We're helping you demystify sustainability lingo one term at a time. In this post, we've compiled a list of key sustainability definitions that every conscious consumer should know. Whether you're new to the sustainability scene or looking to deepen your understanding, our goal is to equip you with the knowledge you need to make informed choices and contribute to a greener, more sustainable world.

1. Bananatex

Bananatex® is the durable, technical fabric made purely from the naturally grown Abacá banana plants. Bananatex® was developed by Swiss bag brand and material innovators QWSTION in collaboration with a yarn specialist and a weaving partner, both based in Taiwan. Since its launch in October 2018, Bananatex® has been an open source project offering a circular alternative to the synthetic fabrics in the market. This new fabric has won a variety of international sustainability and design awards and was Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold in 2021.

Source: Bananatex

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2. Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)

The Better Cotton Initiative is a non-profit, multistakeholder governance group that promotes better standards in cotton farming and practices across 21 countries. As of 2017, Better Cotton accounts for 14% of global cotton production. The initiative promotes a holistic approach to sustainable cotton production helping cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting the restoring the environment.

Source: Better Cotton Initiative

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3. B Corp Certified

Certified B Corporations are for-profit companies certified by the non-profit B Lab that meet rigorous standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. To be B Corp Certified, a company must demonstrate high social and environmental performance by acheiving a B impact Assessment score of 80 or above, make a legal commitment by changing their corporate governance structure, and be transparent about their performance measurement against B Lab's standards.

Source: B Corp

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4. Bluesign

Bluesign labeled textiles and products are a sign that the products are responsibly manufactured from the chemical inputs to the final production using safer chemicals and fewer resources, including less energy in production. It is a certification to show the products and textiles have met the strictest standards throughout the supply chain.

Source: Bluesign

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5. Biobased Materials

Biobased materials refer to products that mainly consist of a substance (or substances) derived from living matter (biomass) and either occur naturally or are synthesized, or it may refer to products made by processes that use biomass. Following a strict definition, many common materials, such as paper, wood, and leather, can be referred to as biobased materials, but typically, the term refers to modern materials that have undergone more extensive processing.

Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency

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6. Biodegradable Packaging

Biodegradable means it is capable of decomposing rapidly by microorganisms under natural conditions (aerobic and/or anaerobic). Most organic materials, such as food scraps and paper are biodegradable, which means it can be broken down by naturally occuring microorganisms given enough time. Cardboard, is 100% biodegradable and can be recycled 5-7 times.

Source: European Environment Agency

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7. Bioplastics

Bioplastics are a type of plastic that can be made from renewable biomass sources such as vegetable fats and oil, corn starch, straw, woodchips, sawdust, recycled food waste and starches. Since bioplastics are plant-based products, the consumption of petroleum for the production of plastic is expected to decrease by 15–20% by 2025.

Source: ScienceDirect

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8. Botanical Dyes

Botanical dyes is a natural dyeing process useing plants. The staining properties of plants were noted by humans and have been used to obtain and retain these colors from plants throughout history. Natural dye materials produce durable, strong colors and do not require the addition of other substances to obtain the desired outcome are called substantive or direct dyes.

Source: United States Department of Agriculture

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9. Carbon Capture

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), also referred to as carbon capture, utilization and sequestration, is a process that captures carbon dioxide emissions from sources like coal-fired power plants and either reuses or stores it so it will not enter the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide storage in geologic formations includes oil and gas reservoirs, unmineable coal seams and deep saline reservoirs - structures that have stored crude oil, natural gas, brine and carbon dioxide over millions of years.

Source: United States Department of Energy

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10. Carbon Footprint

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions, from the production, use, and end-of-life of a product or service. The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. Globally, the average carbon footprint is closer to 4 tons.

Source: The Nature Conservancy

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11. Carbon Negative

Carbon Negative means removing CO₂ from the atmosphere, or sequestering more CO₂ than is emitted. This might include a bioenergy process with carbon capture and storage. A company, sector or country may be required to remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits by the government.

