Big List Of Ethical Labels & Certifications
Ethical shopping is confusing! Bookmark this big list of ethical and eco-friendly labels and certifications so that you know what to look for.
Each listed label or certification has a logo that you should look for when shopping!
Use this guide when you are shopping through the brands and marketplaces in our ethical brand directory here.
Thanks to some of my favorite ethical living resources that made this list possible. I’ve reorganized the information in a way that makes sense for me so that I can use it as my personal reference page.
What the certification signifies: a brand or company does not use microplastic ingredients in any of their products.
What gets certified? Cosmetic and personal care brands
Found at: Internationally! Already in over 15 countries.
What the certification signifies: a textile has met the wholistic standards that cover the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, trading, and distribution of all textiles made from at least 70% certified organic natural fibers. The textiles has also met a certain set of environmental standards (toxicity, wastewater, etc.) as well as social criteria in accordance with the International Labor Organization.
What gets certified? Any textiles (clothing, bedding, towels, and raw fabrics and fibers)
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: a raw material, fabric, textile, or end-product adheres to the Standard 100 which tests for substances like toxic chemicals that are harmful to humans.
What gets certified? Raw materials, fabrics, and textiles, and ready-made goods like apparel, accessories, and home goods. Full directory of certified products directory here
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: a product made from cotton comes from a committed BCI Member who pays into the program and who is sourcing at least 5% of their cotton as Better Cotton to start, with a plan to be sourcing at least 50% of their cotton as Better Cotton within five years.
What gets certified? Anything made of cotton.
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: a product made with textiles was produced in a way that is safe for both humans and the environment
What gets certified? Anything made with textiles
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: a product received an achievement level (Basic, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) in each of the five categories: material health, material reutilization, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness.
NOTE: The overall product label is whichever category has the lowest level (for example, if a product has a platinum in the water stewardship category but a silver in social fairness, then the overall product level is silver).
What gets certified? Any textiles (clothing, bedding, towels, and raw fabrics and fibers)
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: a trader, manufacturer, or brand produces or sells leather products and has been approved and/or rated (Gold, Silver, or Bronze) based on the environmentally-conscious productions standards set by LWG
What gets certified? Traders and manufacturers/tanneries in the leather industry. (Members are brands that use LWG-approved traders and manufacturers). Here is a full list
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: a non-food product is sourced from the organic raw material of a strict chain custody system provided by the OCS
What gets certified? Any non-food product
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: a food product or textile ingredient meets strict standards set by the US government in their growing and harvesting process
What gets certified? Food products and ingredients used in textiles, like cotton or wool.
Found at: The United States
What the certification signifies: a food, personal care, appliance, apparel, or other commercial good is made while ensuring human and environmental safety
What gets certified? Everything from drinking water and water filters, commercial foodservice equipment, nutritional supplements, private label goods, personal care items, home appliances, and clothing.
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: It depends on the 3 different labels:
Details:
What gets certified? Forests, supply chains, retailers, and wood or tree-based end products. In the fashion world, it’s more so packaging and cellulosic fibers made from trees, such as rayon, viscose, lyocell, modal, and Tencel.
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: a farm, food, beauty product, or other good comply with ROC’s standards in animal welfare, fairness for farmers and workers, and soil health and land management
What gets certified? Farms, food, beauty products, apparel, and other goods.
Found at: At the moment, mostly the U.S.
What the certification signifies: Certified wool comes from animals that were raised in such a way that more carbon was stabilized than emitted!
What gets certified? Apparel, accessories, and home goods made with wool
Found at: The United States
What the certification signifies: For textiles, the ECOCERT label means the fabric is either GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), OCS (Organic Content Standard), and/or Ecological & Recycled Textiles (Ecocert Standard) certified.
What gets certified? Food products, cosmetics, raw materials, detergents, and textiles.
Found at: Internationally! ECOCERT has accreditation bodies in Europe, the United States, and Japan.
What the certification signifies: the brand or product has signed PETA’s statement of assurance verifying that their product is vegan
What gets certified? apparel, accessories, home goods, and cosmetics
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: no animals were harmed in personal care and beauty products
What gets certified? apparel, accessories, home goods, and cosmetics
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: a factory or organization that makes goods has been socially certified for adhering to SAI’s labor standards that align with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Labour Organization (ILO)
What gets certified? The factories and organizations that make your goods
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: a factory that makes goods was audited in categories such as forced labor, benefits, and discrimination, and then given a platinum, gold, or silver certification
What gets certified? The factories where goods are made
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: An artisan-made good, like apparel, accessories, furniture, and home goods, is compliant across a matrix of 130 standards that ensure ethical working standards for the various types of labor used to make the product – such as in-home labor, migrant labor forces, and more.
