{"id":7617,"date":"2026-07-22T08:28:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T08:28:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.munichfabricstart.com\/areas\/resource\/certificates\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T07:25:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T07:25:38","slug":"certificates","status":"publish","type":"area","link":"https:\/\/www.munichfabricstart.com\/en\/areas\/resource\/certificates\/","title":{"rendered":"Certificates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n
\n

ReSource<\/p>\n

Certificates<\/h1>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n\n

There are countless certificates for labelling environmentally conscious fabrics and accessories. Textile certification is the means of guaranteeing a product\u2019s origin, specifications, quality level and\/or compliance with production, social and environmental standards. Above all, it is important to be able to assess what each certification stands for and which ones are particularly relevant for your own company. <\/p>\n

Here we present the best-known certificates, labels and textile standards that can be found in the ReSOURCE Area.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n<\/section>\n\n\n

<\/section>\n\n
\n\n
\n

FAQ<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n\n \n
\n
\n
\n\n

\n \n What are certifications?<\/span>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n <\/h4>\n\n \n
\n

A certification or seal is a mark created by an association or professional organization to guarantee the origin, characteristics, quality level, and\/or conformity of a product or company with predefined standards. It may only be used by manufacturers or brands that meet the specifications of the certifying body and have been verified accordingly. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\n

\n \n How does brand certification differ from supply chain certification?<\/span>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n <\/h4>\n\n \n
\n

The basic principles are the same, but their application and scope vary depending on the brand\u2019s business model.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\n

\n \n How do I obtain certification as a brand or supplier?<\/span>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n <\/h4>\n\n \n
\n

The initial application and the request for certification must be submitted to an approved certification body. Approved certifiers are tasked with the implementation of a certification quality assurance system and can answer individual questions regarding the testing and certification process. <\/p>\n

You will usually find a list of approved certifying bodies on the websites of the certification bodies themselves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
\n\n

\n \n When and why should my brand be certified?<\/span>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n <\/h4>\n\n \n
\n

This depends on whether or not you wish to make product-specific claims (labelling, product website, etc.) regarding your use of a standard. It also depends on whether or not your brand sells products through a retailer. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\n

\n \n I have received certified materials from my supplier. \u2028Can I then label my product with a standard?<\/span>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n <\/h4>\n\n \n
\n

If you are a brand that sells products directly to consumers, you may label your product with a standard logo\u2014provided the relevant aspect of your supply chain complies with the claims guide for the standard you are using. If you are a brand that sells products to retailers, you must therefore be certified if you wish to make a product-specific claim. Please also note that all applications for logo use and subsequent approval of graphics must be submitted through the relevant certification body. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\n

\n \n Why should I obtain a certificate or a standard?<\/span>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n <\/h4>\n\n \n
\n

Obtaining a certificate has several advantages: on the one hand, a label is a standardised, international communication tool that enables you to make your company\u2019s commitment tangible for consumers and communicate it through third-party validation. On the other hand, the certification process is based on an audit that provides recommendations on best practices for the continuous improvement of production methods. Choosing certification is a voluntary process that depends on your desire to demonstrate your commitment, your budget and your scope of activities. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n

<\/section>\n\n
\n\n \n
\n
\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

Bluesign<\/p>\n \n

\n

BLUESIGN stands for the vision and mission of responsible and sustainable textile manufacturing, making everyone's working and living conditions safer and more sustainable. Based on a holistic approach, BLUESIGN tracks each individual textile product along its production process and implements improvements at every stage. In its role as a solution provider and knowledge transfer agent, BLUESIGN acts as an independent assessor to ensure trust and transparency.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

GOTS \u2013 GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD<\/p>\n \n

\n

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the world\u2019s leading textile processing standard for organically produced natural textiles. GOTS stands for strict environmental and social criteria, backed by independent certification throughout the entire textile supply chain, from the field to the end product.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

NATURTEXTIL IVN BEST<\/p>\n \n

\n

Naturtextil IVN BEST stands for ecologically and socially responsible production at all stages of textile manufacturing. The certificate represents the highest level of socially responsible production, which excludes child labor or slavery, discrimination, and inhumane treatment, and ensures safe conditions and fair wages.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

