Certifications & Memberships
Authentic’s licensing partners are collectively committed to reducing negative impact on the environment and engage with key sustainable organizations that provide sustainability resources, access to information and best practices related to human rights and labor, animal welfare, ethical sourcing and more.
The below list of certifications and memberships have been compiled based on work done through the Sustainability Alliance and the results from Authentic’s annual Materiality Assessment, which surveys our global partner network on the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) topics that matter most to our brands and stakeholders. The data and insights gleaned are updated regularly.
This resource page shines a light on certifications and memberships that are specific to softline apparel categories. If you are currently participating in other sustainability certification or membership programs, we want to hear from you.
Responsible Down Standard
Responsible Down Standard (RDS) is a voluntary global standard that certifies cruelty-free down material. The RDS certification applies to all supply chain sites of waterfowl down and feather material from the hatchery and farm to final product assembly. (Farms and slaughters are certified to the Animal Welfare Modules of the RDS.)
Responsible Wool Standard
The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) is an international, voluntary standard that addresses animal welfare in sheep farms and the chain of custody of wool. Individual sites are certified by independent third-party certification bodies through annual audits. The Textile Exchange’s Content Claim Standard (CCS) addresses the entire product journey from certified farms to the final product.
Textile Exchange Membership
The Textile Exchange is a nonprofit community of industry leaders who share expertise and provide accountability on sustainable goals and initiatives. The Textile Exchange encourages companies at all stages of the supply chain to make decisions that reduce negative environmental impact. Through the understanding of materials and standards, members are equipped to adopt preferred fibers and sustainable methodology.
Forest Stewardship Council
The Forest Stewardship Council is an international nonprofit, multistakeholder organization that promotes responsible management of the world's forests through timber certification. The FSC is governed by a global network of more than 1,000 individuals and member organizations representing environmental, social and economic perspectives that work together to find solutions for safeguarding healthy and resilient forests worldwide.
Sustainable Apparel Coalition
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition is a global multistakeholder nonprofit alliance for the consumer goods industry. The SAC launched the Higg Index in collaboration with its members to create a global coordinated approach to measuring, improving and sharing brand sustainability initiatives. The SAC provides five tools to its members: the Higg Facility Environmental Module, Higg Facility Social & Labor Module, Higg Brand & Retail Module, Higg Materials Sustainability Index and Higg Product Module.
Global Reporting Initiative
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) provides best practice Standards to guide organizations’ reporting of economic, environmental and social impacts. The GRI Standards help organizations increase transparency by creating the global common language for organizations to report their impacts. Organizations can use the GRI Standards to prepare sustainability reports in accordance with the GRI Standards. The GRI Standards is the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting standard globally.
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board
The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) is a non-profit providing reporting Standards that focus on environmental and social issues likely to impact a company’s financial performance. SASB was founded to help businesses and investors develop a common language about the financial impacts of sustainability. SASB industry-based disclosures and guidance are useful for investors and cost-effective for companies to provide.
For more information, please reach out to sustainability@authentic.com.