Textiles Certifications symbols on label of garments, what ???
- Liza Acevedo
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Textile certifications are symbols on product labels to signify that garments or fabrics meet established environmental, social, and safety standards. Are they important? As a designer, I strive to purchase the best fabrics, and when I see certifications, I often associate them with good quality, thinking the material contains fewer chemicals. However, in reality, I am not certain. These certifications can foster a sense of trust, yet they might not be entirely transparent. For instance, when I search for the best linen fabric, it may have the OEKO-TEX certification, which is positive, but the company might not disclose information about chemicals, types of bleaches, or textile dyes used. Many companies use terms like natural, harmful, or sustainable, but they are not clear with the information. In my opinion, providing this clarity is what will truly build trust.
Upon further reading, I found that while some certifications like OEKO-TEX or ISO are mentioned, they are not always clear about specifics. Some certifications primarily focus on organizing facilities, which is beneficial for improving workers' conditions, but they don't necessarily address the materials. So, I decided to discuss this topic and share the information with you.
Most of these certifications use a symbol that we do not include because, in my opinion, we require permission. Please check the companies' websites below to see them.
OEKO TEX OEKO-TEX are independent, third-party testing systems for textiles and leather that guarantee products are free from harmful substances and produced responsibly. Certifications & Meanings.
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX: Certifies that every component of a textile product (fabrics, buttons, threads) has been tested for over 100 harmful substances, ensuring it is safe for human health. It is categorized into four product classes ranging from baby items to home textiles.
MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX: Verifies that a product was tested for harmful substances (Standard 100) AND manufactured using sustainable, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible processes. It allows tracking of the supply chain.
STeP by OEKO-TEX (Sustainable Textile and Leather Production): A certification system for manufacturing facilities, assessing chemical management, environmental performance, social responsibility, and safety.
LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX: Similar to Standard 100, this specifically tests leather products at all production stages for harmful chemical residues.
ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX: Used by suppliers to certify that chemical substances, colorants, and auxiliaries used in production meet sustainability standards.
ORGANIC COTTON by OEKO-TEX: Certifies that products are made from organic cotton, verifying the absence of GMOs and harmful pesticides.
DETOX TO ZERO by OEKO-TEX: Helps production facilities manage and eliminate harmful chemicals, aligning with Greenpeace’s Detox Campaign goals.
Standard 100 Product Classes
Product Class 1: Products for babies and toddlers up to 3 years (strictest criteria).
Product Class 2: Products with direct, extensive skin contact (e.g., bed linens, underwear).
Product Class 3: Products with little or no skin contact (e.g., jackets).
Product Class 4: Decoration materials (e.g., curtains, tablecloths)
Woolmark Company certifications are global, independent quality assurance marks for wool products, . They verify that a product meets strict standards regarding wool content (purity) and performance, ensuring quality, home textiles, and laundry care.
The Woolmark Logo (Pure New Wool) Represents a product made from 100% pure new wool (wool that has not been previously spun, felted, or incorporated into a finished product), high-quality standards.
Woolmark Wool Rich Blend Identifies products containing a blend of new wool and other high-quality fibres. The blend must contain at least 50% to 99.9% new wool.
Wool Blend Performance Indicates a product with a lower percentage of new wool, specifically between 30% and 49.9%.
Woolmark Recycled Wool Certified products made from at least 20% up to 100% recycled wool (pre- or post-consumer waste).
Woolmark Wool Care Wool Care Blue logo refers to Woolmark certified wool washing and wool drying cycle for handwashable wool garments.
Wool Care Green logo refers to Woolmark certified wool washing cycle for handwashable wool garments. The washing cycle is tested to ensure its energy and water efficiency.
Wool Care Green logo refers to Woolmark certified wool drying cycle for hand washable wool garments. The drying cycle is tested to ensure its highest energy efficiency in the world, 0.9kWh/kg or less electricity consumption.
Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) a voluntary global standard managed by Textile Exchange Org that certifies wool based on strict animal welfare, land management, and social welfare criteria. Third-Party Audits: Professional, independent bodies conduct audits to ensure compliance. Product Scope: The label ensures the entire journey of the wool is certified from farm to final garment. Is really interesting because provide us with open information to choose better.
Farm Certification: Farms are audited and certified to meet the strict animal welfare and land management requirements.