What gets certified? Artisan-made goods like apparel, accessories, furniture, and home goods
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: a consumable product or ingredient meets the strict industry-specific standards of Fairtrade International. The standards include factors like fair wages, safe working conditions, and supply chain transparency, all audited by FLOCERT (see below):
What gets certified? Mostly consumable products and ingredients
Found at: Internationally! Fair Trade International Certified products come from around the globe.
What the certification signifies: a product or ingredient has been audited and certified by Fair Trade International through FLOCERT
What gets certified? Mostly consumable products and ingredients.
Found at: Internationally! FLOCERT works with companies around the world.
What the certification signifies: an ingredient or end-product follows the labor standards and environmental standards of the Fair Trade USA standards
What gets certified? Ingredients and end products in clothing, food, beauty products, flowers, supplements, shoes, and home goods
Found at: Internationally! Fair Trade USA is based in the United States, but sources from countries around the world.
What the certification signifies: an Australian textile, clothing, or footwear business’s supply chains are legally compliant
What gets certified? Textiles, apparel, shoes
Found at: Australia (on Australian brands)
The certifications below take a holistic approach to address the ethical and sustainable aspects of an entire company.
What the certification signifies: a company has been certified and measured for its entire social and environmental performance, from supply chain and input materials to employee benefit and more!
What gets certified? For-profit businesses (not individual products) in pretty much any industry
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: a brand has met the Eco-Age Principles for Sustainable Excellence and has been verified by Eco-Age
What gets certified? Fashion brands that show a commitment to ethical, social, and environmental behavior
Found at: Internationally!
What the certification signifies: a manufacturer or producer is verified under RSPO standards in producing sustainable palm oil and palm kernel oil.
What gets certified? Palm oil producers
Found at: Internationally!
The following organizations are not true certifications (but you will see their labels on products). Instead, these are membership networks, rating systems, or other types of resources for businesses, brands, and/or consumers. This difference is important because most certifications (unless otherwise noted, as with PETA’s certifications) require some sort of regular third-party verification in order to ensure strict accountability.
What the label signifies: a company is adhering to ETI’s Base Code, which ensures that works have freely chosen their employment, are being paid fairly, are working in safe conditions, and more
What gets certified? Global companies, international trade union bodies, specialized labor rights organizations, and charities
Found at: Internationally!
What the label signifies: There isn’t a Canopy label right now, but they recommend looking for the FSC certification label (see above)
What gets certified? Brands that use materials from forests, like paper or fabrics, who are committed to working toward more sustainable solutions
Found at: There isn’t a Canopy label as of right now, but they recommend looking for the FSC certification label (see above).
What the label signifies: a company or product has been accurately measured and scored on its sustainability performance
What gets certified? products, brands, retailers, manufacturers, governments, and NGOs can use The Higg Index
Found at: Internationally!
What the label signifies: a company went through 5 major components which verified that it is mission-led, providing solutions to broader issues – like overuse of natural resources, women’s empowerment, refugee livelihoods, human rights, inequality and sustainable farming
What gets certified? The companies (not the product)
Found at: Internationally!
What the label signifies: a company meets strict ethical standards – like safe working conditions, living wages, and environmental stewardship
What gets certified? The organization (not the product) in apparel, home goods, beauty products, musical instruments, food and drink, and more
Found at: Mostly US and Canada because FTF companies are North American based but FTF companies also source from around the world
What the label signifies: a company or supplier completed a 2-3 year process & was successfully evaluated to ensure that the safety and health for their workers is compliant with the FLA Workplace Code of Conduct
What gets certified? A company’s supply chain (not the product)
Found at: Internationally!
What the label signifies: a garment brand, factory, trade union, NGO, or government is improving working conditions for garment workers
What gets certified? Apparel brands (not the product)
Found at: Internationally!
What the label signifies: a company of any shape or size from any industry is committed to giving back 1% of their gross sales to help the planet
What gets certified? Any business or organization who has committed to donating 1% of gross sales to environmental non-profits each year. Individuals can now be members of 1% For the Planet as well, by giving 1% of their annual salary to environmental nonprofits through monetary and/or volunteer support.
Found at: Internationally!
What the label signifies: which fashion brands are the “least” and “most” ethical and sustainable based on things like transparency, fair working conditions, environmental production practices, and animal welfare
What gets certified? Fashion brands
Found at: Internationally!
What the label signifies: the product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health. The product was verified for following these criteria:
What gets certified? cleaning products and personal care (baby, skin, hair, makeup, men’s, sun care, fragrances)
Found at: Internationally!
Did we miss any important certifications? Comment below or email us at hello @ humanofimpact.org and we will investigate and add to the list.
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