Sustainable is, quite rightly, a popular topic. In the transition to a sustainable product media range, sustainable products come with test certificates. Various sustainable certificates and labels are used to demonstrate the sustainable status of a company, brand or product. BeGlobal is also certified on various components. These certifications and labels are important in the composition of your sustainable assortment. To prevent you from losing sight of the forest for the trees, we have compiled the sustainable labels and certificates dictionary for you. Here we explain in understandable language what the most important labels and certificates stand for.
B Corp
You've probably seen the name B Corp come up before. But what does this certification stand for? The number of B Corp certified companies is growing and that's good news! What's unique about B Corp is its holistic nature. Certified companies meet the highest standards of social and environmental impact. B Corp does not focus on one aspect of a company, but on the entire operations. Consider the impact in the production chain as well as the benefits the company offers its employees. A company with B Corp status shows that they are making a positive commitment in multiple areas. In the selection of our partner suppliers, this is one of the preferences. Cradle to Cradle (CM)
CM is a way to demonstrate sustainable materials efforts by displaying the manufacturer's sustainability label. The label should meet the following requirements: The use of materials that are safe for human health and the environment in all phases of use. The product is composed of materials suitable for reuse, such as recycling or composting.
Ecovadis
This is a method that measures the quality of a company's sustainability management system through its policies, actions and results. The system focuses on 21 sustainability criteria related to: environment, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. The higher a company scores, the higher the Ecovadis rating it receives. The following ratings can be achieved: Bronze - Silver - Gold - Platinum. BeGlobal has the Ecovadis Platinum rating. With this rating we have been rewarded for our steps in sustainability and are among the 1% best performing organizations assessed by Ecovadis.
Fairtrade
Fairtrade is an ethical trading system that puts people first. One way it does this is by offering farmers and workers in developing countries a better deal. This gives them the chance to improve the quality of their lives and invest in their future. It also gives consumers the opportunity to help reduce poverty and thus contribute to change. In the world of product media, for example, this applies to chocolate.
Global Organic Textile standard (GOTS)
GOTS was developed with the aim of unifying various existing and future standards in the field of ecological textile processing. The aim is thereby to define globally recognized requirements that guarantee the organic status of textiles. From harvesting the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible production, to labeling and the use of the right ink for printing. All to provide credible assurance to the end user.
Organic Content Standard (OCS 100)
OCS 100 covers the processing, production, packaging, labeling, trade and distribution of a product with at least 95 percent certified "organic" materials. The label can serve as a business-to-business tool for companies to show among themselves that these are high-quality products. This standard applies to non-food products. The standard checks the presence and amount of organic material in a finished product. It also checks the path taken by raw materials from the source to the product. The OCS 100 system works with third-party checks to verify that a finished product contains the correct amount of a particular organically grown material. OCS provides the ability to enable transparent, consistent and completely independent evaluation and verification of the organic claim of products.
Oeko-Tex Standard
Toxins on some textiles can harm your health by being ingested through your breathing, skin contact and saliva. STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified products are tested for harmful substances to protect your health. This label confirms that every part of the product, from the fabric to the yarn and accessories, has been thoroughly tested for a list of up to 350 toxic chemicals.Global Recycle Standard
This standard is intended for companies that make and/or sell products with recycled content. The standard is applicable to the entire supply chain and focuses on traceability, environmental principles, social requirements and labeling.
FSC
When you choose a product with the FSC logo, you can be sure that the items you buy have not been manufactured at the expense of the forest, or the animals, plants and people who depend on it. BeGlobal uses only packaging made from FSC cardboard, and we also choose FSC-labeled paper for our magazine and other documents/documentation. FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council. It is the first international label that sets strict requirements for sustainable and social forest management. FSC is supported by governments, companies and environmental organizations. The FSC label sets strict requirements. For example, forests of high natural value, as well as vulnerable forest areas, must be left alone. Logging along watercourses and on steep slopes is not allowed, because of the risk of erosion. After felling trees, no more wood should disappear than can grow. In this way, the forest has a chance to recover. Use of the logo is allowed only by certified companies with a valid certification license agreement and is always in combination with a code. BeGlobal selects its partners accordingly.