Source: The Conservation

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12. Carbon Neutral vs. Net Zero

Carbon neutrality means having a balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks. Carbon Neutral can be confused with Net Zero. To achieve net zero means to go beyond the removal of just carbon emissions. Net zero refers to all greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere, such as methane , nitrous oxide and other hydrofluorocarbons.

Source: European Parliament

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13. Carbon Offset vs. Carbon Credit

A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for an emission made elsewhere. The carbon offset scheme allows individuals and companies to fund environmental projects worldwide to compensate for emissions created. A carbon credit is a transferrable financial instrument certified by governments or independent certification bodies to represent an emission reduction that can then be bought or sold. Both offsets and credits are measure in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent.

Source: IPCC

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14. Certified Vegan by Vegan.org

The Certified Vegan Logo by Vegan.org is a registered trademark, for products that do not contain animal products or byproducts and that have not been tested on animals. The Certified Vegan Logo is administered by the Vegan Awareness Foundation (official name of Vegan Action), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Source: Vegan.org

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16. Circular Design

Circular design takes into account the reusability of products and materials. It requires us to redesign everything: products, business models, cities, and the linear systems that have lasted for the past centuries in the fight again the harmful fashion industry.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

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17. Circular Economy

A circular economy is an alternative to the traditional linear economy, where resources are taken, made into products, used, and then discarded (take-make-waste). A circular economy better manages resources to reduce waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and out of the landfill, and regenerate natural systems.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

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18. Closed-loop System

A closed loop system is one in which products are designed, manufactured, used and handled so as to circulate within society for as long as possible, with maximum usability, minimum adverse environmental impacts, minimum waste generation, and with the most efficient use of water, energy and other resources throughout their lifecycles.

Source: The Common Objective

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19. Climate Neutral Certified

Climate Neutral Certified is managed by the Change Climate Project, a NGO committed to setting standard for clear and immediate climate action. Climate Neutral Certified labeled companies measure all of last year's cradle-to-customer emissions, compensate for every tonne, start reducing emissions now, and set longer-term reduction targets, working towards decarbonizing across their entire business.

Source: Change Climate Project

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20. COSMOS NATURAL by Ecocert / Soil Association

COSMOS Natural standard, managed by a non-profit, international and independent association - the brussels based COSMOS-standard AISBL, ensures that the product is made from naturally sourced ingredients and does not contain Parabens and Phthalates, Synthetic colors, dyes, fragrances, and GM ingredients. The product does not need to contain any organic ingredients.

Source: Cosmos Natural by Ecocert

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21. COSMOS ORGANIC by Ecocert / IONIC / Soil Association

COSMOS ORGANIC certified cosmetic products meet the standards of the required percentage of organic content, production, environmental management, and marketing claims. There are 12 authorised Certification Bodies based in Europe, Australia and Asia offering world-wide COSMOS certification including EcoCert, IONIC and Soil Association.

Source: Cosmos Organic by Ecocert

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22. Compostable

Compostable materials can be breaken down completely into their basic parts. In a circular economy, composting can be used to convert food by-products and other biodegradeable materials into compost, which can be used as a soil enhancer. Packaging that is labeled as compostable should be disposed of in a compost bin.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Elevate Packaging

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23. Conscious Consumer

At ConsiderBeyond, we define a conscious consumer as who considers what happens before, during, and after their purchases. Conscious consumers are more aware of how their consumption impacts our society and the environment. One of the ways to be a more conscious consumer is to shop for products and services that have a more positive social and environmental impact than negative.

Source: ConsiderBeyond

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24. Conscious Consumption

Conscious consumption means engaging in the economy with more awareness of how your consumption impacts society at large.

Source: PWC

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25. Cradle to Cradle (Certified)

Cradle-to-cradle is one of the several “lifecycle models” that guide the scope and methodology of Life Cycle Assessments. Cradle to Cradle Certified® is the standard used globally across industries by designers, brands and manufacturers for designing and making products that enable a healthy, equitable and sustainable future. The certification assesses the materials or products across five sustainability performances: material health, product circularity, clean air, climate protection, water, soil stewardship, and social fairness.