NATURLEDER IVN<\/p>\n \n

\n

IVN Natural Leather stands for environmentally and socially responsible production at every stage of leather manufacture. IVN Natural Leather assesses every stage of the production chain, from the natural raw material \u2013 the animal hides \u2013 right through to the sale and use of the finished leather, but not the finished product itself.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

GRS \u2013 GLOBAL RECYCLED STANDARD<\/p>\n \n

\n

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) enables companies to capture the exact proportion of recycled material in a product and track it through the production chain, for ultimate product traceability and transparency\u2014including the use of additives and guidelines on environmental management and corporate social responsibility.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

CRADLE TO CRADLE<\/p>\n \n

\n

Cradle to Cradle (C2C) is a circular approach aimed at creating a continuous and consistent circular economy system. All C2C products are chemically safe and recyclable. Waste, as generated under the previous \u2018take-make-waste\u2019 model, will no longer exist; instead, there will only be useful nutrients.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX<\/p>\n \n

\n

STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX\u00ae is one of the best-known labels for textiles tested for harmful substances. If a textile product bears the STANDARD 100 label, you can be confident that all its components \u2013 including all threads, buttons and other accessories \u2013 have been tested for harmful substances and that the product is therefore safe for your health.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX<\/p>\n \n

\n

MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX\u00ae is a traceable product label for all types of textiles and leather articles across all pre-production stages, including accessory materials used. The MADE IN GREEN label provides proof that an article has been tested for harmful substances and produced using sustainable processes under socially responsible working conditions. Using a unique product ID on the label, you can trace in which countries and production facilities the labeled article was manufactured.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX<\/p>\n \n

\n

ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX\u00ae is an independent certification system for chemicals, dyes and auxiliaries used in the textile and leather industries. A multi-stage process is used to analyse whether each individual ingredient in the chemical products meets the legal requirements and does not pose a risk to human health.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX<\/p>\n \n

\n

The LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX\u00ae is a globally uniform testing and certification system for leather and leather accessory materials. The certification supports companies along the supply chain in implementing high human-ecological product safety.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

STeP by OEKO-TEX<\/p>\n \n

\n

STeP by OEKO-TEX\u00ae stands for Sustainable Textile & Leather Production and is a modular certification system for production facilities in the textile and leather industries. STeP aims to ensure the long-term implementation of environmentally friendly production processes, to improve health and safety at work, and to promote socially responsible working conditions in production facilities. The target group for STeP certification includes textile and leather manufacturers as well as brands and retail companies.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

GR\u00dcNER KNOPF<\/p>\n \n

\n

The Green Button is a government-issued label for sustainable textiles, designed to make it easy to identify clothing that is socially and environmentally sustainable. The Green Button sets out binding requirements to protect people and the environment. A total of 46 stringent social and environmental standards must be met \u2013 from wastewater limits to a ban on forced labour.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

EU ECOLABEL<\/p>\n \n

\n

The EU Ecolabel is the recognised EU environmental label. Introduced in 1992 by an EU regulation, this voluntary label is awarded to products and services that have a lower environmental impact than comparable products.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

FAIR WEAR<\/p>\n \n

\n

The Fair Wear Foundation works with companies in the textile industry that are committed to improving working conditions in the garment industry. Four main activities form the Fair Wear approach: brand performance reviews, audits, factory training, and complaint hotlines.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

SA8000 by SAI<\/p>\n \n

\n

The SA8000 certification scheme from Social Accountability International (SAI) provides organisations of all types, across all sectors and in every country, with a framework for conducting business in a fair and humane manner towards workers and for demonstrating their compliance with the highest social standards.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

FAIRTRADE TEXTILE PRODUCTION<\/p>\n \n

\n

Organisations, plantations and companies throughout the entire value chain adhere to the FAIRTRADE TEXTILE PRODUCTION Standard in the interests of sustainability and transparency. This includes social, environmental and economic criteria designed to ensure the sustainable development of producers in developing and emerging economies.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

