ABOUT L.E.A.F. (Labeling Ecologically Approved Fabrics)
"The greatest thing about the dilemma we are in is that we get to reimagine every single thing we do " -- Paul Hawken
Why We are Here
There is currently a general lack of trustworthy information for US consumers should they want to buy clothing or fabrics made in an ethical and sustainable way. Additionally, many producers in the textile supply chain have made great efforts to improve their practices, but have not yet found a way to convey all of these improvements to the US customer while receiving returns on those investments and improvements.
Third-party certification provides a reliable way to communicate these improvements to the end user by providing comprehensive environmental/SR (social responsibility) benchmarks for industries to aspire to, while also providing independent verification for all environmental and social claims made to the marketplace.
Yet due to the complexity of this industry's life cycle, it is difficult for any one Standards Group to cover the full range of inputs, processes and social issues covered by the entire life cycle and supply chain of the apparel/fabrics industries.
The purpose of LEAF is to create a comprehensive eco-labeling system that--over time--addresses a majority of the T.I.E.S. (Total Impact on Environment and Society) for a particular apparel or fabric product. Since it can be difficult for any one product to meet every environmental and social benchmark throughout this industry's complex chain of custody, this program also aims to communicate where a particular product has made specific achievements in its life cycle process.
This program also seeks to troubleshoot the issue of the US consumer becoming confused by too many labeling programs in the future that cover pieces of the life cycle, and instead to provide an administrative labeling program that directly collaborates with the leading standards groups of the apparel/fabrics industries in order to present a unifying, centralized labeling message to the US marketplace.
The industry will benefit from the LEAF label through increased sales of its products, and the standards groups will benefit from increased use of their programs. Finally, the earth and its stewards will benefit from cleaner and more ethical production practices from this industry's improved life cycle practices.
What We Do
Overview
LEAF will serve end users, the apparel/fabrics industries and their stakeholder community, and the standards setting organizations in the following ways:
- Collaborate with leading standards-setting and third-party certification programs of the apparel industry to form a unifying/collaborative labeling program in the United States that is trusted and recognized by both the consumer and the apparel industry.
- Provide information on each garment that communicates where a product has made specific environmental and social achievements.
- Deliver a platform upon which both the industry and the consumer can learn about the extensive, problems — as well as the exciting solutions — happening throughout the apparel industry's chain of custody.
Please note: the Standards/Third-Party Certification programs presented in this section do not have any legal affiliation with LEAF at this time.
The following standards groups have been identified as setting comprehensive environmental and SR (social responsibility) benchmarks for diverse environmental and social issues associated with this industry’s life cycle, and have also been willing to engage in positive dicussions concerning a potential streamlined labeling effort in the United States sphere:
- The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
- The Organic Exchange
- Social Accountability International (SA8000)
- The Fair Labor Association (FLA) (not a required standard, but companies participating in this program strongly encouraged to apply)
It is recognized other existing and emerging Standards and Third-Party Certification programs also exist for this industry, however, and the upcoming Public Review will provide time to discuss--with critical Stakeholder input--which Standards could be appropriate to third-party certify environmental and social achievements for the US marketplace.
The L.E.A.F. Labeling System
At the start of the program, three major ‘Areas of Achievement’ will be presented to the consumer marketplace on a third-party certified apparel product:
- Organic/sustainable source fibers used
- Environmentally superior manufacturing processes
- Fair Labor practices in manufacturing facilities
Once the proper certification procedures have been established, additional ‘Area of Achievements’ will be added as achievement benchmarks to this labeling program.
Education and Awareness
The LEAF Consumer Education and Awareness Campaign will have three core focuses:
- Encourage each of us in the ‘consumer role’ to support clothing and fabrics that have undergone third-party certification for environmental and social claims made to the marketplace;
- Provide information regarding the areas of achievement a particular product has reached;
- Provide an education center concerning how to successfully become 3rd party certified/verified for all environmental and social claims.
Public Standing Practices
To ensure this program adheres to impeccable standards, the following practices will be strictly adhered to:
- Consistent and Clear
The L.E.A.F. symbol when used on one product will have the same overall meanings when used on other products. The label will have consistent meanings among different products.
- Transparency
information about organizational structure, funding, Board of Directors, and certification standards will be available to the public.
- Independent and Protection from Conflict of Interest
This organization will not receive funding from the sale of certified products or contributions from logo users beyond labeling fees. Employees of companies whose products are certified, or applying for certification will not be on the Board of Directors. L.E.A.F. will have explicit conflict of interest policies prohibiting such affiliations.
- Opportunities for Public Comment
New label developments will occur with input from multiple stakeholders including Standrds Groups, Consumers, Industry, and Social Representatives in a way that doesn't compromise the independence of the organization. For example, industry representatives may play an important advisory role as long as there is no direct financial, decision-making or management ties to the project.
These practices have been adapted from the: Global Eco-Labeling Network
Who We Are
Thank you for checking back soon for the finalized list of LEAF’s Advisory Boards, and Management Team.
Non-Profit Status
This program's 501(c)3 sponsor is the International Humanities Center (IHC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to working with other independent nonprofit organizations and sponsored projects devoted to a vision of ecological and humanitarian stewardship. The IHC seeks to reverse the current situation of pollution, disease, and disconnection by focusing efforts on creating a civilization that is centered upon natural harmony.
