There are a large number of certifications, accreditations, voluntary standards, and model codes of conduct (ie standards systems) that seek to address issues relevant to the fashion industry. The scope, ambition, and compliance mechanisms vary between standards systems, with different requirements for transparency, auditing, and other assurance methods.

At the same time, Good On You is aware that brands suffer from reporting burden and fatigue due to the large number of stakeholders and initiatives in sustainability. Where possible, Good On You incorporates leading standards, indices, and certification systems into our methodology provided:

  1. They are robust and credible.
  2. They require publicly available information.

In consultation with experts, Good On You reviews each of the standards systems to identify their scope and assurance methodology in order to assess how to score a brand that is certified by, or complies with, a standards system.

Vetted and respected certifications and standards systems represent only a portion of the data Good On You’s rating methodology considers. Good On You’s rating system looks at all other publicly available evidence of impact on issues that affect people, the planet, and animals—including what brands report on their websites, their stakeholders updates, sustainability reports, and so on.

 

Key certifications and standards Good On You considers include:

  • Action on Living Wages (ACT)
  • Better Cotton Initiative
  • Bluesign System
  • BSCI
  • Carbon Trust Standard (Carbon)
  • Carbon Trust Standard (Waste)
  • Carbon Trust Standard (Water)
  • Certified Cotton made in Africa
  • Clean Clothes Campaign
  • Cradle to Cradle
  • Ethical Clothing Australia (ECA)
  • Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)
  • Fair Labor Association (FLA)
  • Fair Trade USA
  • Fair Wear Foundation
  • Fairtrade International - Hired Labour
  • Fairtrade International - Small Producers Organizations
  • Fairtrade Standard for Small-scale Producer Organizations
  • Fairtrade Textile Standard
  • Global Recycle Standard
  • GOTS
  • Leather Working Group
  • Made in Green by OEKO-TEX ® certified
  • Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit - SMETA Best Practice Guidance
  • Social Accountability International - SA8000
  • STeP by OEKO-TEX ® certified
  • The EU Ecolabel
  • WFTO Guarantee System
  • Workplace Condition Assessment (WCA)
  • Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production - WRAP