EU ORGANIC LABEL<\/p>\n \n

\n

The EU organic logo indicates certified organic food that meets strict requirements regarding production, processing, transport and storage. The logo may only be used on products that contain at least 95 per cent organic ingredients and that also comply with further strict requirements for the remaining 5 per cent.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

BCI \u2013 Better Cotton<\/p>\n \n

\n

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) was created to improve global cotton production for workers and the environment, growing it better for the future of the industry. BCI stands for measurable and continuous improvement for the environment, farms and the economies of cotton producing regions.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

COTTON MADE IN AFRICA<\/p>\n \n

\n

Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) is an internationally recognised standard for sustainable cotton from Africa. Since 2005, CmiA has been committed to protecting the environment and improving working and living conditions for smallholder farmers and workers in ginning mills.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

OCS \u2013 ORGANIC CONTENT STANDARD<\/p>\n \n

\n

The Organic Content Standard 100 (OCS 100) and Organic Content Standard blended (OCS blended) applies to any non-food product containing 5-100% organic material. It verifies the presence and amount of organic material in a final product and tracks the flow of a raw material from its source to the final product.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

RCS \u2013 RECYCLED CLAIM STANDARD<\/p>\n \n

\n

The RCS is used as a chain-of-custody standard to ensure the traceability of recycled raw materials within a supply chain. Depending on the label grade, RCS offers two logo variants: RCS 100 (at least 95 per cent recycled content) or RCS Blended (at least 5 per cent recycled content).<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

RDS \u2013 RESPONSIBLE DOWN STANDARD<\/p>\n \n

\n

The independent, voluntary global standard, RDS, recognises and rewards best practice in animal welfare. The RDS was developed and refined over a period of three years, with the involvement of animal welfare organisations, industry experts, brands and retailers.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

RWS \u2013 RESPONSIBLE WOOL STANDARD<\/p>\n \n

\n

The RWS audits farming practices, thereby providing brand owners with the assurance that the wool\u2019s origin claims are accurate. The RWS is aimed at farmers involved in sheep\u2019s wool production and at companies that buy and sell products intended to contain RWS-certified wool.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

FSC \u2013 FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL<\/p>\n \n

\n

FSC certification for forest management confirms that the forest is managed in such a way as to preserve biodiversity, benefit the lives of local people and workers, and at the same time ensure economic viability.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

PEFC<\/p>\n \n

\n

PEFC Chain of Custody certification provides companies around the world with independently verified assurance that the certified forest-based material contained in a product comes from sustainably managed forests.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n

\n\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n\n
\n\n

V-LABEL<\/p>\n \n

\n

The V-Label is an internationally recognised and protected trademark used to identify vegetarian and vegan products. For consumers, the V-Label provides a simple and reliable guide, whilst businesses use the V-Label to ensure transparency and clarity.<\/p>\n \n View<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n

<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":7548,"menu_order":3,"template":"","class_list":["post-7617","area","type-area","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"teaser_grid_render_global":false,"teaser_grid_heading":"","teaser_grid_items":null,"news_heading":"News & Blog","news_link_text":"View all articles","news_topics":[],"two_col_heading":"","two_col_style":"default","two_col_disabled":false,"two_col_columns":[{"subtitle":"","title":"","text":"","buttons":null,"footnote":"","disabled":false}],"areas_heading":"","areas_variant":"collapsed","meta_title":"Textile Certifications & Labels Explained | MFS ","meta_description":"Which textile certifications and labels are available, and what do they stand for? An overview of the most important standards for sustainable fabrics and accessories. ","meta_image":"","canonical_url":"","meta_robots_noindex":false,"meta_robots_nofollow":false,"tile_title":"","thumbnail":{"media_type":"video","image":null,"video":{"source_type":"select_video_from_library","library":7550,"embed":null,"embed_video_options":[],"video_options":["autoplay","loop","muted"]}},"overlay_enabled":false,"overlay_opacity":40,"excerpt":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.munichfabricstart.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area\/7617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.munichfabricstart.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.munichfabricstart.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/area"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.munichfabricstart.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area\/7617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9917,"href":"https:\/\/www.munichfabricstart.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area\/7617\/revisions\/9917"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.munichfabricstart.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area\/7548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.munichfabricstart.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}