Source: Cradle-to-Cradle Products Innovation Institute

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26. Cruelty-free

Cruelty-free products are not tested on animals. The Leaping Bunny Program certifies a product as 100% cruelty-free if it has no new animal testing in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories, or ingredient suppliers.

Source: The Leaping Bunny

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27. Desserto

Desserto is a sustainable leather alternative made from cactus, specifically, prickly pear. This alternative fabric was developed with nopal (a cactus) in 2019 in Milan, Italty by Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez.The main benefits of this plant-based alternative are CO2 absorption capabilities and the durability of cactus to survive in barren landscapes.

Source: Desserto

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28. Deforestation

Deforestation is the clearing of forests for the use of land for agriculture and animal grazing, trees for timber, manufacturing, and construction. Deforestation can result in an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as trees naturally take in CO2 through photosynthesis. Slash and Burn agriculture which contributes largely to deforestation, results in more carbon dioxide being released into the air when the trees are burned. Deforestation also threatens the world's biodiversity as many forests, particularly rainforests, are home to a great number of animal and plant species.

Source: National Geographic

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29. Digital Product Passport (DPP)

Digital Product Passports (DPP) are a tool to create transaparency proposed by the European Commission (EC). Digital Product Passports aim to collect and share product data throughout its entire lifecycle, including data on raw material extraction, production, recycling, etc.

Source: World Business Council for Sustainable Development

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30. Environmental Footprint

Environmental Footprint is the amount of the environment necessary to produce the goods and services necessary to support a particular lifestyle or we sometimes think of it as the amount of impact our individual activities have had on the environment. The Environmental Footprint methods measure and communicate about the environmental performance of products (both goods and services) and organisations across their whole lifecycle, relying on scientifically sound assessment methods agreed at international level.

Source: European Commission.

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31. EPA Safer Choice

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safer Choice label identifies products with safer chemical ingredients.

Source: US Environmental Protection Agency

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32. ESG Investing

ESG investing stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance Investing. It is investing in companies that score highly on environmental and societal responsibility measures as determined by independent third-party companies and research groups. Investors apply ESG factors as part of their analysis process to identify material risks and growth opportunities.

Source: CFA Institute

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33. EU Ecolabel

The EU Ecolabel is a voluntary scheme promoting goods and services that clearly demonstrate environmental excellence, based on standardized processes and scientific evidence. EU Ecolabel is an ecolabelling scheme recognized throughout Europe, awarded by an independent third party to indicate overall environmental preferability within a specific product category based on a life-cycle assessment.

Source: EU Ecolabel

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34. EWG Verified

The EWG VERIFIED^® marks is a certified sign that the products meet EWG (Environmental Working Group)'s strictest chemical standards for our health and free from EWG's chemicals of concerns. The Environmental Working Group is a NGO that specializes in research and advocacy in the areas of agricultural subsidies, toxic chemicals, drinking water pollutants, and corporate accountability.

Source: Environmental Working Group

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35. Fair Trade Certified

Founded in 1998, Fair Trade USA is a nonprofit, third party certifier of fair trade products in North America. Fair Trade USA believes that all farmers and workers should have the opportunity to participate in the fair trade system, including workers employed by larger farms and farmers that are not part of organized cooperatives. Fair Trade USA now certifies more than 30 product categories, including dairy, quinoa, fresh produce, apparel, home goods, and seafood.

Source: Fair Trade Certified

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36. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

The Forest Stewardship Council is an international non-profit, multistakeholder organization established in 1993 that promotes responsible management of the world's forests via timber certification Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits.

Source: Forest Stewarship Counctil

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37. Fruitleather

Fruitleather Rotterdam is an alternative fabric made from wasted mangoes - converting mango fibers into a vegan leather-like material.

Source: Fruitleather Rotterdam

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38. Green Seal

Green Seal is a non-profit environmental standard development and certification organization pioneering the ecolabeling movement with a mission to transform the economy for a healthier, greener world. The Green Seal certification mark is a universal symbol that a product or service meets the highest benchmark of health and environmental leadership.

Source: Green Seal

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39. Greenwashing

Greenwashing is known as when companies focuses more on marketing themselves as environmentally friendly than actually executing relevant actions, which givs a false impression of their environmental impact or benefits. Greenwashing misleads market actors and does not give due advantage to those companies that are making the effort to green their products and activities.

