Our Certifications Guide

We believe in doing the work to know where things come from — and making that information easy to find. The products we carry often hold third-party certifications that verify claims about how something was grown, made, treated, or sourced. This guide is your reference for what each of those certifications means and where you'll find them in our shop.

Beyond Certifications: What Else We Look For

Third-party certifications are one of the most reliable tools we have for verifying a brand's claims — but they're not the whole picture. Certifications can be expensive, inaccessible to small producers, and slow to catch up with innovation. Some of the most meaningful practices we look for don't have a label at all. Here are a few that matter to us:

Slow Fashion Slow fashion isn't a certification — it's a philosophy. It means asking questions before buying: Who made this? From what? Under what conditions? It means valuing things made carefully over things made cheaply, and buying less but better. You'll notice we use this term throughout our store rather than "ethical" or "sustainable" — because no single certification tells the whole story. We use certifications together, alongside our own research and relationships with the brands we carry, to make sure everything in our shop reflects our commitment to a slower, more intentional way of consuming.

Anti-Season / Limited Production Some brands deliberately reject the fashion industry's endless cycle of new seasons, new collections, and new reasons to buy. Anti-season brands produce limited quantities, restock thoughtfully, and resist the pressure to overproduce. No overstock means no waste, and no waste means a lighter footprint — for the brand and for you.

Anti-Waste Not a certification, but a commitment worth recognizing. Anti-waste brands actively design out excess at every stage — from cutting room scraps to packaging to end-of-life disposal. This might look like zero-waste pattern cutting, take-back programs, repair services, mono-material construction for biodegradability, or simply making fewer, better things. When a brand calls itself anti-waste, we look for the practices that back it up.

Deadstock / Vintage Materials Deadstock refers to surplus fabric, materials, or components that would otherwise go to waste — leftover rolls from larger manufacturers, discontinued runs, or overproduced stock. Vintage materials are pre-existing goods repurposed into something new. Both approaches give existing materials a second life, reducing the demand for virgin resources and keeping usable goods out of landfill. It's one of the most immediate and impactful ways a brand can reduce its environmental footprint.

Food & Pantry

USDA Organic Certified by the United States Department of Agriculture, this label means a product was grown or produced without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, and without genetically modified organisms (GMOs). For livestock products, it means animals were raised in conditions that accommodate their natural behaviors and were not given antibiotics or hormones.

Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) A step beyond organic, Regenerative Organic Certified covers soil health, animal welfare, and farmer and worker fairness. Products carrying this seal come from farms actively working to rebuild topsoil, increase biodiversity, and sequester carbon — farming as a force for ecological restoration.

Biodynamic Biodynamic farming treats the farm as a living, self-sustaining ecosystem. It goes beyond organic to include practices based on lunar and cosmic cycles, on-farm composting, and a holistic approach to soil, plant, animal, and human health. Biodynamic certification is among the most rigorous agricultural standards in the world.

Demeter Demeter is the international certifying body for Biodynamic agriculture. A Demeter seal means a product has been independently verified to meet Biodynamic standards from soil to finished product. You'll find it on wine, olive oil, dairy, and other whole foods in our pantry.

Non-GMO Project Verified This certification, awarded by the Non-GMO Project, means a product has been tested and verified to be free of genetically modified organisms. It applies to food, beverages, and some personal care products.

Rainforest Alliance Certified The Rainforest Alliance works at the intersection of agriculture, forestry, and tourism to protect ecosystems and improve the livelihoods of farmers and workers. Their seal — a little green frog — indicates that a product meets standards for environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic viability. You'll often find it on coffee, tea, and chocolate.

Fairtrade / FLO Certified Fairtrade certification, governed by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO), ensures that farmers and workers in developing countries receive fair prices for their goods, safe working conditions, and community investment funds. It covers a wide range of products including coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, and spices.

Single Origin Single origin means a food or beverage product comes from one specific place — a single farm, cooperative, or region — rather than being blended from multiple sources. It's a mark of traceability and transparency. You know exactly where your coffee, chocolate, or olive oil comes from, and the people who grew it are identifiable and accountable. Single origin products often reflect the unique character of their terroir — the soil, climate, and care of a specific place — and tend to support more direct, equitable relationships between producers and buyers.

