they are selling quality and getting what they pay for.

Why With GIGC Certification?

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product.

With 100+ certification programs, directives, and schemes , we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.

OCS BLENDED – Organic Content Standard

The Organic Content Standard (OCS) applies to any non-food product containing 5-100 percent organic material. It verifies the presence and amount of organic material in a final product. Further OCS tracks the flow of a raw material from its source to the final product. This process is then certified by an accredited third party.

The OCS relies on third-party verification to confirm whether a final product contains the accurate amount of a given organically grown material. OCS allows for transparent, consistent and comprehensive independent evaluation and verification of organic material content claims on products. OCS covers the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, trading and distribution of a product that contains at least 5 percent certified ‘organic’ materials. It can be used as a business-to-business tool to give companies the means to ensure that they are selling quality and getting what they pay for.

Why With GIGC Certification?

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product.

With 100+ certification programs, directives, and schemes , we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.

REACH Solutions

REACH protects human health and the environment from the risks of chemical substances.(EC) Regulation No 1907/2006 on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals – commonly known as REACH – establishes procedures to assess and manage the risks posed by chemicals. It covers all individual chemical substances on their own, in preparations and in articles. 

REACH places the burden of proof onto companies, who must identify and manage substance risk. Chemical substances (1 metric ton or more) manufactured or imported to the EU, must be registered with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). EU manufacturers or importers have an obligation to provide information about the substance and its use. The information must be passed onto the entire supply chain: downstream users, distributers, suppliers and end-users.

ECHA receives individual registrations and evaluates the hazard and risks that the substance may pose to human health or the environment. ECHA also assesses whether the risks can be managed.If risks cannot be controlled, a ban or a restriction on use can be enforced together with a recommendation on replacement with less harmful alternatives. 

Impact On Your Business

REACH impacts on a wide variety of businesses across many sectors. As a rule of thumb, the following actors are responsible under REACH:

  • Manufacturer of chemicals (either to use or supply)
  • Importer from outside EU/EEA: whether individual chemicals, mixtures or finished products containing chemical substances, importers must comply with REACH
  • Downstream users: most companies use chemicals, even unknowingly. They must ensure they comply with obligations under REACH

  Why With GIGC Certification?

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product.

With 100+ certification programs, directives, and schemes , we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.

RCS 100 – Recycled Claim Standard

The RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) is used as a chain of custody standard to track recycled raw materials through the supply chain. The standard was developed through work done by the Materials Traceability Working Group, part of OIA’s Sustainability Working Group. The RCS uses the chain of custody requirements of the Content Claim Standard.

The RCS verifies the presence and amount of recycled material in a final product. This happens through input and chain-of-custody verification from a third party. It allows for the transparent, consistent and comprehensive independent evaluation and verification of recycled material content claims on products. RCS can be used as a business-to-business tool to give companies the means to ensure that they are selling quality products and getting what they pay for. It is also used as a way to ensure accurate and honest communication with consumers. This includes companies in ginning, spinning, weaving and knitting, dyeing and printing and stitching.

Why With GIGC Certification?

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product.

With 100+ certification programs, directives, and schemes , we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.

RCS BLENDED – Recycled Claim Standard

The RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) is used as a chain of custody standard to track recycled raw materials through the supply chain. The standard was developed through work done by the Materials Traceability Working Group, part of OIA’s Sustainability Working Group. The RCS uses the chain of custody requirements of the Content Claim Standard.

The RCS verifies the presence and amount of recycled material in a final product. This happens through input and chain-of-custody verification from a third party. It allows for the transparent, consistent and comprehensive independent evaluation and verification of recycled material content claims on products. RCS can be used as a business-to-business tool to give companies the means to ensure that they are selling quality products and getting what they pay for. It is also used as a way to ensure accurate and honest communication with consumers. This includes companies in ginning, spinning, weaving and knitting, dyeing and printing and stitching.

Why With GIGC Certification?

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product.

With 100+ certification programs, directives, and schemes , we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.

RDS – Responsible Down Standard

The textile industry has become increasingly aware of its sourcing challenges. In particular the use of animal products such as feather and down, wool, angora, cashmere and leather. And, with the development of the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), a leading standard for animal welfare in down and feather products has been created. With Control Union’s global expertise, we can offer services for all animal products included in textiles.

To ensure the continuous improvement of best animal welfare practices in the down industry, Control Union performs audits to check whether your supply chain complies with the RDS. The RDS has been developed by Control Union, The North Face and Textile Exchange through a wide stakeholder review process, which involved, among others, worldwide down supply chain members and major animal welfare organizations. The scope of the RDS includes the full down supply chain from the farms and slaughter facilities (animal welfare) to the down processors and garment factories (traceability).

Why With GIGC Certification?

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product.

With 100+ certification programs, directives, and schemes , we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.

RWS – Responsible Wool Standard

The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) provides an opportunity for farmers to demonstrate their best practices to the public, and a means for brands and consumers to have the certainty that the wool products they buy and sell are in line with their values.

The RWS is a voluntary global standard that addresses the welfare of sheep and of the land they graze on. The RWS provides verification of the practices that are happening at farm level, giving brands a clear solution that will allow them to make claims about their wool sourcing with confidence. The standard was developed by an international working group through an open and transparent process. Control Union was involved in the standard development from the very beginning as a member of the technical group. CU carried out RWS audits all over the world.

Why With GIGC Certification?

Through third-party verification, we motivate your (quality) claim independently towards your clients. Furthermore, traceability and contamination risks can be managed better by certifying your management system and/or your product.

With 100+ certification programs, directives, and schemes , we are able to conduct combination audits saving time and expenses for our customers. As a result, you will benefit from a ‘front runner’ position in the eyes of investors, rating agencies and other analysts and have an improved stakeholder communication. Our network of offices in more than 87 countries allows us to make certification more efficient and cost effective, whilst upholding the same stringent professional auditing and certification procedures.