Certifications and Standards

When selecting our brands we take the upmost care in ensuring they support people and the planet. To help us to decide whether to stock a brand at 69b we consider a number of factors:

Sourcing

	Certification	Notes
We request evidence of sustainably sourced cellulose-based fabric and wood.	FSC Canopy Certification	Cellulose based fabric refers to Tencel, Rayon and Viscose
If any animal products are used in the production and/or finished product has the brand signed up to any animal welfare audits	Wool Standard Leather Working Group Responsible Down Initiative
If plastic is used within the supply what steps are the company taking to recycle or eliminate plastic waste from the supply chain?	Recycled PET Plastic free

Manufacturing

	Certification	Notes
Are independent audits of every factory the brand sources from independently checked for employee’s welfare and health and safety?	Including local certifications, programs and partnerships
Is information published about your supply chain that will help NGOs do due diligence checks for Modern Day Slavery?	International Justice Mission (IJM)
Has steps been taken within the factories to ensure the employees have a right to unionise?	Unite
Is there proof that employees within their supply chain are earning a living wage?	Living Wage Coalition London Living Wage
Which policies are written into the supply chain code of conduct that protects women verbal, physical and sexual harassment?	International Labour Organisation (ILO) Action Aid

The Environment

Certification

Notes

Does the brand monitor their carbon footprint and publish annual reports of the carbon emissions of their entire supply chain?

The Carbon Trust

Carbon Footprint Standard

Certified Carbon Neutral Product

Does the brand have a restricted substance list and commitment to improving clean water within their supply chain?

OKEO-TEX

Fairtade

Better Cotton Initiative

Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS)

What does the brand do when items are:

A. Returned faulty?

B. Returned from an online order?

C. With pre and post-consumer waste?

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Global Recycled Standard

Reverso

Pre consumer waste including items made from off cuts

Post-consumer waste buy back schemes allowing brands to recycle fibres

Certifications Explained

These are some of the certifications and industry standards that we look out for when sourcing brands. It should be noted that adherence to these certifications can be expensive and sometimes it is not possible for smaller brands to use these certifications.

	The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognised as the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibres. It defines high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain and requires compliance with social criteria as well. Only textile products that contain a minimum of 70% organic fibres can become GOTS certified. All chemical inputs such as dyestuffs and auxiliaries used must meet certain environmental and toxicological criteria. The choice of accessories is limited in accordance with ecological aspects as well. A functional waste water treatment plant is mandatory for any wet-processing unit involved and all processors must comply with strict social criteria.
	Fair Wear Foundation (Fair Wear) is a multi-stakeholder organisation that works with garment brands, garment workers and industry influencers to improve labour conditions in garment factories. Receiving the Fair Wear stamp of approval does not guarantee any existing quality of labour standards, instead only demonstrating a stated interest in working toward improvement.
	OEKO-TEX labels support consumers in acting responsibly and making sustainable purchasing decisions. The product labels STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® and LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX® are available for textile and leather products that have been tested for harmful substances and which are safe from a human-ecological perspective. With the MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® label, you can identify textiles which have been tested for harmful substances and also manufactured under sustainable working conditions. The STeP by OEKO-TEX® certification and the DETOX TO ZERO analysis by OEKO-TEX® optimise the manufacturing process for ecological and socially responsible textile and leather production. The ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX® identifies environmentally friendly chemicals, auxiliaries and colourants used in the textile and leather industry.
	Fairtrade works by requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade tackles the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the most vulnerable. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives. With Fairtrade you have the power to change the world every day. With simple shopping choices you can get farmers a better deal. And that means they can make their own decisions, control their future and lead the dignified life everyone deserves.
	The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is a global not-for-profit organisation and the largest cotton sustainability programme in the world. BCI exists to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future.
	Sedex is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to improve ethical and responsible business practices in global supply chains. Sedex stands for Supplier Ethical Data Exchange, which is an online system that allows suppliers to maintain data on ethical & responsible practices and allows them to share this information with their customers.