Handmade (See Wardrobe & Textiles — also applies to small-batch food and pantry products made by hand, including preserves, confections, and artisanal goods.)

Eco-Friendly (See Wardrobe & Textiles — also applies to food and pantry products using sustainable materials, packaging, or production practices.)

Vegan (See Wardrobe & Textiles — also applies to food and pantry products free from animal-derived ingredients.)

Tested for Mold and Mycotoxins Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced naturally by certain molds that can grow on food crops — particularly coffee, cacao, grains, and nuts. Exposure to mycotoxins can have serious health effects, and conventional testing doesn't always catch them. Brands that test specifically for mold and mycotoxins are going above and beyond standard food safety requirements to ensure their products are as clean and safe as possible. You'll find this most often on our coffee, cacao, and pantry staples.

Compostable Packaging Compostable packaging is designed to break down completely into non-toxic, natural materials under composting conditions — leaving no microplastics or harmful residue behind. True compostable packaging carries certification (such as the BPI or TÜV compostable label) to distinguish it from packaging that merely claims to be biodegradable. Look for this label on products whose brands have committed to closing the loop on packaging waste.

Planet Friendly Inks Planet friendly inks are printing inks made without petroleum-based solvents or harmful chemicals — typically water-based, soy-based, or algae-based alternatives. They reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions during printing and are safer for both the environment and the workers handling them. Brands using planet friendly inks are making a small but meaningful choice at every label, tag, and package.

Omnidegradable Packaging Omnidegradable packaging is designed to break down in any environment — not just controlled composting facilities — including soil, water, and landfill conditions. Unlike standard biodegradable or compostable materials that require specific conditions to degrade, omnidegradable materials are engineered to disappear safely wherever they end up. It's one of the most forward-thinking approaches to packaging currently available.

Wardrobe & Textiles

GOTS — Global Organic Textile Standard GOTS is the leading standard for organic textiles, covering the entire supply chain from raw fiber to finished garment. It requires that at least 70% of fibers are certified organic, and sets strict requirements on dyes, chemical inputs, wastewater treatment, and labor conditions. If you see GOTS on a garment, it means the organic claim has been verified every step of the way.

OCS — Organic Content Standard OCS verifies that a product contains a specific amount of organically grown material. Unlike GOTS, it focuses on the organic content of the raw material only — not the full production chain. It's a meaningful first step toward full organic certification and ensures the fiber itself was grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. You'll find it on select pieces where the base material has been independently verified as organic, even when the full supply chain hasn't yet been certified end-to-end.

Ecovero — Lenzing Certified Viscose Ecovero is a branded viscose fiber made by Lenzing, an Austrian company known for setting high environmental standards in fiber production. Unlike conventional viscose, which is often linked to deforestation and heavy chemical use, Ecovero is produced using sustainably sourced wood and pulp certified by the EU Ecolabel, and generated with significantly lower emissions and water impact than standard viscose. It's a more responsible alternative to conventional synthetic and semi-synthetic fibers.

Viscosa Lucida Rigenerata (Regenerated Lustrous Viscose) An Italian textile term for a high-quality regenerated viscose fiber with a characteristic silky sheen. Viscose is a semi-synthetic fiber derived from cellulose — most commonly wood pulp — making it naturally biodegradable. "Rigenerata" (regenerated) indicates the cellulose has been processed back into a usable fiber. While conventional viscose production can involve harsh chemicals, high-quality Italian viscose mills increasingly use responsible production methods. The lustrous quality of this fiber makes it a refined, breathable alternative to synthetic fabrics.

Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Every component of an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified product — fabric, thread, buttons, dyes — has been tested for harmful substances. It doesn't certify how something was made, but it does guarantee that the finished product is safe to wear against your skin. Particularly meaningful for baby and children's items.

Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) The Responsible Wool Standard ensures that wool comes from farms that practice progressive land management and treat their sheep with respect. It traces wool from farm to final product, providing assurance that animal welfare and land stewardship standards were met throughout.

SA8000 — Social Accountability International SA8000 is one of the world's most respected social certification standards for factories and suppliers. It guarantees workers a minimum wage, social security, pension fund, paid holiday leave, sick pay, medical insurance, and the right to workplace unions. It also prohibits child labor, forced labor, and discrimination, and sets strict limits on working hours. When a factory carries SA8000 certification, it means an independent auditor has verified that workers are treated with dignity and fairness — not just on paper, but in practice.

