Hi Everyone! Welcome back. Today, we are going to be talking about certifications. You’ve seen the certifications on labels and tags, but what do they mean? Today, I will explain the various certifications and labels for sustainable fashion and what they signify.
OEKO-TEX is a certification textiles receive after being tested for harmful substances. The company says, “It sets the benchmark for textile safety, from yarn to finished product. Every item bearing the STANDARD 100 label is certified as having passed safety tests for the presence of harmful substances.” They have many standards to ensure that the label truly represents what they preach. They review their limit values for harmful substances once a year. Here is a video that you can watch to learn more about how the label really protects us!
The company even has a label check! How cool is that? I used it just the other day to check the label on one of the bath towels in my house, and it's very intriguing. Anyway, back to the label! It’s usually found on clothing, bedsheets, and towels.
Not only can we use the OEKO-TEX label, but there is also the “GOTS” label, which stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. The GOTS label is the world’s leading textile processing standard when dealing with organic materials. The only way a textile can be certified is if it contains 70% certified organic fibers. However, there are two different types of labels, “organic” and “made with organic.”
The made with organic label is a certification, meaning the textile must contain a minimum of 70% certified organic fibers. On the other hand, the organic label means that the textile must contain 95% certified organic fibers. These labels are to ensure that all the chemicals, such as dyes, meet a set of environmental and toxicological criteria. Also, if any wet processing is involved, the products must undergo a wastewater management treatment plan. GOTS-certified final products include yarns, fabrics, clothes, fiber products, home textiles, mattresses, personal hygiene products, as well as food contact textiles and more.
Now, let's get into the fundamental importance of certifications. Many brands and companies are becoming environmentally aware, but does it really make a difference? Well, it differs from brand to brand, so who really knows? One thing we can be sure of is our actions. We can keep these companies in check by checking the labels of their products with either of these label checkers. Third-party certifications are essential because they prevent greenwashing. We want to ensure that companies are genuinely abiding by what they say, and with an outside certification that follows a set of standards, we can be sure of this.
By having a limited amount of standard certifications, textile processors and manufacturers can ensure that their products are certified by a label universally accepted in all major markets.
Stay Curious! Signing off with a smile.
-Savannah
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