Source: European Commission

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40. Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS)

Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) is a certification by the Control Union to regulate and certifie products made out of organically grown natural rubber latex at every step of the supply chain. Supported by manufacturers and various stakeholders of latex industry, GOLS is a recognized standard for products made out of organically grown natural rubber latex.

Source: Control Union

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41. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

GOTS is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological and social criteria, backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. GOTS certified final products may include fibre products, yarns, fabrics, clothes, home textiles, mattresses, personal hygiene products, as well as food contact textiles and more.

Source: Global Organic Textile Standard

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42. Global Recycled Standard (GRS)

The Global Recyled Standard (GRS) label guarantees recycled textiles with additional environmental and social criteria. The GRS label guarantees, reduction of the harmful impact of production on people and the environment, durably treated products, high percentages of recycled content in products, responsible production, recycled materials, traceability, transparent communication and stakeholder engagement.

Source: Textile Exchange.

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43. Grape Leather

Grape leather by VEGEA is a sustainable leather alternative made from grape waste produced during wine production, mainly in Italy. The production process utilizes renewable resources such as vegetable and recycled raw materials, along with bio-based polymers to create a low-impact conscious textile material that is free from toxic solvents, heavy metals, and substances harmful to humans and the environment

Source: VEGEA

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44. Infinitely Recyclable

Infinitely Recyclable refers to materials that can be recycled over and over again without loss of quality. The main example of this is the newly invented plastic,  poly(diketoenamine), or PDK, which has all the convenient properties of traditional plastics while avoiding the environmental pitfalls.

Source: Berkeley Lab

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45. Kelsun Fiber

Kelsun™ fiber is seaweed-based yarn that has a significantly lower environmental footprint than conventional fibers. Kelsun was developed by Keel Labs using an abundant biopolymer found in seaweed, harnessing the renewable power of our ocean’s resources.

Source: Keel Labs

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46. Leap

Leap is an apple-based leather alternative created from upcycled apple waste from cider production. Leap with an 85% bio-based composition is created and supplied by Beyond Leather.

Source: Beyond Leather

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47. Leaping Bunny Program / Certified

The Leaping Bunny Program is one of the most trusted certifications for cruelty-free products and you can be sure that the product nor any of its ingredients have been tested on animals in any phase of product development by the company, its labroatories and ingredient suppliers. The companies need to renew their commitment to the Leaping Bunny program every year and must set up a monitoring system to ensure all their suppliers comply to the Leaping Bunny standards. Learn more about sustainability related certifications.

Source: Leaping Bunny Program

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48. LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications help buildings mitigate climate change by being cost-effective, lowering carbon emissions, creating healthier places for people, and protecting natural resources. Projects go through a verification and review process by GBCI and are awarded points that correspond to a level of LEED certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+ points).

Source: LEED

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49. Life Cycle Assessment

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a method of evaluating the environmental assessment of products and services, covering their life cycle from raw material extraction to waste treatment.

Source: European Environment Agency

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50. Linear Economy & Material

An economy in which finite resources are extracted to make products that are used - generally not to their full potential - and then thrown away ('take-make-waste'). The traditional model where raw materials are collected and transformed into products that consumers use until discarding them as waste, with no concern for their ecological footprint and consequences. It prioritizes profit over sustainability, with products made to be thrown away once they have been used.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

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51. Locally-sourced

Material obtained from a defined radius around a project site, helping to support the local economy and reducing transportation costs and energy.

Source: European Economic and Social Committee

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52. Made in Green by Oeko-Tex

Made in Green by OEKO-TEX is a traceable product label for all kinds of textiles and leather products that have been manufactured in environmentally friendly facilities under safe and socially responsible working conditions. One prerequisite for MADE IN GREEN is that the product is tested for harmful substances and certified in accordance with the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 or OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD. ​

Source: Oeko-Tex

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53. MADE SAFE®

MADE SAFE® products are required to disclose each substance involved in formulation, to ensure that over 6,500 Banned / Restricted List substances have been avoided or constrained. The certification process involves requiring manufacturing transparency, as well as disclosure of each substance and process involved in formulation. Companies should also submit extremely detailed ingredient information and specifications as part of the comprehensive screening process.

