Cotton grown using conventional agricultural practices, which may include synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
Cotton is a natural, breathable fibre but can have a high water and chemical footprint depending on farming methods.

A synthetic fibre made from fossil-fuel-based resources. Polyester is durable and versatile but relies on non-renewable inputs and can shed microfibres during washing.

Polyester produced using recycled plastic, commonly post-consumer bottles. It reduces plastic waste and
demand for virgin polyester and is commonly verified through recycled content certifications.

A strong, lightweight synthetic fibre derived from petrochemicals. It is highly durable but energy-intensive to produce and not biodegradable.

Nylon made from recycled pre- or post-consumer waste such as disused fishing nets. It supports circular material use and reduces reliance on virgin fossil resources.

A synthetic fibre often used as an alternative to wool. It is lightweight and warm but fossil fuel-based and associated with microfibre shedding.

A synthetic fibre known for exceptional stretch and recovery. Used in small amounts to improve comfort and fit but can limit recyclability of a product when blended with other materials.

A regenerated fibre made from wood pulp using chemical processing. Environmental impact depends heavily on responsible forestry certification and chemical management.

Viscose produced using recycled cellulose or textile waste. An emerging innovation supporting circularity, currently limited in scale and availability.

A type of regenerated cellulose fibre derived from wood pulp. Known for softness and durability, with sustainability dependent on sourcing and processing.

A regenerated fibre made from wood pulp using a closed-loop production process. Often associated with lower environmental impact compared to conventional viscose.

A natural fibre obtained from sheep fleece. Renewable and biodegradable when responsibly sourced, with animal welfare considerations.

Down is a natural insulation material taken from the soft under-feathers of ducks or geese. It’s valued for its warmth without weight, and its ability to regulate temperature. When sourced responsibly, down can be a long-lasting, effective insulation material, with its impact shaped by animal welfare practices and supply chain transparency.

A blend of polyester and cotton fibres. Combines comfort and durability but is more difficult to recycle due to mixed fibre composition.

Synthetic fibres incorporating CICLO® additive technology designed to reduce fibre persistence in environments where biodegradation can occur at end of life. This does not mean fibres are biodegradable in all conditions.

A certification that covers organic fibre content as well as environmental and social criteria throughout textile processing. Providing assurance that organic textiles meet strict requirements for chemical use, environmental management, and working conditions. GOTS has a minimum content requirement of 70% organic cotton to qualify.

Verifies the presence and amount of organic material in a product. It tracks organic content through the supply chain but does not assess chemical use, environmental impact, or social conditions. OCS allows from 5% - 100% organic content to be certified.

Better Cotton is a programme that supports more sustainable cotton farming using a mass balance system. This means Better Cotton can be mixed with conventional cotton in the supply chain, while the equivalent volume supports Better Cotton farmers and initiatives.

New standard launched in 2025. Defines how physical Better Cotton is tracked through the supply chain,
includes physical Better Cotton models with increased traceability.

GRS certifies recycled material content while also addressing environmental management, chemical use,
and social practices. It provides a higher level of assurance for recycled textiles compared to content-only
standards with a minimum of 50% recycled content criteria.

Verifies the presence and amount of recycled material in a product. It focuses on content verification and does not include broader environmental or social requirements. RCS allows 5–100% organic content to be certified.

Fairtrade is a certification that supports fair prices, better working conditions and environmental protection for farmers and workers. In textiles, it is most commonly associated with cotton sourced under Fairtrade standards.

A product safety certification that tests textiles and textile components for harmful substances, confirming that materials or finished products have been tested against strict limits for chemicals that may pose a risk to human health. The certification focuses on product safety and does not assess environmental or social manufacturing practices.

Certifies chemicals, dyes and auxiliaries used in textile production. It confirms that chemical products meet strict requirements for environmental protection, health and safety, helping to reduce risks before manufacturing begins.

Identifies textiles that have been tested for harmful substances and produced in environmentally and socially responsible facilities. The certification combines product safety with responsible manufacturing and allows consumers to trace where and how a product was made.

A certification for textile and apparel production facilities, assessing environmental management, chemical handling, worker safety and social responsibility, focusing on improving manufacturing processes rather than individual products.

A system that focuses on chemical management, resource efficiency and worker safety in textile production. It aims to reduce environmental impact and improve safety throughout manufacturing processes.

FSC® certifies responsible forest management. It is relevant for forest-based fibres and packaging, helping to support responsible sourcing of wood-based materials. Fibre examples in textiles can include Viscose, Modal, Lyocell and Bamboo.

PETA-Approved Vegan and Eve Vegan, and independent Vegan Tested, certify that products are made without animal-derived materials or by-products. They support transparency for customers seeking animal-free products.

A synthetic fibre designed to reduce environmental impact compared to conventional acrylic. It uses a blend of recycled and virgin materials and is intended to lower resource use during production.

TENCEL™ is a branded fibre by Lenzing, including Lyocell and modal fibres. It indicates controlled sourcing, processing and traceability for regenerated cellulosic fibres.

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is a programme that promotes transparency and continuous improvement in U.S. cotton production. It uses data-driven reporting to support more responsible cotton sourcing.

The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certifies wool sourced from farms that meet animal welfare, land management, and social requirements. It promotes responsible sheep welfare practices and ensures traceability throughout the supply chain.

The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) ensures that down and feathers are sourced from animals treated responsibly. It prohibits practices such as live-plucking and force-feeding and requires traceability throughout the supply chain, from farm to final product.

The Ethical Trading Initiative is an alliance that promotes respect for workers’ rights through the ETI Base Code. Supporting ethical working conditions across global supply chains.

Sedex is a platform for sharing ethical supply chain data, while SMETA is a widely used social audit methodology. Together they help assess labour standards, health and safety, environmental practices and business ethics.

A system that supports continuous improvement in local labour laws, fair wages, working conditions and all other social topics. It focuses on monitoring, training and capacity building within supply chains.

SA8000 is a certification standard focused on workplace conditions and labour rights, covering areas such as child labour, working hours, health and safety, and freedom of association.

A certification programme focused on promoting lawful, humane and ethical manufacturing. It assesses workplace conditions across areas such as labour standards, health and safety, and compliance with local laws.

Facility and Merchandise Authorization (FAMA) confirms that a factory is approved to manufacture products for specific licence holders after meeting defined ethical, labour and safety requirements. FAMA is not a stand-alone certification or audit, but works alongside recognised social compliance audits and authorises factories to produce licensed goods, provided compliance standards are maintained.

The Fair Labor Association is an organisation that promotes fair labour practices. It works with brands and suppliers through standards, audits and remediation programmes.

A legally binding agreement focused on building and fire safety in garment factories. It aims to protect worker safety through independent inspections and remediation.

Cascale (previously The Sustainable Apparel Coalition) is an industry alliance working to reduce environmental and social impacts in apparel. It developed tools such as the Higg Index to measure sustainability performance.

Brand-led compliance systems used to assess supplier performance. They often complement third-party audits but can vary in scope and approach.

Modern slavery refers to severe exploitation such as forced labour and human trafficking, while living wage relates to fair pay that meets basic living needs. Both are key human rights considerations within responsible supply chains.

EcoVadis is a globally recognised platform provides sustainability ratings for businesses. It assesses environmental practices, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.

A voluntary initiative encouraging businesses to align with principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

B Corp Certification assesses a company’s overall social and environmental performance. It measures accountability, transparency and impact across the business.