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Green Button Standard 2.0.1 now available in English

The Green Button Standard 2.0.1 was published in September and came into force on 1 December 2024. Today marks the publication of its English translation. You can now familiarise yourself with the minor changes that have been made to the Green Button normative documents. You can download a version of the documents with markups of the changes made. Please find more information in this news article.

The Green Button Standard slightly adapted: The Green Button 2.0.1

The Green Button Standard 2.0 was published in June 2022. It has been successfully in use ever since. To date, 61 companies have already been audited in accordance with the ambitious standard version and are therefore licensed with the Green Button 2.0.

In the process of implementing the Green Button 2.0, there has been feedback from relevant Green Button stakeholders, to which the Green Button responds now with a slightly adapted version of the standard. Reasons for these adaptations are for example the extended transition period for the fibre requirements, the accreditation qualification of the Green Button Programme by the German Accreditation Body and the OECD Alignment Assessment of the Green Button. The central normative documents are now being adapted based on the feedback we received out of these processes.

An overview of the changes

The new requirements are published today, come into force on December 1^st 2024 and are binding from then on. Licence holders, certification bodies and other stakeholders must comply with and implement the changes to the standard document. There is no need for a special evaluation; instead, the assessment will take place during the next regular evaluation.

The specific changes are listed in the following documents: There is one document version in which the parts that have changed compared to the Green Button 2.0 are highlighted in yellow in the text, as well as a cleared document version. Each document also contains an overview of the changes made in the version table. As the publication of the English documents will only follow shortly, the links provided below will lead you to the German documents:

Green Button Standard 2.0.1: Requirements for corporate due diligence processes and conditions for product labelling (incl. marked changes)

Green Button Standard 2.0.1: Requirements for corporate due diligence processes and conditions for product labelling (version without markings)

Green Button Standard 2.0.1: Process and requirements for the recognition of labels (meta-label approach) (incl. marked changes)

Green Button Standard 2.0.1: Process and requirements for the recognition of labels (meta- label approach) (version without markings)

Green Button Standard: List of approved Fibres and materials including explanations and recognised labels 1.2

Green Button Certification Programme 4.1 (incl. marked changes)

Green Button Certification Programme 4.1 (version without markings)

If you are a licensed or interested company and have any questions about the slight adaptations, please feel free to attend our open Q&A sessions:

for licence holders: every Wednesday between 09:00 and 10:00 a.m.

for interested companies: every second Thursday between 09:30 and 10:30 a.m.

When it comes to the certification bodies, the adaptions in the central documents have already been and will still be discussed in the regular calibration meetings.

How we change fashion: The Green Button celebrates its fifth anniversary

Five years ago, the government-run label Green Button was introduced by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as the first label of its kind in Germany. Since then, the Green Button has pursued the goal of making the textile industry more sustainable. After all, 90% of our textiles are produced in countries of the Global South - often under inadequate conditions. An estimated 75 million people worldwide are involved in the production of textiles, the majority of whom are women. Unpaid overtime for seamstresses and the use of hazardous chemicals in production are still commonplace. To change this, (textile) companies must fulfil their due diligence obligations and proactively address risks and grievances in their supply chains. For the past five years, the Green Button has shown which companies fulfil their responsibility for people and the environment in their textile supply chains and recognises their sustainable products.

Since its launch in September 2019, the Green Button has achieved quite a lot: More than 100 companies have implemented the Green Button standard in the past five years and have undergone independent audits. On the fifth anniversary, Head of Secretariat, Christine Moser-Priewich looks back on the development of the Green Button and emphasises the pioneering role of the label: "It fills us with great pride that the Green Button, as a pioneer, has been able to make an important and acknowledged contribution to anchoring due diligence. Today, it is undisputed that the Green Button has been able to demonstrate two things: Firstly, companies of all sizes can implement due diligence and take responsibility for compliance with human rights and environmental standards in their supply chains. Secondly, these due diligence obligations can be verified and certified - numerous players are now following our example. The Green Button has thus paved the way for corresponding legislative initiatives in Germany and Europe."

