Whether Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Alliance for Sustainable Textiles, Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), Bangladesh Accord or UN Global Compact - at HAKRO we can already point to a whole range of certificates and seals. These are all testimony to our consistent and comprehensive sustainability strategy. Since March, this has also included the Green Button seal, for which certain state-defined criteria and high environmental and social standards must be met. It is the first government sustainability seal for textiles and has been awarded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) since 2019.
Our T-shirts and polo shirts from the Organic collection line had to fulfil 26 criteria on the product side in order to receive the seal. What is important in this context is that the Green Button is verified using existing, generally recognised and credible certifications such as the GOTS seal. In addition, 20 criteria were tested with regard to our company-specific management practice, risk analysis and sustainability strategy.
Because, unlike the GOTS label, the label does not cover the entire supply chain in its introductory phase until the end of June 2021, but only the last two processing steps (dyeing/bleaching and cutting/sewing), we discussed the added value of the Green Button internally for a long time. After all, the majority of our products are dyed, bleached, cut and sewn in the same GOTS-certified production facilities under the same GOTS-certified working conditions as our GOTS-certified Organic collection line. Paradoxically, however, these textiles are not allowed to carry the Green Button due to their lack of GOTS certification.
Nevertheless, we at HAKRO see great potential in the Green Button as an overarching government seal and an important signal for more transparency in the supply chains. As a certified company, we feel encouraged in our commitment to sustainability and would like to play a constructive role in the future development process of the new Green Button label and play a decisive role in shaping it.