Source: MADE SAFE

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54. Microfibre Pollution

The majority of clothing on the planet is made from plastic-based materials like polyester, rayon, nylon, and acrylic. When washed, synthetic clothing sheds tiny plastic fragments known as microfibers. Microfibers are the most prevalent type of microplastic (plastic pieces less than 5 mm in diameter) found in the environment. Microfibers can harm the small aquatic organisms that ingest them. Microfibers can also contain toxic chemicals that are intentionally added to textiles during the manufacturing process or that accumulate on plastic particles in the ocean.

Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency

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55. Micromodal

Micromodel is derived from the pulp of beech trees, these trees are unique in their "rejuvenation" capabilities, where they regrow from the stump, bypassing the need for replanting. Micromodal is a testament to comfort meeting sustainability, offering breathability alongside environmental consciousness. The closed-loop production process ensures that almost all chemicals used are recaptured and reused, thereby substantially decreasing waste and environmental impact.

Source: ConsiderBeyond

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56. Microplastic

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that result from both commercial product development and the breakdown of larger plastics. As a pollutant, microplastics can be harmful to the environment and animal health.

Source: National Geographic

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57. Mylo

Mylo is a sustainable leather alternative made from mycelium, the root-like system of mushrooms. Mylo™ was created by the scientists and engineers at Bolt Threads. The mycelium used to make Mylo is grown in less than two weeks inside a vertical farming facility.

Source: Mylo

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58. Natural Fibres

Natural fibers are sustainable materials which are easily available in nature and have advantages like low-cost, lightweight, renewability, biodegradability and high specific properties.

Source: Harvard University

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59. Natural Materials

Any materials that come from plants or animals, or that are extracted from the ground, are classed as natural. The amount of processing needed can vary greatly depending on the specific material and the intended purpose. Heavy processing and transportation negatively affects the environmental impact of natural materials, as well as irresponsible and unregulated extraction, mining, harvesting and farming.

Source: WGSN

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61. Net Zero

Net zero means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests for instance.

Source: United Nations

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62. Non-GMO Project Verified

Non-GMO means a product was produced without genetic engineering which includes any process in which genetic material is artificially manipulated in a laboratory, and may involve creating combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods. Non-GMO Project verifies products and ingredients free from genetically modified organism (GMO) engineering or contamination whose safety is unknown, meaning its genetic properties have not been artificially manipulated.

Source: Non-GMO Verified Project

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63. Non-Renewable Resources

Nonrenewable energy resources include coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear energy. Once these resources are used up, they cannot be replaced, which is a major problem for humanity as we are currently dependent on them to supply most of our energy needs.

Source: National Geographic

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64. Non-Virgin Materials

Materials that have been previously used. This includes: materials in products that have been reused, refurbished or repaired; components that have been remanufactured; materials that have been recycled. Also referred to as secondary materials.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

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65. Organic

Organic ingredients are grown without using pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. USDA National Organic Program (NOP) verifies products with more than 95% organic ingredients.

Source: USDA

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66. Oregon Tilth Certified Organic

Oregon Tilth is an American nonprofit membership organization advocating organic food and farming and certifies that the product or service has been produced using organic and sustainable farming practices.

Source: Oregon Tilth Certified Organic

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67. Organic Content Standard (OCS)

The Organic Content Standard (OCS) is a voluntary global standard that sets the criteria for third-party certification of organic materials and chain of custody. Organic Content Standard (OCS) 100 certifies products that are made with at least 95% organically grown materials.

Source: Textile Exchange

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68. PETA-Approved Vegan

PETA, which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, is one of the biggest animal rights organizations in the world. PETA-Approved Vegan certifies vegan clothing, accessories, or home decor items that does not contain any animal-derived materials such as leather, wool, fur, and silk.