Further development of the requirements

With the introduction of a revised standard version (Green Button 2.0) in August 2022, the requirements were increased. For example, the Green Button now also sets requirements for progress towards living wages and demands greater involvement of those affected in the production countries. More than 60 companies are currently licensed with the revised standard and fulfil its more ambitious requirements.

Impact beyond its own label

The Green Button also has an impact beyond its own label and beyond the textile industry via the socalled meta-label approach. In the meta-label approach, the Green Button has recognised (certification) 20 trustworthy labels - including labels from Fairtrade, OEKO-TEX® and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). With these recognised (certification) labels, companies prove that they and their suppliers meet the Green Button's requirements for sustainable production. On the way to recognition, the labels have worked with the Green Button to raise their requirements in key areas. These stricter requirements, e.g. in the areas of child labour, maternity protection, chemicals and labour rights, apply to all companies certified by the 20 labels. This benefits workers in over 27,000 factories worldwide, including in India, Bangladesh and Türkiye. This not only contributes to social justice, but also conserves resources worldwide and promotes a more sustainable global economy.

The Green Button is everywhere

The Green Button has not only made a name for itself in the corporate and labelling landscape. The Green Button is also recognised by large sections of the public: According to a recent representative survey by the Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung (GfK), the Green Button is the third best-known textile label in Germany. As many as 47% of people are familiar with the label, and over half (60%) of them have consciously bought at least one item of clothing with it. Trust in the Green Button is particularly high at 68%. From hats to socks, from tents to fan scarves: sustainable products with the Green Button are now available for every occasion and every budget. Since its introduction in 2019, over 425 million textiles with the Green Button have been sold.

The Green Button has also become an integral part of the public sphere: whether on bed linen or towels in hotels and hospitals or on uniforms on trains and at supermarket checkouts – the textile label can be found everywhere. "The success of the Green Button shows that consumers want to consume more sustainably. The government-run textile label gives them the opportunity to make a contribution for better working conditions and environmentally friendly production when shopping," says a delighted Moser-Priewich.

About the label

The Green Button was launched on 9 September 2019 by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It aims to achieve decent working conditions and environmentally friendly production along textile supply chains. As a scheme owner, the BMZ is thus further promoting the protection of people and the environment in global supply chains.

The special feature of the Green Button is that its requirements are divided into two pillars: The requirements of the first pillar examine whether a company assumes responsibility for compliance with human rights and environmental standards in its textile supply chains. These are the requirements for corporate due diligence processes. The second pillar of the Green Button includes the requirements for production processes in the supply chain. To verify these, the Green Button recognises other labels via its so-called meta-label approach. These labels must fulfil recognition criteria. A product can therefore only be labelled with the Green Button if the requirements from both pillars are met.

End of Transitional Period for Green Button 1.0 Recognized Certification Labels and Newly Recognized Labels I 01.08.2024

August 1^st 2024 marks the end of the transition period for Green Button 1.0 recognised labels. From this date, companies may only list new Green Button products that carry labels that are recognised for Green Button 2.0 at the manufacturing and wet process stages of the supply chain. The requirements for raw material extraction (fibres and materials) are subject to a transitional period until 31.07.2026. Only after this date will these requirements become binding.