Chain of Custody (Supply Chain) Certification (CCS): Further processing stages—including scouring, spinning, and manufacturing—must hold a chain of custody certificate to prove they are handling certified wool, audited.
RWS Toolkit: Supply Chain Certification provide us with a manual of all the information. Voluntary: RWS is not legally required but is adopted by brands and farmers to show commitment to sustainability.
Recycle Claim Standard (RCS) Global Recycled Standard (GRS) an international, voluntary, full-product standard for verifying recycled content, chain of custody, social/environmental practices, and chemical restrictions in products It requires a minimum of 50% recycled content, guaranteeing that materials are legitimately recycled and processed responsibly Recycled Material Verification: Validates that products contain pre-consumer or post-consumer waste. Chain of Custody: Tracks the material through every stage of production to guarantee the authenticity of the claims.
Social Responsibility: Ensures strict working conditions, including fair labor practices, safe conditions, and no forced or child labor. Environmental Management: Monitors energy and water use, emissions, and waste reduction goals. Chemical Restrictions: Strictly prohibits the use of harmful chemicals in the production process.
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibers. It defines high-level environmental and social criteria throughout the entire supply chain—from the harvesting of raw materials to environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing.
Organic Content: Products must contain at least 70% certified organic natural fibers.
Chemical Restrictions: All chemical inputs (dyes, auxiliaries) must meet basic toxicity and biodegradability requirements; harmful substances like toxic heavy metals, formaldehyde, and azo dyes are prohibited. you can search suppliers on their webpage.
Social Compliance: Certified entities must follow strict labor practices based on International Labour Organization (ILO) standards, including no child labor, safe working conditions, and fair wages.
Environment & Quality: Wastewater treatment is mandatory for wet-processing, and products must meet technical quality parameters.
ZQ Merino is a wool certification premier, ethical, and sustainable developed by The New Zealand Merino Company. The five core pillars of ZQ certification are:
Animal Welfare: Sheep are free-range, and the standard adheres to the "Freedoms," including a strict ban on mulesing (a painful, preventative surgery) and live export.
Environmental Sustainability: Farmers must have a land management plan to protect ecosystems and ensure sustainable farming.
Social Responsibility: The program ensures safe working conditions and fair wages for the people behind the sheep.
Fiber Quality: Wool must meet high standards for strength, fineness, and consistency to create premium, durable apparel.
Traceability: ZQ wool can be traced directly from the farm to the finished garment.
SustainaWOOL Integrity Scheme incorporated into the Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme (AWSS), which is managed by the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX). It is an industry-led, on-farm certification program designed to ensure high standards of sustainability, animal welfare, and traceability for Australian wool.
Types of Certification (AWSS)
SustainaWOOL (Scheme Code 'SW'): This is for wool produced from properties that do not practice breech modification (non-mulesed/ceased-mulesed).
ResponsiWOOL (Scheme Code 'RE'): This is for wool produced from properties that continue to manage flystrike risk through mulesing, but strictly use authorized pain relief during the process.
ISO certifications this one works in company’s management system, product, or service complies with global best practices for quality, safety, and efficiency.
ISO 9001:2015 - Quality Management System (QMS): Ensures consistent product quality and customer satisfaction.
ISO 14001:2015 - Environmental Management System (EMS): Focuses on minimizing environmental impact, waste reduction, and legal compliance.
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 - Information Security Management System (ISMS): Protects sensitive data, ensuring confidentiality and security.
ISO 45001:2018 - Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S): Provides a framework for reducing workplace injuries and improving safety.
ISO 22000:2018 - Food Safety Management System (FSMS): Ensures safety throughout the food chain, from farm to fork.
ISO 13485:2016 - Medical Devices: Ensures quality management specifically within the medical device industry.
ISO 50001:2018 - Energy Management: Helps organizations improve energy performance and efficiency.
ISO/IEC 42001:2023 - Artificial Intelligence (AI): Provides guidelines for AI management systems
The certifications are costly, and their prices aren't clearly outlined. One reason is that you decide how extensively you want to examine your processes. Lack of transparency in information isn't sustainable. Many companies are striving to obtain these certifications, which I find valuable because they are expensive and not permanent. These certifications help improve our processes by providing guidelines based on thorough testing. However, we can build trust without them by being transparent about our products and offering images and detailed information. When you encounter these certifications, refer to this list to understand their significance.
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