Pellacraft Blog

What's behind the certification?

Written by Sam Pella | Feb 19, 2021 10:31:09 AM

What's behind the certification?

As a company, we have super high standards for ourselves and our clients and, most importantly, for the people making our products.   There have been years and years building our knowledge base, keeping up with legislation, and learning about new initiatives within our supply chain so we thought that we would give you an insight into what the certification means!  Luckily it's an ongoing process, so we will keep updating you!

Many of our manufactures adhere to several internationally recognised industry standards and guidelines to ensure the ethical and social impacts of their actions are accounted for. Further insight into such initiatives is shown below; please refer to their respective websites for further information.

 

 

Ethical Trading Initiative

For more than 20 years, ETI and our members have been a driving force in ethical trade. We influence businesses to act responsibly and promote decent work. Taking a unique approach to business and human rights, our members are forward-thinking companies, trade unions, and NGOs. Together, we tackle the complex challenges of today’s global supply chains, improving the lives of workers worldwide.

 

www.ethicaltrade.org

 

 

BSCI - The Business Social Compliance Initiative

The Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) is a leading supply chain management system that supports companies to drive social compliance and improvements within the factories and farms in their global supply chains. BSCI implements the principle of international labor standards protecting workers’ rights.

 

www.bsci-intl.org

 

 

Fair Labor Association

Since 1999, FLA has helped improve the lives of millions of workers around the world. As a collaborative effort of socially responsible companies, colleges and universities, and civil society organizations, FLA creates lasting solutions to abusive labour practices by offering tools and resources to companies, delivering training to factory workers and management, conducting due diligence through independent assessments, and advocating for greater accountability and transparency from companies, manufacturers, factories and others involved in global supply chains.

 

www.fairlabor.org

 

 

FWF Fair Wear Foundation

Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) is a non-profit organisation that works with garment brands, factories, trade unions, NGOs, and governments to improve working conditions for garment workers in 11 production countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa.

 

www.fairwear.org

 

 

Fairtrade

By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses conventional trade's injustices, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

 

www.fairtrade.org.uk

 

 

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

The standard aims to define world-wide recognized requirements that ensure the organic status of textiles, from harvesting raw materials through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing to labeling to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer. Textile processors and manufacturers can export their organic fabrics and garments with one certification accepted in all major markets.

 

www.global-standard.org

 

 

ISO 9001: Quality management systems

ISO 9001:2015 specifies requirements for a quality management system when an organization needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements and aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

 

www.iso.org

 

 

OEKO-TEX®

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 thus safe from a human-ecological perspective. With the MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® label, you can identify textiles that 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.

 

www.oeko-tex.com

 

 

PETA - Approved Vegan

The “PETA - Approved Vegan” logo allows companies that sell apparel, accessories, furniture, or home decor to highlight their vegan offerings, helping consumers find animal-free products at a glance and make purchases that align with their values.

 

www.peta.org.uk

 

 

REACH Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals


REACH is a European Union regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and restriction of Chemicals. REACH has several aims: protection of human health and the environment from the use of chemicals, manufacturers, and importers responsible for understanding and managing the risks associated with their use, free movement of substances on the EU market, enhance innovation in and the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry and promote the use of alternative methods for the assessment of the hazardous properties of substances.

 

www.hse.gov.uk/reach

 

 

Sedex®

Sedex® is a global membership organisation dedicated to driving improvements in ethical and responsible business practices in global supply chains. Sedex® provides a range of tools, services, guidance, and training to help companies map and manage their supply chain risks.

 

www.sedexglobal.com

 

 

SAI - Social Accountability International: SA8000® Standard


Social Accountability International (SAI) is a global non-governmental organization advancing human rights at work. SAI’s vision is of decent work everywhere – sustained by an understanding that socially responsible workplaces benefit business while securing fundamental human rights.

 

www.sa-intl.org

 

 

Textile Exchange

Textile Exchange is a global non-profit that works closely with our members to drive industry transformation in preferred fibers, integrity and standards, and responsible supply networks. We identify and share best practices regarding farming, materials, processing, traceability, and product end-of-life to reduce the textile industry’s impact on the world’s water, soil and air, and the human population.

 

www.textileexchange.org

 

 

CWA The National Children’s Wear Association

The NCWA works on behalf of the whole of the children's wear industry. It monitors safety in the design of all aspects of children’s wear.

 

www.ncwa.co.uk

 

 

OCS - The Organic Content Standard

The Organic Content Standard (OCS) relies on third-party verification to verify a final product contains the accurate amount of a given organically grown material. It does not address the use of chemicals or any social or environmental aspects of production beyond the organic material's integrity. The OCS uses the chain of custody requirements of the Content Claim Standard (CCS).

 

www.soilassociation.org

 

 

UN Global Compact

UN Global Compact is a voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles on human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption and take actions that advance societal goals.

 

www.unglobalcompact.org

 

 

WRAP - Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production

The WRAP Certification program’s objective is to independently monitor and certify compliance with standards to ensure that sewn products are being produced under lawful, humane, and ethical conditions.  Their standards consist of: Compliance with Laws and Workplace Regulations, Prohibition of Forced Labour, Prohibition of Child Labour, Prohibition of Harassment or Abuse, Compensation and Benefits, Hours of Work, Prohibition of Discrimination, Health and Safety, Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, Environment, Customs Compliance, and Security.

 

www.unglobalcompact.org