A currently valid version of the list of recognised labels can always be found in the download area of the Grüner Knopf website. This list might be updated in the future. Most recently, two labels have successfully passed the benchmarking process and are thus now recognised as a certification label for production process requirements (meta-label approach) under Green Button 2.0:

Cradle to Cradle Certified® (C2C Certified®) Silver-Gold-Platinum: for wet processes
Fairtrade Textile Standard: for wet processes

This newly evaluated certification label complements the recognised certification labels published in the last months:

bluesign®PRODUCT: For the recognition scope wet processes. For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of virgin polyester and down

Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of cotton

Fairtrade Cotton: For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of cotton

Fairtrade Textile Standard: For the recognition scope manufacturing

Fairwear Foundation Good Status: For the recognition scope manufacturing

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): for manufacturing and wet processes and for the fibre and material production for the use of plant-based and animal fibres and for the use of man-made fibres with a proportion greater than 10% and less than 30% in the final product

Global Recycled Standard (GRS): For the recognition scope wet processes in combination with Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and for fibre and material use for the use of recycled man-made and plant-based fibres

Naturtextil IVN zertifiziert BEST: For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based and animal fibres

Organic Content Standard (OCS): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the proof of plant-based and animal fibres as well as regenerated fibres

OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN: For the recognition scope manufacturing and wet processes

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100: For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of virgin polyester (product class 1-3) as well as for the use of recycled fibres and materials

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 „organic“: For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of organic cotton if "organic" is shown in the scope of the certificate (only possible until 1 April 2025)

OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON: For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of organic cotton

Recycled Claim Standard (RCS): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the proof of recycled man-made and plant-based fibres

Responsible Down Standard (RDS): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of down

Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of Mohair

Responsible Wool Standard (RWS): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of Wool

SA8000: For the recognition scope manufacturing

All certification labels recognised for Green Button regarding the supply chain levels wet processing and manufacturing as well as fibre and material use can be found here. The list will be continuously supplemented and updated. To understand which fibres and materials require which label, you must read the list in conjunction with the list of approved fibres and materials.

To meet the Green Button requirements for production processes and to be able to label products, companies must demonstrate recognised certification labels for all three areas (fibre and material use, wet processes, manufacturing). Moreover, companies must demonstrate compliance with the requirements for corporate due diligence processes within a Green Button audit.

Recognition of the aforementioned certification labels is the result of a recognition process outlined in this fact sheet as well as in Green Button Standard 2.0: Process and Requirements for the Recognition of Certification Labels. Newly recognised certification labels were assessed prior to their recognition to determine whether they met the content requirements of the Green Button Standard as well as the eligibility requirements, which include requirements for their credibility. The recognition of the certification labels issued by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is valid until the next revision of the Green Button. The recognition of the certification labels issued by the BMZ is valid until the next revision of the Green Button. Should the certification label itself undergo changes, it is to be reviewed in accordance with the Green Button Standard whether the recognition needs to be elicited in a new benchmarking.

Documents for download:

Overview recognised certification labels (this list might be updated and added to)

List of approved fibres and materials including guidance and recognised certification labels (this list might be updated and added to)

Comparison shows: Green Button companies well prepared for the German Supply Chain Act

The German Supply Chain Act (LkSG) has been in force since January 2021. For the first time, companies above a certain size are legally obliged to do what Green Button companies have been doing voluntarily since 2019: demonstrably take responsibility for their supply chains. In order to support companies in complying with the legal regulations, the Green Button Secretariate has drawn up a comparison of the requirements of the LkSG with those of the Green Button. The document shows where requirements overlap and where there are differences.

The good news for all Green Button-licensed companies first: Green Button-licensed companies are already well prepared for the LkSG and in some cases better positioned than the law currently expects. Green Button companies are in a particularly good position with regard to the policy of responsible business conduct or the prevention measures of their direct suppliers.

Many overlaps between the Green Button standard and the law’s requirements

The comparison shows that the law and the Green Button place similar requirements on companies overall and often only differ in details. For example, both the law and the Green Button require the development of a policy on responsible business conduct. However, the requirements for the content of the policy statement are more detailed in the Green Button Standard than in the LkSG.

Even regarding requirements where the content appears to differ at first glance, a closer look reveals that they lead to the same result. For example, the policy on responsible business conduct in the law is regarded as a preventive measure and is closely linked to the risk analysis. In the Green Button, the policy is the cornerstone of responsible corporate governance and is not seen as a preventive measure. However, this does not change the implementation, as a policy statement with relevant content must be available in both cases. 