Mono-Material Construction Mono-material construction means a garment is made from a single type of fiber or material throughout — including fabric, thread, labels, and trims. When that material is natural and biodegradable, such as 100% organic cotton, a mono-material garment can be composted or biodegraded at end of life without leaving synthetic residue behind. It's one of the most meaningful steps a brand can take toward true circularity — designing not just for how a garment is worn, but for what happens to it when it's done.

Boutique Factory Model Rather than working with large-scale industrial manufacturers, some brands we carry produce exclusively in small, specialist workshops — boutique factories where skilled workers make a limited number of pieces at a time. This model allows for closer oversight, stronger relationships between brand and maker, and higher quality control. It also means workers are more likely to be treated as skilled craftspeople rather than production units.

Above Market Rate Wages Some brands we carry go beyond fair trade minimums and pay their manufacturing partners and workers significantly above local market rates — in some cases 50-100% or more above piece rates, or two to three times the local minimum wage. This isn't a formal certification, but it's one of the most direct and meaningful ways a brand can invest in the wellbeing of the people who make their products. Where we note above market rate wages, it's based on information provided directly by the brand.

Direct Trade Direct trade means a brand has an ongoing, direct relationship with their manufacturers or producers — without intermediaries, agents, or opaque supply chains. The brand knows exactly who makes their products, visits them regularly, and negotiates directly. Direct trade relationships tend to result in better wages, better working conditions, and better quality — because accountability is built into the relationship itself. It's one of the strongest indicators of a brand's genuine commitment to ethical manufacturing.

Handmade Products labeled handmade are either made, assembled, or finished primarily by a person rather than a fully automated machine. This might mean a garment is sewn by hand from start to finish, or that a key part of the process — embroidery, finishing, assembly — is done by skilled hands. Handmade products carry the mark of the person who made them, and support artisanal craft traditions that deserve to be preserved.

Eco-Friendly Eco-friendly is a self-reported designation used by brands to indicate that their products use sustainable materials, packaging, or production practices — or some combination of all three. At Seven Sisters, we look for eco-friendly claims to be backed by at least one of the following:

• Product Materials: Products made with recycled, upcycled, vegan, organic, or plastic-free materials, or sold as refill products.
• Packaging: Reduced-weight packaging, or packaging made with recycled, recyclable, or plastic-free materials.
• Production: Products created with ethical sourcing, low-impact transport, renewable energy, fair trade, or cruelty-free methods.

Global Recycled Standard (GRS) GRS certifies that a product contains a verified amount of recycled material — including post-consumer and post-industrial content — and meets social, environmental, and chemical requirements throughout production. You'll find it on items made from recycled plastics, fibers, and metals.

B Corp Certified B Corp certification is awarded by B Lab to companies that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. It's not a product certification — it's a company certification. When a brand carries the B Corp seal, it means the entire business has been evaluated and found to balance profit with purpose.

REACH Regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) is a European Union regulation that manages the risks posed by chemicals in products. Compliance means a product has been evaluated to ensure it doesn't contain harmful chemical substances above regulated thresholds. Particularly relevant for textiles, dyes, and finishes.

Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC) The Responsible Jewelry Council is the leading standards organization for the jewelry industry. RJC certification means a company has been independently audited against rigorous standards covering human rights, labor rights, environmental impact, mining practices, and business ethics — across the full supply chain from mine to retail. When a jewelry brand or their suppliers carry RJC certification, it means the materials in your piece have been traced and verified through one of the most comprehensive accountability frameworks in the industry.

Vegan A vegan product contains no animal-derived ingredients or byproducts — no leather, wool, silk, down, bone, shell, or animal-based dyes, adhesives, or finishes. In beauty and personal care, it also means no beeswax, lanolin, carmine, or other animal-sourced ingredients. Vegan doesn't automatically mean sustainable or ethical, but combined with other certifications and practices, it's a meaningful indicator of a brand's values. Where we use the term at Seven Sisters, we look for it to be backed by transparent ingredient and materials lists.

Natural Dyes Natural dyes are derived from plants, minerals, insects, or other natural sources — rather than synthetic, petroleum-based chemical dyes. They have been used in textile production for thousands of years and are experiencing a meaningful revival among slow fashion brands. Natural dyes are biodegradable, non-toxic, and often produce colors of extraordinary depth and character. They also tend to fade gracefully over time, giving garments a living quality that synthetic dyes can't replicate.