Source: PETA

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69. PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies - Cruelty-free & Vegan

PETA's Cruelty-free & Vegan recognizes companies and brands that do not conduct, commission, pay for, or allow any tests on animals for their ingredients, formulations, or finished products and whose entire product line is free of animal-derived ingredients.

Source: PETA's Beauty without Bunnies

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70. PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies - Cruelty-free

PETA's Cruelty-free PETA's Cruelty-free recognizes companies and brands that have verified that they and their suppliers do not conduct, commission, pay for, or allow any tests on animals for their ingredients, formulations, or finished products.

Source: PETA's Beauty without Bunnies

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71. Pinatex

Piñatex^® is made of fibre from the waste leaves of the pineapple plant. Created by Ananas Anam, the pioneers of innovative natural textiles from waste pineapple leaves, Pinatex uses pineapple leaves as a by-product from existing pineapple harvest.

Source: Ananas Anam

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72. Post-Consumer Recycled

Post-consumer recycled materials refers everything made from consumer recycled materials, such as empty plastic bottles or aluminum cans.

Source: Sustainable Packaging Coalition

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73. Rainforest Alliance Certified

The Rainforest Alliance seal means that the product was produced by farmers, foresters, and/or companies working together in harmony. The seal means that the certified ingredient was produced using methods that support the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental.

Source: Rainforest Alliance

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74. Recycled Claim Standard 100 & Blended

The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) aims to align definitions of “recycled” across different applications, verify recycled content in products and give brands and consumers a means to make informed buying decisions. Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) 100 certified products are made with at least 95% recycled material content. Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) Blended certified products use materials made from higher than 5% but less than 95% recycled material content.

Source: Recycled Claim Standard

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75. Recyclability

The ease with which a material can be recycled in practice and at scale.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

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76. Regenerative agriculture

Regenerative agriculture is a conversation and rehabilitation approach focusing on improving the health of soil, water cycle, increasing biodiversity, enhancing ecosystem services and increasing resilience to climate change.

Source: World Economic Forum

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77. Regenerative production

Regenerative production provides food and materials in ways that support positive outcomes for nature, which include but are not limited to: healthy and stable soils, improved local biodiversity, improved air and water quality. In agriculture, regenerative production schools of thought include agroecology, agroforestry, and conservation agriculture.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

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78. Renewable Materials

Materials that are continually replenished at a rate equal to or greater than the rate of depletion. Examples include: cotton, hemp, maize, wood, wool, leather, agricultural by-products, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and sea salt. To fit in a circular economy such materials (where relevant) must be produced using regenerative production practices.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

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79. Responsible Wool Standard (RMS)    

The Responsible Wool Standard aims to improve the welfare of sheep and the land they graze on. The standard requires all sites, from wool farmers to the seller in the final business-to-business transaction, to be certified. RWS farmers and ranchers must meet animal welfare, land management, and social requirements.

Source: Textile Exchange

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80. Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS)

The Responsible Mohair Standard addresses animal welfare and environmental responsibility in mohair supply chains with its voluntary standard that requires all sites, from farms through to the seller in the final business- to-business transaction, to be certified. RMS farmers and ranchers must meet animal welfare, land management, and social requirements.

Source: Textile Exchange

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81. Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS)    

The Responsible Alpaca Standard is a voluntary standard to safeguard the welfare of alpacas and the ecosystems around them. The standard requires all sites, from alpaca farms to the seller in the final business-to-business transaction, to be certified. RWS farmers and ranchers must meet animal welfare, land management, and social requirements.

Source: Textile Exchange

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82. Responsible Down Standard (RDS)

The Responsible Down Standard aims to protect ducks and geese used for down. The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) incentivizes the down and feather industry to treat ducks and geese humanely and rewards organizations leading the way. The standard also gives companies and consumers a way to know what’s in the products they buy.

Source: Textile Exchange

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83. SA 8000

The SA8000^® Standard is a social certification standard for factories and organizations across the globe, established by Social Accountability International in 1997. SA8000 measures social performance in eight areas important to social accountability in workplaces, anchored by a management system element that drives continuous improvement in all areas of the Standard.

