Ethical Certifications to Know
If you’re reading this, you are probably already somewhat aware of the fact that the fast fashion industry is hopelessly tangled up with labor trafficking and environmental degradation. Maybe you’re tired of companies that are vague and evasive about their production processes, and you’re looking for fashion that is ethical and honest. Maybe you’ve even dipped a toe into the ethical fashion industry… and come away a little overwhelmed by all of the new lingo. Fairtrade, B-Corp, Global Organic Textile Standard––what do these even mean?
Here’s the thing: honesty comes with a lot of explanations, and this can be confusing. It doesn’t help that “ethical” is more of a spectrum than a category, so it is evaluated in a lot of different ways. We’re here to explain the most common labels and certifications so you can shop ethically, easier.
B-Corp
B-Corp, or B-Corporation, certifies companies that meet the “highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability.” Their mission is to redefine success and purpose in business, creating an economy that sustains the wellbeing of employees, communities and the environment. To be B-Corp certified, businesses have to achieve a minimum verified score across three categories: social and environmental impact, transparency and legal accountability that balances profit and purpose.
Fairtrade International
The Fairtrade Mark from Fairtrade International is the most well-known, global ethical certification. When this symbol is found on a product, you can trust that the product has been certified under rigorous environmental, social and economic standards. Fairtrade International works to ensure that small farmers and workers get fair deals for the goods they produce, rather than being taken advantage of by huge corporations. They also prohibit forced labor in all forms. It’s also important to note that this mark does not necessarily endorse a company’s entire business, but rather that the ingredients in a particular product have met ethical standards.
Fair Trade USA
Certification from Fair Trade USA is also trustworthy, if a little different. This certification is the most common in America. Fair Trade USA split from Fairtrade International in 2011 to work not only with small farmers and cooperatives (Fairtrade International’s main focus), but also with larger-scale farming and commercial production companies. Fair Trade USA focuses more on the clothing market than Fairtrade International (which is involved more specifically with the cotton industry). If a product is “Fair Trade Certified,” you can trust that the workers behind it have been paid fair “wages, work in safe conditions, protect the environment, and earn community development funds to improve their lives.”
World Fair Trade Organization
The World Fair Trade Organization (yes, another one!) certifies companies along much the same line. They fight poverty and inequality by evaluating supply chains. This certification label identifies products that meet WTFO’s 10 Fair Trade Principles. These correspond to ILO’s International Labor Standards.
Global Organic Textile Standard
The Global Organic Textile Standard, or GOTS, label certifies that a product has been made from at least 70% organic fibres and meets the Soil Association standards. It also designates producers that have used organic practices to create the textiles and uphold ILO labor standards.
Organic Content Standard Certifications
Similarly, Organic Content Standard Certifications (OCSC) verify the “presence and amount of organic fibre in an item of clothing.” This organization is also part of the Soil Association Certification group.
Bluesign
Bluesign is another common ethical textiles certification. It ensures that textile manufacturers produce in a way that is “safe for both humans and the environment.” They take into account things like water conservation, chemical usage and dye toxicity to protect everyone at every stage of the process.
These are just some of the labels you might see in the ethical fashion world––but if you do see them, you’re looking at the right stuff. You can also check out Dressember’s Ethical Fashion Directory, or look up brand ratings at Good On You’s directory featuring thousands of brands. Conscious consumerism takes some work, but it’s worth it.
About the Author
Emmy Luker is a writer and MDiv candidate at Fuller Theological Seminary. She is passionate about speaking and writing about what is true, and doing it in a way people can and want to hear. Originally from Colorado, she is a big fan of alpine views and mountain hikes, but she is learning to love the wind and the lake as a recent transplant in Chicago.