Cradle to Cradle Certified® recognizes Fair Wear Foundation for Social Fairness

As companies across sectors accelerate their transition to circular business models, they face a growing demand for credible, integrated approaches that combine environmental innovation with effective human rights due diligence. At the same time, factories and brands experience significant audit fatigue, driving calls for more coherence between sustainability initiatives. 

The Cradle to Cradle Certified® recognition of Fair Wear responds directly to these pressures. It enables companies to use Fair Wear’s existing onsite assessment reports as valid input for meeting Cradle to Cradle Certified’s Social Fairness criteria, reducing duplication while supporting more meaningful improvements in working conditions.

Combining strengths to strengthen responsible business practices 

Fair Wear is a multi-stakeholder initiative that advances workers' rights across global supply chains by  enabling human rights and environmental due diligence to become part of everyday business practice. Its member brands are committed to go beyond industry norms to improve working conditions across their supply chains. Fair Wear supports them at every step, providing guidance, tools, and expertise to ensure meaningful, lasting impact.  

Cradle to Cradle Certified wants to lead, inspire and enable all the stakeholders across the global economy to create and use innovate products that positively impact people and planet. Together we are pushing for a world where the global garment supply chain is a source of safe, dignified and decently paid employment, and in which human rights are respected. 

“This recognition reflects the growing understanding that circularity and human rights cannot be managed in isolation,” said Annabel Meurs, Fair Wear's Executive Director. “It reduces unnecessary duplication of efforts while helping companies focus on what truly matters: improving working conditions and moving toward responsible and resilient supply chains.” 

How does this recognition benefit companies? 

Companies that want to certify their products according to Cradle to Cradle Certified® Full Scope need to meet the requirements of the Social Fairness category. Members of Fair Wear Foundation can now use their onsite assessment reports to identify and validate their human rights responsibilities in their supply chains in line with Fair Wear’s Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) policy. The Fair Wear onsite assessment at the production site forms part of a risk-based approach, helping brands identify, track, and address human rights risks and harms, while guiding improvements in both factory conditions and company practices. The assessment reports may not include any actual and potential human rights impacts identified within the corrective action plans that are linked to issues of high concern. 

This collaboration will reduce audit fatigue, making sure that all investments are used to improve labor conditions and human rights. It provides an easier step towards circular designs made with respect for people and planet throughout the fashion and workwear industry.  

More information: 

Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute:   

Nienke Steen, Director Apparel, Textiles & Footwear   

[email protected] | www.c2ccertified.org 

Fair Wear Foundation: [email protected] | www.fairwear.org 

 About the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute 

The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is a global non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the circular economy by setting the global standard for materials, products and systems that positively impact people and the planet. Across the value chain, Cradle to Cradle Certified® is used to innovate and optimize materials and products according to the world’s most advanced science-based measures for material health, product circularity, clean air & climate protection, water & soil stewardship, and social fairness.  

About Fair Wear – Where human rights and business meet 

Fair Wear is a multi-stakeholder initiative that advances workers’ rights across global supply chains. We do this by enabling human rights and environmental due diligence to become part of everyday business practice. 

We bring 25+ years of experience in the garment, textile and footwear industry. Together with local teams in key producing countries, strategic partnerships, and over 100 member brands, we co-create worker-centred approaches that make responsible business practical and impactful.  

This is how we drive supply chains that work for business and for people.