Heritage / Generational Craft Some of the brands we carry are built on manufacturing traditions that span generations — techniques passed down through families, communities, or regional industries over decades or centuries. Heritage craft designates products made using these time-honored methods, whether that's a traditional Japanese spinning technique, hand-block printing in India, or artisanal weaving from a specific region. Supporting heritage craft means supporting living culture, specialized knowledge, and the communities that keep these traditions alive.

Cellulose Acetate Before plastic took over the world, cellulose acetate was the material of choice for eyeglass frames, hair accessories, and fine goods — and for good reason. Made from wood pulp or cotton fibers, cellulose acetate is a plant-derived, biodegradable material that is infinitely more beautiful, durable, and responsible than petroleum-based plastic. It has a depth and luminosity that plastic cannot replicate, ages gracefully, and breaks down naturally at end of life. Working with cellulose acetate is a skilled craft — it requires hand-finishing, polishing, and expertise that fast fashion simply doesn't invest in. When you choose cellulose acetate, you're choosing a pre-plastic tradition of quality that deserves to be the norm again.

Bamboo Bamboo is one of the most sustainable materials available — it grows incredibly fast without pesticides or irrigation, sequesters carbon as it grows, and requires no replanting after harvest. As a material, it is naturally strong, lightweight, and biodegradable. Bamboo is increasingly used as a responsible alternative to plastic and slow-growth hardwoods in everything from hair accessories to homeware to textiles. Products made from bamboo carry a significantly lower environmental footprint than their conventional counterparts.

Home & Living

FSC — Forest Stewardship Council FSC certification means that wood, paper, or cork in a product comes from forests that are responsibly managed — protecting biodiversity, worker rights, and community interests. It's the gold standard for ensuring that the trees used in your home goods were harvested in a way that supports rather than depletes forest ecosystems.

B Corp Certified (See above — applies across all categories where brand-level certification is relevant.)

Global Recycled Standard (GRS) (See above — applies to home goods made with recycled content.)

Handmade (See Wardrobe & Textiles — also applies to home goods and objects made or finished by hand, including ceramics, textiles, and paper goods.)

Eco-Friendly (See Wardrobe & Textiles — also applies to home goods using sustainable materials, packaging, or production practices.)

Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certified Cradle to Cradle is one of the most comprehensive product sustainability certifications available. It evaluates products across five categories: material health, material reutilization, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness. Products are certified at Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels. A C2C certification means a product has been designed with its full lifecycle in mind — from the safety of its ingredients to what happens when it's done being used.

Carbon Neutral A carbon neutral designation means a brand has measured its total carbon emissions and taken verified steps to offset or eliminate them — through renewable energy, carbon offset programs, or changes to manufacturing and logistics. It's an important commitment, though the quality of carbon neutrality claims varies. At Seven Sisters, we look for carbon neutral claims backed by third-party verification or credible offset partnerships.

1% for the Planet (See Apothecary & Beauty — applies across all categories where a brand has made this commitment.)

Apothecary & Beauty

Leaping Bunny The Leaping Bunny Program is the internationally recognized gold standard for cruelty-free certification. A product bearing this seal has been verified to contain no animal testing at any stage of development — from ingredients to finished formula — by the brand or any of its suppliers.

PETA Beauty Without Bunnies PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies program is a cruelty-free certification that verifies a brand does not conduct, commission, or pay for any tests on animals for their ingredients, formulations, or finished products anywhere in the world. Brands certified by PETA's program sign a statement of assurance and are listed in PETA's globally recognized cruelty-free database. While both Leaping Bunny and PETA Beauty Without Bunnies certify cruelty-free practices, Leaping Bunny requires more rigorous independent auditing of the full supply chain. Both are meaningful — together they represent the strongest possible cruelty-free commitment a brand can make.

Plastic Negative — rePurpose Global Plastic Negative certification, awarded by rePurpose Global, means a brand removes more plastic from the environment than it produces. For every unit sold, the brand funds the recovery of plastic waste — often from coastal communities and waterways in developing countries where plastic pollution is most acute. It goes beyond plastic neutrality (offsetting what you use) to actively reducing the total amount of plastic in circulation. Ursa Major, for example, removes two plastic bottles from the environment for every bottle sold. It's one of the most meaningful commitments a product brand can make in the fight against plastic pollution.

