Cradle To Cradle
Cradle to Cradle is a product certification based on the idea of continually cycling products, and it evaluates material safety, circularity, environmental management, social fairness, and more.
Contents6 sections
Definition and Overview
Cradle to Cradle is a design philosophy that does not assume disposal, but rather cycles materials after use into raw materials for the next product, and it is a product certification based on that idea. It evaluates not only the fabric itself, but also the manufacturing process and raw material information.
The certification is not uniformly granted to an entire business entity; in principle, it applies to specific products. Therefore, even if a fabric manufacturer or brand has obtained certification, not all fabrics or products are necessarily certified.
Scope and Basic Approach to the Standards
The certification comprehensively assesses multiple aspects, including material health based on chemicals used, product circularity including the use of reused and renewable raw materials, consideration for climate and energy during manufacturing, water and soil management, and social fairness.
For textile products, the fiber composition of the outer fabric alone is not enough to determine compliance. Since dyes, auxiliaries, water repellents, printing agents, laminates, adhesives, accessories, and packaging materials may be included in the assessment scope, any change to product specifications requires confirmation of the impact on certification.
- Material safety and chemical management
- Circular design with collection, reuse, and recycling in mind
- Consideration for energy, climate, water, and soil
- Social fairness in the supply chain
Points to Check When Procuring Fabrics and Making Products
When purchasing certified fabric, confirm the product number, color, processing details, validity of the certification, and the scope covered by the certificate with the supplier. Even with the same composition, if the dyeing, functional finishing, or post-processing differs, the product may fall outside the certification scope.
Even if garments are manufactured using certified fabric, the finished product is not automatically certified. If lining, interlining, sewing thread, buttons, zippers, or prints are added, confirm the certification requirements and scope for the finished product at the planning stage.
- Confirm the product name, product number, color, processing, and issue date listed on the certificate
- Check the impact on certification before adding custom colors, post-processing, printing, or lamination
- If certification labeling will be used on the finished product, confirm the composition including accessories and the certified scope
- Manage the history of raw material and process changes together with the specification sheet
Notes on Labeling and Certificates
When referring to certification on product pages, hangtags, care tags, or sales materials, make clear whether the certified item is the fabric or the finished product. Broad expressions such as "environmentally friendly" may lead to interpretations that go beyond the certification scope.
For certificates, check not only the name but also the certified product, certification version, certification level, validity period, and certifying body. When submitting them to trading partners, confirm whether they are the latest certificate and whether they apply to the relevant lot or specification, and obtain supporting documents from the supplier if necessary.
Differences from Similar Certifications
Cradle to Cradle is a certification that covers product circular design and multiple areas related to the product life cycle. Its purpose and scope of evaluation differ from certifications that separately indicate only the cultivation method of a specific fiber raw material, the content ratio of recycled raw materials, or the safety of chemicals.
For example, GOTS is a standard for textile products centered on organic fibers, GRS is a standard centered on recycled materials and their management, and OEKO-TEX is mainly a standard for hazardous substances in textile products. Depending on the required claims and trading requirements, confirm the certification target and applicable scope individually.
Frequently Asked Questions
If we use certified fabric, can the finished garment also be labeled as Cradle to Cradle certified?
Not necessarily. Because the certification covers specific products and specifications, a finished product with accessories, printing, or post-processing added to certified fabric becomes a different item. If you are considering labeling the finished product, check the certification scope and labeling conditions with the certificate and the certifying body.
Is C2C a certification that indicates the content ratio of recycled materials?
C2C is not a certification that shows only the content ratio of recycled raw materials. In addition to a design that cycles materials, it evaluates multiple aspects such as material safety, water and energy management, and social fairness. If you want to confirm the recycled content ratio, separately check the supporting documentation for that as well.
What should be checked on a fabric certificate?
On the certificate, confirm the certified product name or product number, the applicable color or processing, the certification version and level, the validity period, and the certifying body. If custom colors or additional processing are planned, it is important to confirm in advance with the supplier whether the same certificate can be applied.
