A Practical Roadmap to Textile Exchange Certification
Certification is becoming a baseline expectation as global regulation tightens and brands face growing pressure to substantiate the sustainability claims they make about their products. Tier 1 factories sit at a critical point in that chain. When finished-product manufacturers achieve certification, they unlock real value for themselves and their brand partners, from full chain of custody to favorable product placement with retailers marketing sustainability attributes.
Yet the path to certification is often unclear, with unfamiliar documentation requirements, material handling procedures, and audit processes that can make getting started feel daunting. To address this, a coalition of OIA members, including Columbia Sportswear Company, The North Face, Patagonia, KEEN, Burton, L.L. Bean, Stanley, and FENIX Outdoor, formed a task force to help increase certification rates among Tier 1 factories.
The result is OIA’s Content Claim Standard Guidance for Tier 1 Vendors. Built from interviews with certified and non-certified suppliers, certification bodies, and Textile Exchange, the guide clarifies the full certification process for the OCS, GRS, RCS, RDS, RWS, RMS, RAS, and CCS standards. It covers:
- Determining your certification scope, including standards, facilities, and processes
- Finding a certification body and building management systems
- Preparing for and completing your audit
- Applying for and issuing scope and transaction certificates
- Product-specific considerations for complex outdoor gear, footwear, and hard goods
- Certification costs, claims eligibility, and additional resources
Whether you are exploring certification for the first time or refining an existing program, the guide is designed to make certification more attainable. It is available in English, Vietnamese, and Bengali.
