Certificates
We take our production principles very seriously. This is why we have chosen to work with only natural materials produced in the best environments under the best circumstances. Our current production includes organic cotton, conventional cotton and linen.
Our products carry a series of certificates, which can be confusing even for the most passionate environmentalist. It is imperative to our company that our production remains environmentally conscious with a focus on sustainability. We have absolutely zero tolerance for child labor and will under no circumstances work with factories that have poor social responsibility policies.
Below, you will find a list of the certificates we work with here at Penoora's. We make sure that all our partner's certificates are up to date and valid.
Oeko-Tex Standard 100
The STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® is an independent testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of production. This means that:
- Production of all types of textile products which are safe from a human-ecological point of view
- Facilitate and accelerate delivery relationships for manufacturers and retailers wishing to offer their customer's product safety.
- Reliable product labelling for consumers who place great emphasis on textiles that are safe and harmless to health.
- Legal conformity for importers, retailers, and manufacturers.
GOTS (The Global Organic Textile Standard)
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the world’s leading textile processing standard for organic fibers. This includes ecological and social criteria compliance regulated and backed-up by independent certification of the entire supply chain.
Fiber production
- Certification of fibers from conversion period is possible if the applicable farming standard permits such certification
- A textile product carrying the GOTS label grade ‘organic’ must contain a minimum of 95% certified organic fibers whereas a product with the label grade ‘made with organic’ must contain a minimum of 70% certified organic fibers.
Environmental Criteria
- At all processing stages, organic fiber products must be separated from conventional fiber products and must be clearly identified
- All chemical inputs (e.g. dyes, auxiliaries and process chemicals) must be evaluated and meet basic requirements on toxicity and biodegradability/limitability
- Ban on critical inputs such as toxic heavy metals, formaldehyde, aromatic solvents, functional nano particles, genetically modified organisms (GMO) and their enzymes
- The use of synthetic sizing agents is restricted; knitting and weaving oils must not contain heavy metals
- Bleaches must be based on oxygen (no chlorine bleaching)
- Azo dyes that release carcinogenic amine compounds are prohibited
- Discharge printing methods using aromatic solvents and plastisol printing methods using phthalates and PVC are prohibited
- Restrictions for accessories (e.g. no PVC, nickel or chrome permitted, all polyester must be post-consumer recycled from 2014 onwards)
- All operators must have an environmental policy including target goals and procedures to minimize waste and discharges
- Wet-processing units must keep full records of the use of chemicals, energy, water consumption and wastewater treatment, including the disposal of sludge. The wastewater from all wet-processing units must be treated in a functional waste water treatment plant
- Packaging material must not contain PVC. From 1 January 2014 onwards, any paper or cardboard used in packaging material, hang tags, swing tags etc. must be post-consumer recycled or certified in accordance with FSC or PEFC
Technical Quality and Human Toxicity Criteria
- Technical quality parameters must be met (such as rubbing, perspiration, light and washing fastness and shrinkage values)
- Raw materials, intermediates, final textile products as well as accessories must meet stringent limits in regard to unwanted residues
Minimum Social Criteria
All processors and manufacturers must meet minimum social criteria based on the key norms of the International Labour Organization (ILO). They must implement social compliance management with defined elements to ensure that the social criteria can be met. The applicable key conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) listed must be used as the relevant basis for interpretation for adequate implementation and assessment of the following social criteria topics.
- Employment is freely chosen
- C29 - Forced Labour Convention
- C105 - Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
- Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected
- C87 - Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention
- C98 - Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention
- C135 - Workers' Representatives Convention
- C154 - Collective Bargaining Convention
- Working conditions are safe and hygienic
- C155 - Occupational Safety and Health Convention
- Child labor must not be used
- C138 - Minimum Age Convention
- C182 - Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
- Living wages
- C95 - Protection of Wages Convention
- C131 - Minimum Wage Fixing Convention
- Working hours are not excessive
- C1 - Hours of Work (Industry) Convention
- C14 - Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention
- C30 - Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices) Convention
- C106 - Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention
- No discrimination is practiced
- C100 - Equal Remuneration Convention
- C111 - Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
- Regular employment is provided
- C158: Termination of Employment Convention
- C175: Part-time Work Convention
- C177: Homework Convention
- C181 Private Employment Agencies Convention
- Harsh or inhumane treatment is prohibited
- C29 - Forced Labour Convention
- C105 - Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
Certification of the entire textile supply chain
- Fibre producers (farmers) must be certified according to a recognized international or national organic farming standard that is accepted in the country where the final product will be sold
- Certifiers of fiber producers must be internationally recognized according to ISO 65 and/or IFOAM accreditation. They also must be accredited to certify according to the applicable fiber standard
- Operators from post-harvest handling up to garment making and traders have to undergo an annual on-site inspection cycle and must hold a valid GOTS operational certificate applicable for the production/trade of the textiles to be certified
- Certifiers of processors, manufacturers and traders must be internationally accredited according to ISO 65 and must hold a ‘GOTS accreditation’ in accordance with the rules as defined in the ‘Approval Procedure and Requirements for Certification Bodies’
Surce: https://support.coyuchi.com/hc/en-us/articles/205437885-What-does-it-mean-to-be-GOTS-certified-