B Beauty Coalition The B Beauty Coalition is a group of B Corp-certified beauty and personal care brands working collectively to raise sustainability and ethical standards across the beauty industry. Membership is exclusive to certified B Corps, so it carries the same rigorous baseline as B Corp certification — but goes further by committing to industry-wide change through shared advocacy, transparency initiatives, and pushing for better regulations and practices across the sector. When a brand is both B Corp certified and a B Beauty Coalition member, it signals not just that they've met the bar, but that they're actively working to raise it for everyone.

Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (See above — also applies to textiles used in personal care, such as cotton pads, towels, and packaging.)

USDA Organic (See above — applies to food-grade and certified organic botanical ingredients in personal care products.)

REACH Regulation (See above — particularly relevant for cosmetics and personal care products sold or made in compliance with EU chemical safety standards.)

Handmade (See Wardrobe & Textiles — also applies to apothecary and beauty products made or finished by hand, including small-batch skincare, candles, and wellness products.)

Eco-Friendly (See Wardrobe & Textiles — also applies to apothecary and beauty products using sustainable materials, packaging, or production practices.)

Vegan (See Wardrobe & Textiles — particularly relevant for beauty and personal care products free from animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax, lanolin, carmine, and collagen.)

1% for the Planet 1% for the Planet is a global organization whose members commit to donating 1% of annual revenues to approved environmental nonprofits. It's not a product certification — it's a business commitment. When a brand carries the 1% for the Planet seal, it means they have made a verified, ongoing financial commitment to environmental causes, regardless of their profit margins. It's one of the most straightforward ways a company can put money where its values are.

Clean Beauty Clean beauty is a philosophy, not a regulated certification. It refers to a brand's commitment to formulating products without ingredients considered potentially harmful to human health or the environment — including parabens, phthalates, sulfates, formaldehyde, mineral oil, and animal-derived musks, among others. Because "clean beauty" has no single governing body or universal standard, the term means different things to different brands. At Seven Sisters, we look for clean beauty claims to be backed by a published ingredient exclusion list, third-party verification (such as the Credo Clean Standard or Sephora Clean), or transparent formulation practices. The goal is simple: products that are as safe for you as they are for the planet.

COSMOS Approved COSMOS is the international standard for organic and natural cosmetics, developed by five leading European certification bodies — BDIH, Cosmébio, Ecocert, ICEA, and the Soil Association. COSMOS Approved is applied specifically to raw materials and ingredients that, while not certified organic themselves, have been rigorously verified and approved for use in COSMOS-certified products. It means every ingredient has been assessed for its natural origin, responsible sourcing, and compliance with strict environmental and safety standards. When a brand formulates with COSMOS Approved ingredients, it means their building blocks have been independently vetted from the ground up — before a single product is made.

Have a question about a specific product's certifications? Reach out to us at sevensistersdigital@gmail.com — we're always happy to dig into the details.

A Note on Accuracy

How does Seven Sisters verify the information on this page? Seven Sisters curates brands and products with care, conducting ongoing research through direct brand relationships, published sustainability reports, third-party certification databases, and public-facing brand communications. However, Seven Sisters is not a certifying body, inspector, or auditor. We do not independently verify every claim made by every brand we carry.

Brand responsibility All certifications, sustainability designations, and product descriptions on this page and throughout our store are self-reported by the brands that produce them. Each brand is solely responsible for the accuracy of their claims, for maintaining any certifications they hold, and for complying with all applicable laws — including but not limited to FTC Green Guides governing environmental marketing claims, USDA Organic regulations, and any relevant international standards.

Our commitment Seven Sisters makes every reasonable effort to ensure that the information we publish is accurate and up to date. If we become aware that a claim is inaccurate, misleading, or no longer current, we are committed to correcting or removing it promptly. We welcome customers, brands, and certification bodies to notify us of any concerns at sevensistersdigital@gmail.com 

Limitation of liability Seven Sisters shall not be held liable for any inaccuracies in brand-reported certification or sustainability information. The descriptions on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute a warranty, guarantee, or legal representation regarding any product or brand.

Last Updated 5/28/2026