AA1000 are a set of three free to use standards that have been developed to improve the accountability, reporting and overall sustainability performance of an...

The Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety was an agreement designed to make all garment factories in Bangladesh safe workplaces. The Accord agreement included...

In May 2020, the Bangladesh RMG Sustainability Council (RMC) took over all the previous functions of the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building safety which was created...

Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for the Tanning of Hides and Skins provides a review of the Best Available Technology in the Tanning Industry across...

Updated in 2019, the bioRe label is operated by Swiss-based Remei Foundation, which defines the standards for bioRe Sustainable Cotton and subsequent bioRe Sustainable...

Focusing on consumer safety and the environment, the Swiss-based bluesign system examines natural resources and chemicals used in textile production, occupational health...

The Bra Miljöval standard was developed by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) and translates as ‘Good Environmental Choice’ in English. It is...

The reference documents on best available techniques (BREF) are a series of documents that reflect an information exchange in the European Union carried out according to...

A framework standard from the British Standards Agency (BSI) for implementing the principles of the circular economy within organisations.

The Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) is a non-profit organisation. It was set up as an initiative of the Foreign Trade Association in response to the debate...

The Water Quality Guidelines (WQG) are voluntary goals set by the non-profit business association, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR). The goal is to improve...

Established in 1989, Clean Clothes Campaign is a global network dedicated to improving working conditions and empowering workers in the global garment and sportswear industries. 

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a voluntary, international agreement between participating governments. It...

The standard is based on Chinese laws, regulations and relevant international conventions, and was first launched in 2005 by the China National Textile and Apparel...

Directive 94/11/EC is a legal act of the European Union concerning the labelling of materials used in footwear, including parts sold separately. The European Union has...

The EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) regulation is a management tool for companies and other organisations to evaluate, report and improve their environmental performance.

Energy Star is a joint voluntary programme of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that aims to help consumers save money...

The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is a tripartite multi-stakeholder organisation that aims to protect the rights of workers in supply chains and improve labour...

The European Ecolabel system allows the products of manufacturers, retailers or service providers to carry the distinctive ‘Flower’ label for marketing purposes...

It is often complicated for small and medium sized businesses to completely comply with environmental legislation and have a comprehensive vision of short and long term...

The European Union’s Thematic Strategy on Prevention and the Recycling of Waste is a long-term strategy which aims to help Europe become a recycling society that...

Established in 1999, the US-based Fair Labor Association (FLA) is a collaborative effort of socially responsible companies, universities, governments, labour rights...

The Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) is a Netherlands-based NGO, which works with companies in the textile industry to improve labour conditions and examines how brands are...

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is a voluntary, certified standard that covers all aspects of the production of all natural fibres of organic status including...

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) addresses input material verification, chain of custody, environmental principles, social requirements, and labelling for textile...

The standard is awarded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to textile manufacturers who have passed certain social and...

The Higg Index, is a suite of sustainability self-assessment tools developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition to assess the manufacturing, brand and product impacts...

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) campaigns to improve rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen...

ISO 14001 is a world wide standard of an environmental management system that assists various types of industry organisations to improve their overall environmental performance.

BSI (the British Standards Institute) has launched ISO 20400:2017 Sustainable procurement – guidance. Designed to assist organisations to meet their sustainability...

IVN is one of four members of the International Working Group for the Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS), and also supplies its own standard – the ‘Naturtextil...

LEED, whose name originates from the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was launched in March 2000 by the US Green Building Council.

Made in Green by Oeko-Tex is a traceable label for textiles tested for harmful substances and the use of sustainable production practices and technologies through the manufacturing process.

Nirapon is a self-regulatory body that provides factory building and fire safety monitoring, oversight and reporting services in Bangladesh for its members.

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100, introduced in 1992, is a global uniform testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate products and end products at...

Based on the Detox campaign launched by Greenpeace in 2011 (and mothballed in 2019), this tool aims to exclude the 13 potentially hazardous chemicals from textile...

Sustainable Textile Production (STeP) is an Oeko-Tex certification system for brands, retail companies and manufacturers from the textile chain who want to communicate...

The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) is a voluntary material content claim standard that tracks recycled raw materials through the supply chain to give credibility to...

The Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS) is an international, voluntary standard that ensures alpaca wool is responsibly sourced from farmers with high animal welfare...

SA8000 is a widely recognised social certification standard that ensures decent labour conditions and protects the basic human rights of employees across all industrial sectors.

Superior Energy Performance  is a certification program from the U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing that provides industrial facilities with a roadmap for...

The United States Department of Agriculture administers the BioPreferred Program, which was created by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA or...

Launched in 2011 as the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Group (ZDHC), this initiative has shifted away from a focus on testing final product, to managing input...