Replace broad claims with specific requirements
Terms such as “green” or “eco-friendly” can imply benefits that are difficult to substantiate. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission advises marketers to qualify environmental claims clearly and support them with reliable evidence. Review the FTC Green Guides summary for U.S.-market claim planning.
Understand what common textile standards verify
| Reference | What buyers should verify |
|---|---|
| GOTS | Certified entity, valid scope certificate, covered process and product category. GOTS defines a scope certificate as evidence that the entity and listed facilities conform within the stated scope. |
| GRS | Recycled material verification and chain-of-custody documentation for the actual supply chain. Textile Exchange describes GRS as a product standard for verifying and tracking recycled raw materials. |
| Chemical or product testing | Exact standard, test report holder, material or product tested, issue date and whether the report covers the ordered item. |
Use official information from GOTS certification guidance and Textile Exchange’s GRS overview.
Documents to request before making a claim
- Valid scope certificate
- Certified organization name
- Facility and process scope
- Product category coverage
- Transaction certificate when applicable
- Fibre composition report
- Material invoice trail
- Claim wording approval
Material choice is only one part of the product
Also evaluate durability, care requirements, repairability, packaging, production yield and transport. A material claim does not automatically prove that the whole garment has a lower overall impact.
Wincome Apparel does not present partner certifications as universal. Required documents are checked against the facility, material and order route selected for each project.