Eco-friendly caps and clothing: what the claims mean
“Ethical”, “eco-friendly”, “sustainable”: these words do not refer to any set of rules. What can be checked is the material stated in the composition and the label that comes with it. Here is what each one covers, and what it does not.
Words, materials, labels
Three levels that should not be confused. A word such as “eco-friendly” does not refer to any specific set of rules. A material, organic cotton or recycled polyester, says what the piece is made of. A label, GOTS, OEKO-TEX or GRS, means that an independent body has checked something specific.
So the useful question is not “is this cap ethical?” but “what was checked, and by whom?”.
Organic cotton
Cotton is called organic when it is grown according to the rules of organic farming: without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, and without genetically modified seed.
The claim is about how the fibre was grown. On its own, it says nothing about dyeing, sewing or working conditions in the sewing factory: that is the role of a label such as GOTS.
Look at the percentage too. “Contains organic cotton” and “100 % organic cotton” do not describe the same piece.
Recycled polyester
Recycled polyester is made from plastic that already exists, most often PET bottles, instead of virgin material derived from oil.
It is still polyester: it wears and washes like ordinary polyester, and like ordinary polyester it is not biodegradable.
Here again the recycled share is a percentage, stated in the composition. The certification behind it is generally GRS or RCS.
GOTS, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, GRS
Three labels often found on textiles, which do not check the same thing. One garment can carry several of them, or be made of organic cotton and carry none: the material and the label are two separate pieces of information.
- GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): applies to textiles made from organic fibres. It requires at least 70 % certified organic fibres, 95 % for the “organic” label grade, and audits the processing chain against environmental and social criteria.
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100: the finished product and its components have been laboratory-tested for harmful substances. It does not say whether the fibre is organic or recycled, nor how the piece was made.
- GRS (Global Recycled Standard): verifies the share of recycled material and its traceability from one stage to the next, and adds social, environmental and chemical requirements. RCS, from the same family, verifies only the recycled share and its traceability.
And “ethical”?
The word usually refers to working conditions. GOTS and GRS include social criteria; OEKO-TEX Standard 100 does not, as that is not its purpose.
Two other names come up. Fairtrade, for cotton, concerns the terms on which it is bought from farmers: a minimum price and a premium. Fair Wear is an organisation that brands join to improve working conditions in garment factories: it is a commitment by the brand, not a label awarded to a product.
How to check, and what we do
A label can be checked. A GOTS or GRS label names the certification body and a licence number; an OEKO-TEX label carries a number that can be verified on the OEKO-TEX website.
In our catalogue, the composition is on every product page, with the certifications when the manufacturer declares any. Those statements are the manufacturer's: we pass them on, we do not certify anything ourselves. If a label is a condition of your purchase, for a public tender or a company policy, ask us for the manufacturer's data sheet before you order.
One last point: a label covers the piece as the manufacturer delivers it. The marking we add, embroidery thread or DTF transfer, is not part of that certification.
What each claim covers
| What the claim covers | What it does not tell you | |
|---|---|---|
| Organic cotton | How the fibre was grown | Dyeing, sewing, working conditions |
| Recycled polyester | Where the raw material comes from | The manufacturing stages |
| GOTS | Organic fibres, processing chain, environmental and social criteria | Applies only to textiles made from organic fibres |
| OEKO-TEX Standard 100 | Harmful substances in the finished product | Origin of the fibre, manufacturing conditions |
| GRS | Recycled share, traceability, social, environmental and chemical criteria | That the piece is fully recycled: the share is a percentage |
Frequently asked questions
Is an organic cotton cap necessarily GOTS certified?
No. “Organic cotton” describes the fibre; GOTS additionally certifies processing and manufacturing. A cap can be made of organic cotton without carrying the GOTS label: the manufacturer's data sheet says which of the two applies.
Does OEKO-TEX mean eco-friendly?
Not in the usual sense. Standard 100 certifies that the product has been tested for substances harmful to health. It does not cover where the fibre comes from, nor how the piece was made.
Are your caps ethical?
We do not answer with an adjective. The catalogue includes models in organic cotton or recycled material; the composition and the certifications declared by the manufacturer are on each product page. That is the basis, model by model, on which you can judge.
Does the marking change the garment's certification?
The label was awarded to the piece as the manufacturer delivers it. The embroidery or transfer we add is not part of it, and we do not present a marked piece as certified by us.
Can an organic cotton or recycled cap be embroidered?
Yes, like any other: the technique depends on the shape of the cap and its fabric, not on where the fibre comes from. On the front panel, embroidery remains our default choice.
Custom caps · Custom bags and tote bags · Marking a bag or a cap · Request a quote
Other guides: Ordering for Luxembourg: VAT, lead times, transport · Washing custom clothing · Flocking, flex or DTF transfer · Embroidery or printing on workwear · Preparing your logo for embroidery or printing · Marking a bag, a backpack or a cap