Furthermore, although some requirements of the law are not a direct part of the Green Button requirements, they are often requested as part of the verification process and/or as part of the surveillance audit.  For example, in contrast to the law, the Green Button requirements do not ask about the process in which the management is informed about risk management. However, a process description is part of the verification process in the audit.

Differences mainly regarding risk analysis and grievance procedures

In addition to these overlaps, there are also a few differences. One notable difference is the depth of the risk analysis. Here, the requirements of the Green Button go beyond those of the law. With the Green Button, the risk analysis covers the entire textile supply chain from the outset. This includes all production activities in all sourcing countries right down to the origin of the raw materials. No distinction is made between direct suppliers with a direct contractual relationship and indirect suppliers without a contractual relationship. The derivation and implementation of preventive measures is based on the prioritized risks from the risk analysis. This is a significant difference to the LkSG: there, preventive measures are primarily required of direct suppliers. For suppliers in the deeper supply chain without a direct contractual relationship, corrective measures are only required if there is substantiated knowledge of violations.

In addition, the law and the GK take different approaches with regard to grievance procedures and mechanisms. The Green Button takes an implementation-oriented approach: Companies must address existing grievance mechanisms in the supply chain in their risk analysis and evaluate them in terms of their effectiveness. Sensible measures are then defined on this basis. The law, on the other hand, requires companies to set up their own grievance mechanisms per se and places high demands on the rules of procedure.

You can find the complete comparison of the requirements here.

Fair Wear Foundation (Good) recognised for the Green Button 2.0

Another certification label has successfully passed the benchmarking process and is now recognised as a certification label for production process requirements (meta-label approach) under the Green Button 2.0.

From now on, the following certification label will be accepted:

Fair Wear Foundation Good status: for manufacturing

This newly evaluated certification label complements the recognised certification labels published in the last months:

bluesign®PRODUCT: For the recognition scope wet processes. For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of virgin polyester and down.
Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based fibres
Fairtrade Cotton: For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based fibres

Fairtrade Textile Standard: For the recognition scope manufacturing
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): for manufacturing and wet processes and for the fibre and material production for the use of plant-based and animal fibres and for the use of man-made fibres with a proportion greater than 10% and less than 30% in the final product.
Global Recycled Standard (GRS): For the recognition scope wet processes in combination with Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and for fibre and material use for the use of recycled man-made and plant-based fibres
Naturtextil IVN zertifiziert BEST: For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based and animal fibres
Organic Content Standard (OCS): For the recognition scope fibre and material use for the use of plant-based and animal fibres as well as regenerated fibres
OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN: For the recognition scope manufacturing and wet processes. For the recognition scope of fiber and material use for the use of virgin polyester (product class 1-3) or the use of organic cotton
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100: For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of virgin polyester (product class 1-3) as well as for the use of recycled fibers and materials
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 „organic“: For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of organic cotton
OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON: For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of organic cotton
Recycled Claim Standard (RCS): For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of recycled man-made and plant-based fibres
Responsible Down Standard (RDS): For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of down.
Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS): For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of animal fibres
Responsible Wool Standard (RWS): For the recognition scope fiber and material use for the use of animal fibres
SA8000: For the recognition scope manufacturing

All certification labels recognised for the Green Button regarding the supply chain levels wet processing and manufacturing as well as fibre and material use can be found here. The list will be continuously supplemented and updated. This document lists all fibres and materials approved for the Green Button 2.0, combined with the respective recognised certification labels. 

To meet the Green Button requirements for production processes and to be able to label products, companies must demonstrate recognised certification labels for all three areas (fibre and material use, wet processes, manufacturing). Prior to this, companies must demonstrate compliance with the requirements for corporate due diligence processes within a Green Button audit.

