Textile seals & certifications

Most Cotonea products are certified with IVN Best. This is the highest standard for natural textiles. But we offer you more than the highest standard.

All our products are durable and therefore long-lasting, they are of high quality and are not only produced with great care by us but also by our suppliers. If we have to choose between “good” and “cheap”, we will always choose “good”. IVN Best does not take these criteria into account. Therefore, we have added this additional seal to the world of Cotonea, which not only takes the whole chain of production into account, but also the trust which you as consumers can have in us.

This seal means: Cotonea is consistently ecological, fair and healthy. You can trust Cotonea.

Best works with a positive list for all used materials and chemicals and, in addition, with a list of limits for the final product. In order to be added to the positive list, every necessary resource, every dye, every chemical must be registered with the full disclosure of its formula. In comparison to most other standards, we do not have a Restricted Substances List. Instead, only known harmless ingredients are allowed, and in addition very strict limits apply for contamination or reactions. This way a production process according to IVN Best forgoes many a popular admixture – such as elastane – which tends to improve the wearing comfort of, for example, t-shirts. IVN Best stipulates social standards which are monitored on-site at the companies. These are orientated to the core standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Bottom line: this is the standard with the world’s most demanding requirements for natural textiles, that is currently available. As only very few manufacturers can fulfil the standards, this seal is not very widespread.

More materials and processes are allowed that could have a negative ecological effect or possibly negative effect on health. These are e.g.

• bleaching with optical brighteners and the use of silicones (allergic reactions to silicones are possible)
• mercerization (the treatment with caustic soda is environmentally questionable) chemical high-end processing (e.g. to make textiles easier to iron)
• mixtures with lycra or other artificial fibres sourced from non-renewable raw materials
• sewing threads made of pure polyester (PES), which is problematic in regards to ecological product disposal, e.g. cradle to cradle.

Bottom line: this is a widespread, good standard with a good philosophy but also containing compromises. Currently, there are suspicions that products produced by genetically engineered organisms are marked with the GOTS label.

This label identifies a product, whose raw materials are cultivated AND the production process is implemented according both to socially-fair aspects. It does not certify that the product is organic nor that the farmers receive fair wages. (similar to Fairtrade international). The standard setters simply make money from the certification fees.

Bottom line: objectively a better standard than FT International. As no licence fees are charged, the standard setter does not find itself in a conflict of goals between high standards and licence fees.