How to Verify Sustainable Knitwear Claims

Regulators and consumers are increasingly intolerant of vague green claims, and the liability sits with the brand. So before you repeat a manufacturer's sustainability story, verify it. It's straightforward if you ask for the right things.

What to ask for

• Certificates with scope, not just logos. A GOTS or GRS logo means little without a valid certificate naming the certified entity and scope. Ask to see it.
• Chain of custody. For GOTS/GRS, the claim depends on certified processors along the chain — ask how the certified material is traced to your order.
• Transaction-level documentation. For a specific order, can they provide documentation tying the certified yarn to your goods?
• Test reports where a substance claim is made (e.g. REACH).

Red flags

• Vague terms — “eco”, “green”, “natural” — with no certificate or scope.
• “We're certified” with no document, or an expired/irrelevant certificate.
• Claiming a facility certification that's actually the yarn supplier's.
• Reluctance to provide documentation.

How we handle it

We're plain about our model: we don't hold facility-level certifications — we source certified yarns from accredited suppliers and pass their certificates and traceability to you, and we'll arrange third-party testing where it's required. That distinction is stated, not blurred — so your claims rest on documentation you can show. See sustainable knitwear.