Recognition of the aforementioned certification labels is the result of a recognition process outlined in this fact sheet as well as in Green Button Standard 2.0: Process and Requirements for the Recognition of Certification Labels. Newly recognised certification labels were assessed prior to their recognition to determine whether they meet the content requirements of the Green Button Standard as well as the eligibility requirements, which include requirements for their credibility. The recognition of the certification labels issued by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is valid until the next revision of the Green Button. The recognition of the certification labels issued by the BMZ is valid until the next revision of the Green Button. Should the certification label itself undergo changes, it is to be reviewed in accordance with the Green Button Standard whether the recognition needs to be elicited in a new benchmarking.

Documents for download

List of approved fibres and materials including guidance and recognised certification labels (this list will be continuously updated and added to)

Overview recognised certification labels (this list will be continuously updated and added to)

It’s a wrap: Joint webinar series on EU Textile Strategy has come to an end

What started in September 2023 as a joint webinar series by the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, the Green Button and GIZ FABRIC has now come to an end – leaving the organizational team very satisfied with the outcome of the series. The six webinar sessions took participants on a journey through the complex landscape of upcoming EU legislations under the EU Textile Strategy. Important regulations that will affect companies in the textile sector were introduced in detail and the large numbers of participants in all sessions proved the relevance of the topic.

Each session featured various experts in their respective fields who shared their perspectives on what is to come and how stakeholders can prepare.

This way, the webinar series provided participants with:

an introduction to the wider EU policy landscape and how upcoming legislations relate to international obligations
a deep dive into specific legislative initiatives that will transform the textile and apparel sector in the coming years
a better understanding of how these initiatives will likely impact companies and global supply chains.

Prepraing for what lies ahead - collaboration is key

The regulations that were presented in detail were: the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the Waste Framework Regulation and Extended Producer Responsibility, the Ban of Products made with Forced Labour and the Green Claims Directive.

Even though none of these were final at the moment of presentation, the experts made it clear that there are many steps that companies already can and should take in order to prepare for the upcoming regulations. Furthermore, all experts underlined collaboration as a key strategy when preparing for what’s ahead. No company should move on its own but rather join forces with others - including their suppliers.

Recordings available

If you have missed a session, or simply would like to rewatch it, you can find all sessions co-hosted with GIZ FABRIC on the Asian Garment Hub Channel on Youtube. All other sessions will successively be added to the Green Button Youtube Channel.

The organizational team would like to thank everybody involved for their valuable contributions and the tremendous interest from the audience in each of the sessions!

Webinar-Series: Europes Green Transition in the Textile Sector

The webinar series of The Partnership for Sustainable Textile and the Green Button on upcoming legislation under the EU Textile Strategie continues!

Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation: A Game Changer for the Textile Sector?

Join us and FABRIC on 31st of January from 10am CET on for the third session of the webinar series. This time, we will shed a light on the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Hear from experts and stakeholders what is coming and how to be best prepared. Is the regulation going to be a game changer for the textile sector?

Registrations are possible via this link. An overview of the upcoming webinar sessions can be found here.

On 31st of January, Tim Becker (REACHLaw), Roman Houlbreque (retraced) and Gabrielle Shiner-Hill (bureau_555) will share their knowledge with us on the ESPR as well as on the Digital Product Pass (DPP). The session will delve into the textile-specific aspects of the ESPR and provide insights into the evolving discussions around the DPP at the EU level, helping brands and suppliers prepare for the impending Regulation's impact on the textile industry.

The initial proposal of the EU Commission on the ESPR was published on March 30, 2022. Trilogue negotiations followed in 2023 and a compromise between Parliament and Council was found in December 2023. While many of the details still need to be regulated in delegated acts in the coming years, the regulation is expected to be adopted in Q1 2024.

