Certification Boards and their Eco-Expertise

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 10/13/2008 12:00:00 AM

CONEG

The Coalition of Northeastern Governors is a non-partisan association of the governors of the eight Northeastern states, which developed a packaging standard limiting the use of heavy metals. coneg.org

Control Union World Group (Formerly SKAL)

Control Union is an international group of companies that work in inspection and certification for a wide range of certification programs that are accepted in many countries around the world. controlunion.com

Cotton Inc.

Cotton Incorporated, funded by U.S. growers of upland cotton and importers of cotton and cotton textile products, is a research and marketing company. cottoninc.com

CRI Green Label Plus

The Carpet & Rug Institute, the science-based source for facts on rug products, provides tests of rugs, cushions and adhesives to identity low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in order to issue its Green Label. carpet-rug.org

FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council)

FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world's forests. fsc.org

GOTS

Global Organic Textile Standard's aim is to define requirements to ensure organic status of textiles, from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing, up to labelling — in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer. global-standard.org

IMO

The Institute for Marketecology (IMO) is an international agency for inspection, certification and quality assurance of eco-friendly products, and is accredited by the USDA and other entities. imo.ch

Oeko-Tex

An international testing and certification system for textiles developed in 1992, limiting the use of certain harmful chemicals, now employed through 14 member laboratories. oeko-tex.com

Organic Exchange

Organic Exchange is a 501(C)(3) charitable organization committed to expanding organic agriculture, with a specific focus on increasing the production and use of organically grown fibers such as cotton. organicexchange.org

Organic Trade Association

Organic Trade Association (OTA) is a membership-based business association that focuses on the organic business community in North America to promote and protect the growth of organic trade. ota.com

USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program regulates the standards for any farm, wild crop harvesting, or handling operation that wants to sell an agricultural product as organically produced. usda.gov