A claim needs a named standard
Fair trade language can refer to different certification programs and supply-chain commitments. Check the exact mark, issuer and scope before assuming a garment’s entire production chain has been verified.
Cotton and textile marks differ
Fairtrade International distinguishes its Cotton Mark from its Textile Production Mark. A certified cotton input and a certified textile production chain answer different questions.
Questions to ask
- Which certification applies to this specific product?
- Does it cover the fiber, processing or finished textile?
- Which supply-chain stages are included?
- How can the claim be verified?
- What does the standard require and what remains outside its scope?
Do not merge unrelated programs
Membership in an industry organization is not automatically the same as product certification under a fair trade standard. Likewise, organic content, recycled content and harmful-substance testing have different meanings.
Use evidence when comparing products
Review the issuer’s own standard and the product’s labeling rather than relying only on ethical or sustainable wording. Costs, availability and performance depend on the product and market.See Fairtrade International’s explanation of its marks for the distinction.Explore more textile sustainability guides to compare other material and processing claims.