This regulation, a cornerstone of the EU's Green Deal, extends the scope of the existing Ecodesign Directive to cover a broader range of products, including textiles. It seeks to introduce ecodesign requirements for specific product groups, with a focus on improving circularity, energy performance, and other environmental sustainability aspects. Textiles are prioritized as a product group. The ESPR mandates ecodesign requirements for product performance and information disclosure while addressing concerns such as the destruction of unsold products. In fact, recent amendments have strengthened the proposed ban on the destruction of unsold goods for certain specified sectors, including textiles and footwear. Furthermore, the webinar will explore the concept of the Digital Product Passport (DPP), which aims to standardize product information, enhance traceability, and support repair and recycling efforts.

Webinar Series: Europe's Green Transition in the Textile Sector: EU Waste Legislation

The webinar series of The Partnership for Sustainable Textile and the Green Button on upcoming legislation under the EU Textile Strategie continues!

Join the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, the Green Button and FABRIC for the fourth session of our six-months webinar series to learn more about the EU’s Green Deal and how it will affect the textile and garment sector. Hear from experts and stakeholders about what’s coming and how to be best prepared.

On 07th February, 10am – 11:30 am CET, we will take a closer look at the landscape of the EU waste legislation. This time, our experts will be:

Marie-Jeanne Gaertner, (RReuse), Beatriz Fernandez (UNEP) and Edwina Huang (Phoenxt)

Registrations are possible via this link. An overview of the upcoming webinar sessions can be found here.

In July 2023, the European Commission published its proposal to revise the Waste Framework Directive. The main objective of the revision is to make producers responsible for the full lifecycle of textile products and to support the sustainable management of textile waste across the EU. In November 2023, the European Parliament and the Council reached a compromise on the new Waste Shipment Regulation. The primary objective of the new law is to make sure the EU does not longer export its waste problems to third countries. In December, an agreement on new Ecodesign rules followed, including a ban on destroying unsold clothing and footwear. Together, these new laws will change the way the EU handles textiles waste.

In this seminar we will dive into the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) and touch upon the Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR), addressing crucial aspects, including the legislative scope, progress, and promotion of sustainable waste practices. We will particularly explore mandatory extended producer responsibility, as well as end of life criteria to better distinguish textile waste from second-hand clothing.

Webinar-Series: Europe’s Green Transition in the Textile Sector

Join the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, the Green Button and FABRIC for the fifth session of our six-months webinar series to learn more about the EU’s Textile Strategy and how it will affect the textile and garment sector. Hear from experts and stakeholders about what’s coming and how to be best prepared.

In the session on 28^th February, 10am – 11:30 am CET, we will take a closer look at the current proposal on a future without modern slavery together with our experts:

Anna Cavazzini (MEP The Greens/EFA)
Libby Annat (Due Diligence Design)
Clemence Aron (Mekong Club)

Registrations are possible via this link. An overview of the upcoming webinar sessions can be found here.

In September 2022, the European Commission proposed a “Regulation to prohibit products made using forced labour on the European Union internal market” and underlined the EU’s efforts to ban all products made under such conditions - including child labour – for domestic consumption, export and import. After the European Parliament adopted its negotiating position in November 2023, the Council of the EU followed in January 2024 and paved the way for the interinstitutional negotiations (“Trialogue”) to begin.

In this seminar, we will dive into the proposed regulation and highlight its impact on the textile sector. We will particularly explore how brands can prepare for the regulation and identify strategies and tools to identify, address and mitigate risks associated with forced labour in supply chains.

Six-month webinar series

You want to know more about the legislative framework under the EU Green Deal and how it could initiate change and affect your business? Join us for a series of six webinars on upcoming legislation under the EU Green Deal and the EU Textile Strategy!

The webinar series will provide you with:

an introduction to the wider EU policy landscape and how upcoming legislations relate to international obligations
a deep dive into specific legislative initiatives that will transform the textile and apparel sector in the coming years
a better understanding of how these initiatives will likely impact companies and global supply chains.

Please click here for more information on the series and registration.