Textile Exchange

Written by:  Heather Mak, Manager at SustainAbility

A sea change is under way in the standards, certifications and labels universe.

Energy Star, which began as a leadership standard/label by the US EPA and Department of Energy, has become painfully aware that it is now a cost of entry. After the Government Accountability Office unearthed that a gasoline powered alarm clock received the Energy Star label, the EPA/DOE realized that they had to evolve the scheme, and added on very costly third party certification requirements to ensure credibility. This ended up alienating many of the consumer electronics companies who were early supporters of Energy Star. In the world of seafood, earlier in 2012, eight of the largest Alaskan salmon fisheries who were early proponents of the MSC certification scheme stated that they no longer were going to use it. Over time, Alaskan salmon fisheries had built credibility as a sustainable source and had built a brand in their own right.     [Read More]