What do those fabric labels and certificates mean?

Fabrics are often labelled with different eco-labels, each with different meanings and goals. But what do all these labels and abbreviations mean? Allow us to explain.

BCI stands for Better Cotton Initiative­™ a global non-profit organisation aiming to make traditional cotton production more sustainable. 

The BCI mission is to help cotton communities survive and thrive while protecting and restoring the environment.

Because we know the world doesn’t just need cotton, it needs Better Cotton.

• Better for farms and farmers, whose investment in sustainability - improving soil health, water management, greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilience - is recognised and rewarded.
• Better for farming communities in 23 countries, where more than 2 million farmers now have a licence to sell their cotton as Better Cotton.
• Better Cotton isn’t just a commodity. It’s the movement that already produces nearly a quarter of the world’s cotton under the Better Cotton Standard. It’s the opportunity to be part of something better.

FSC® is an international non-profit labelling scheme for paper and wood.

In an FSC forest, no more trees are felled than the forest can reproduce, and animals and plant life are protected.

In addition, people working in the forest are trained for their specific jobs and receive proper safety equipment and pay.

GRS stands for ‘Global Recycled Standard’ and is the international non-profit organisation Textile Exchange’s standard for textile products containing at least 20% recycled material.

For example, plastic bottles are primarily used to make our recycled polyester (rPET) – a fabric with CO2 emissions reduced by 32% in polyester production compared to non-recycled polyester.

GRS covers the entire production chain and aims to increase the use of recycled materials in products to protect the environment from harmful production.

GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. It is an internationally recognised standard that was introduced in 2006. 

GOTS ensures the organic status of textiles from the harvesting of the raw materials through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing to labelling to provide credible assurances to the consumer.

The standard covers the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, trading and distribution of all textiles made from at least 70% certified natural organic fibres.

OEKO-TEX® is one of the best-known labels for textiles and textile products, such as clothing.

Products with a STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certificate, are tested for harmful substances. 

Therefore, the OEKO-TEX®- certification guarantees that textiles do not contain chemicals harmful to your health and to the environment. 

EcoVeroTM fabric is a sustainable alternative to viscose.

It is derived from FSC or PFEC certified raw materials and thus comes from sustainable forestry, where biodiversity, wildlife and working conditions are properly accounted for.

The production process for EcoVero™viscose has a much smaller impact on the environment than traditional viscose. It actually has substantially lower emissions and an energy and water consumption of up to 50% less.

Lyocell is a material produced from wood, which is broken down via a chemical process and then spun into textile fibres.

It is primarily made from eucalyptus, which is a type of wood that grows rapidly and can take root in places where other trees have a harder time growing.

The production of lyocell takes place in a closed system. This means that no wastewater effluents are released in the environment and virtually all chemicals and water are recycled. Approximately half as much water is used for the production of lyocell compared to the production of cotton.

The method of converting plant fibres into textile fibres originated from the viscose production process. Unlike the lyocell process, the viscose process does not need to take place in a closed system. Chemicals and the recycling/treatment of wastewater are therefore not subject the same restrictions.

This type of wool is spun from fibres derived from old and used garments made of 100% cashmere, which is washed, sorted by colour, torn and cut into small pieces.

By recycling cashmere that already exists, we protect the environment from chemicals and reduce the massive water consumption that would otherwise have been necessary.

Suppliers of recycled cashmere are subject to the GRS (Global Recycled Standard), which, i.a., enforces regulations regarding the quantity of recycled material, production and working conditions.