Navigating the intricate landscape of fashion certifications has been a challenge for both consumers and brands, with numerous standards focusing on different aspects. This complexity often leaves consumers bewildered, lacking the knowledge to make informed choices, while brands grapple with initiating a sustainable transition.
In response to this, a group of industry professionals spanning textile manufacturing, compliance management, and environmental protection have collaborated for seven years to unveil a groundbreaking solution – SANE.
SANE: A Holistic Approach to Sustainable Fashion Certification
As a proud member of the United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network, SANE is not just another certification; it’s a comprehensive fashion standard. Covering textiles, accessories, footwear, and home textiles, SANE takes a holistic approach that considers various life cycle phases of a product. Unlike other certifications, SANE goes beyond singular focuses, addressing environmental, social, and consumer health aspects.
The scope of SANE extends to crucial areas with the most harmful impacts, where brands and production facilities possess the technical capability to implement sustainable processing methods. Unlike certifications concentrating on a single aspect, SANE emphasizes the choice of low-impact materials, chemical content of final products, environmental footprint during processing, and the working conditions and remuneration of workers.
Sustainability Certification Made Accessible and Affordable
One key feature that sets SANE apart is its accessibility for brands, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. The certification operates on a pay-per-production-volume model, eliminating the need for a substantial upfront investment. This approach allows brands to kickstart their sustainable transition with a single product or a capsule collection before extending it to their entire product range.
To address the growing concern of audit fatigue in the industry, SANE acknowledges existing credible sustainability standards, preventing unnecessary duplication. This multifaceted approach ensures that crucial aspects are covered practically and effectively.
Empowering Consumers Through Supply Chain Transparency
SANE not only benefits brands but also empowers consumers to make informed choices. A simple scan of the QR code on SANE-certified products provides consumers with insights into the sourcing and production practices of their favourite brands. This transparency sets a new benchmark for sustainability in the textile and fashion industry.
The characteristic SANE logo, whether on hang tags or stitched onto products, signifies a commitment to environmentally conscious, socially responsible, and health-conscious practices. In a world where sustainable choices matter more than ever, SANE emerges as a beacon of hope, guiding both brands and consumers toward a more sustainable and ethical fashion future.
How to Obtain Social and Environmental Certification
SANE certification can be achieved by fashion brands anywhere in the world. To get started complete a pre-assessment form or for more information contact the SANE team.
Another Green Fashion Certification Near Me within the Fashion Industry
If you’re looking for an alternative certification you can get for your brand check out Eco-Stylist. Our holistic sustainability certification can also be achieved by brands anywhere in the world, with a focus on transparency, fair labor, and the environment.
One key difference is that our certification doesn’t offer tags for in person shopping experiences, qr codes, or certification of specific collections. Our digital certification is only available for your entire brand (meaning everything you do) and is based on publicly available research. Obtaining it will earn your brand a spot in our Ethical Brand Directory as well as a badge you can display on your website, or anywhere else online.
For more info you can submit a request via the form at the bottom of our Brand Guide.
A Note on SANE’s Future-Focused Fashion Sustainability
As the founder of Eco-Stylist, you may be wondering why I’m openly supporting another certification and writing about it on our blog. The answer is simple: I believe in it.
SANE’s future-focused certification is one I believe can help bring much needed change to the fashion industry. Being able to see their tags in retail stores, when you’re shopping in person, can change how we shop. It can make shopping sustainable clothing in person both possible and scalable, arguably for the first time.
I serve on SANE’s board of advisors, in a pro-bono capacity, because I believe in their solution and the need to bring it to the world.
Garik Himebaugh is the founder of Eco-Stylist, the go-to resource for ethical clothing. He’s also an international speaker on all things sustainable fashion. Garik loves coffee, climbing, and clothes.
