First certification labels recognized for the Green Button 2.0 meta-label approach

• October 01, 2022

The certification labels are recognized by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). In the future, the following certificates will be accepted for the fiber and material use recognition area:

• Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA): for the use of plant-based fibres (sub-scope 6)
• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): for the use of plant-based and animal fibers (sub-scopes 5 and 8) and for the use of man-made fibres greater than 10% and less than 30% (sub-scopes 1, 2, 3 and 7)
• Global Recycled Standard (GRS): for the use of recycled man-made and plant-based fibres (sub-scopes 3 and 7)
• Naturtextil IVN certified BEST: for the use of plant-based and animal fibres (sub-scopes 5 und 8)
• Organic Content Standard (OCS): for the use of plant-based and animal fibres as well as regenerated fibres (sub-scope 2, 5 and 8)
• Recycled Claim Standard (RCS): for the use of recycled man-made and plant-based fibres (sub-scopes 3 und 7)
• Responsible Down Standard (RDS): for the use of down (sub-scope 10)
• Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS): for the use of animal fibres (sub-scope 9)
• Responsible Wool Standard (RWS): for the use of animal fibres (sub-scope 9)

To meet these production process requirements, companies must demonstrate recognized certification labels. Recognition of the listed certification labels for the meta-label approach means that Green Button licensees can use these certification labels to prove that they meet the requirements for the respective approved fibers and materials. This, in conjunction with proving certification labels for the manufacturing and wet processing, can lead to Green Button product endorsements. Before this can happen, however, it must be demonstrated that the requirements for corporate due diligence processes have also been met.

Recognition of the aforementioned certification labels is the result of a recognition process outlined in Green Button Standard 2.0: Process and Requirements for the Recognition of Certification Labels . Newly recognized certification labels were assessed prior to their recognition to determine whether they met the content requirements of the Green Button Standard for certification label recognition, as well as the eligibility requirements, which include requirements for their credibility.

The recognition of the certification labels issued by the BMZ is valid until the next revision of the Green Button. Should the certification label itself go through changes, it is to be checked, according to the Green Button standard, whether the recognition has to be elicited in a new benchmarking.