Source: Social Accountability International

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84. Single-use

Single-use items or disposable items are products and packaging that we throw out after only one use. These items are used for only minutes but their impact on our environment can last thousands of years.

Source: Sustainability Victoria

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85. Slow Fashion

Slow fashion is producing clothes with trendless designs and premium, long-lasting quality to push again fast fashion, which causes large amounts of waste each year.

Source: Forbes

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86. Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX

STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certifies that the textile has been tested for substances that may be harmful to human health and is safe for babies, skin contact, or furnishing. To be certified, every component (from outer material to zippers) of an article has to comply with the strict OEKO-TEX® test criteria.

Source: OEKO-TEX

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87. Social Inclusion

Social Inclusion is the process of improving the ability, opportunity, and dignity of disadvantaged groups based on their identity to take part in society, creating equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background.

Source: World Bank

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88. Sustainability

Sustainability is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs a sustainable practices look at finding ways to grow responsibly in the long term.

Source: UN World Commission

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89. Tencel

Tencel Lyocell is a form of rayon and is more often familiar with us as the brand name TENCEL®. Tencel is known for environmentally responsible closed-loop production process where the wood pulp is transformed into cellulosic fibers with low environmental impact. To create TENCEL® Lyocell, the process recycles water and reuses the solvent at a recovery rate of more than 99%. The clothing lines made with  TENCEL® Lyocell, are long-lasting, soft, and have great durability.

Source: Tencel

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90. Traceability

Traceability is the ability to access any or all information about a product throughout its life cycle by using a system of recorded identifications. Traceability also relates to the ability to track and trace along the supply chain.

Source: International Institute for Sustainable Development

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91. UL GREENGUARD Certified

UL GREENGUARD Certified products are scientifically proven to meet some of the world's most rigorous third-party chemical emissions standards that help reduce indoor air pollution and risk of chemical exposure, aiding the creation of healthier indoor environments.

Source:

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92. United Nations Global Compact

United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative calling for comapnies and organzations to show commitments to implement the UN's Ten Principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and societal goals.

Source: United Nations Global Compact

‍93. UN Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people's betterment. The 17 goals include 1. no poverty, 2. zero hunger, 3. good health and welfare, 4. quality education, 5. gender equality, 6. clean water and sanitation, 7. afforable and clean energy, 8. decent work and economic growth, 9. industry, innovation and infrastructure, 10. reduced inequalities, 11. sustainable cities and communities, 12. responsible consumption and production, 13. climate action, 14. life below water, 15. life on land, 16. peace, justice, and strong institutions, 17. partnerships for the goals.

Source: UN Sustainable Development Goals

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94. Upcycling/Recycling

Upcycling means to use a certain material again, but in a manner different than what it was originally intended for. Recycling is the process of recovering material from waste and turning it into new products.

Source: Terracycle

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95. USDA Certified Biobased Product

The USDA Certified Biobased Product label displays a product’s biobased content, which is the portion of a product that comes from a renewable ingredients, such as plant, animal, marine, or forestry feedstocks. Utilizing renewable, biobased materials displaces the need for non-renewable petroleum-based chemicals. This label helps consumers identify biobased products and increase the demand for renewable commodities.

Source: ecovue

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96. USDA National Organic Program

The National Organic Program (NOP) develops the rules & regulations for the production, handling, labeling, and enforcement of all USDA organic products. USDA National Organic Program verifies products with more than 95% organic ingredients.

Source: National Organic Program

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97. Value Chain

A Value Chain is the full lifecycle of a product or process, including material sourcing, production, consumption, and disposal/recycling processes.

Source: World Business Council for Sustainable Development

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98. Vegan

Vegan means that the product does not include any animal-derived ingredients or tested on any animals

Source: The Leaping Bunny

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99. Vegan Society

VEGAN Society trademark is for vegan-friendly products containing no animal ingredients, vegan processing aids used in manufacturing, and ingredients that have never been tested on animals on behalf of the manufacturer.

Source: Vegan Society

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100. Zero Waste

Zero-waste is an approach to resue and recover resources as much as possible to minimize the pollution to air, land, or water. This approach entails responsible production, consumption and disposal of products in a circular system.

Source: United Nations