Sustainable Materials and Ingredients
URTHWEAR Sustainability Standard
Materials and Ingredients
The purpose of the URTHWEAR Materials and Ingredients matrix is to strictly promote only the safest, most sustainable, and most compassionate materials and ingredients possible without compromising human experience or expression.
Our evolving standard governs both materials and ingredients for all of our product categories including apparel, lifestyle, personal care, beauty, jewelry and others through four components.
- Certifications
- Preferred and Permitted Materials
- Restricted and Banned Materials
- Banned Ingredients (absorbent and ingestible)
1. Certifications
In line with our ethos, we seek and approve only products that have utilized fair-trade labor and are devoid of any animal byproducts or animal testing.
In pursuit of the friendliest materials and the safest ingredients, we are guided by some of the highest third-party certifications.
Standards & Accreditations |
American Consumer Council (ACC) |
Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) |
Bluesign® |
Canopy |
Cradle to Cradle Certified (C2C) |
ECOCERT |
Environmental Working Group (EWG) |
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) |
Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) |
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) |
Global Recycled Standard - Textile Exchange (GRS) |
Green Seal Org |
Leaping Bunny Org |
Made Safe Org |
Non-GMO Project Org |
Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) |
Oeko-Tex® |
Organic Content Standard - Textile Exchange (OCS) |
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) |
Rainforest Alliance |
Recycled Claim Standard - Textile Exchange (RCS) |
Regenerative Organic Certified |
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) |
USDA Organic |
UTZ Certified |
2. Preferred and Permitted Materials
As the primary component of our sustainability spectrum, we prefer and permit materials that are biodegradable, derived from natural sources, and/or derived from recycled materials.
Materials with a designation of "Preferred" rank at the highest level of our sustainability spectrum.
Material | Form | Status |
Abaca | All Forms | Permitted |
Acetate | All Forms | Permitted |
Alloys | Including Brass, Bronze, Steel | Preferred |
Bamboo (Minimal Processing) | All Forms | Preferred |
Coconut Shell + Fiber | All Forms Including Coir | Preferred |
Cork | All Forms | Preferred |
Cupro | All Forms | Permitted |
Deadstock | All Forms Including Cotton, Rayon, Viscose | Preferred |
Earthenware | All Forms | Preferred |
EcoVero™ Viscose |
All Forms | Permitted |
Econyl® | All Forms | Preferred |
Glass |
All Forms | Preferred |
Hemp (Conventional) |
All Forms | Permitted |
Jute |
All Forms | Preferred |
Kapok | All Forms | Preferred |
Kenaf | All Forms | Preferred |
Linen (Conventional) |
All Forms | Permitted |
Lotus | All Forms | Preferred |
Lyocell (Generic) |
All Forms | Permitted |
Metals | Including Iron, Aluminum, Silver, Gold, Copper | Preferred |
Modal (Generic) |
All Forms | Permitted |
Organic Natural Fibers |
All Forms Including Organic Cotton, Organic Hemp, Organic Linen | Preferred |
Plant Based Foam |
All Forms | Preferred |
Plant Based Leather |
All Forms | Preferred |
Plant Based Plastic |
All Forms | Preferred |
Polylactic Acid (PLA) | All Forms Including Ingeo | Permitted |
Porcelain | All Forms | Preferred |
Qmonos® | From Bacteria | Preferred |
Raffia | All Forms | Preferred |
Ramie | All Forms | Preferred |
Reclaimed Materials | All Forms Including Wood, Metals | Preferred |
Recycled Metals and Minerals | All Forms Including Stone, Aluminum, Silver, Gold, Copper | Preferred |
Recycled Natural Fibers | All Forms Including Cotton, Paper, Cardboard | Preferred |
Recycled Synthetic Fibers | From Elements Including Acrylic, Nylon, Polyester PET, Neoprene - ProRepreve®, PrimaLoft®, Qnova® | Preferred |
Rubber (Natural) | All Forms | Permitted |
Seacell | All Forms | Preferred |
Sisal | All Forms | Preferred |
Silicone | All Forms | Permitted |
Stoneware | All Forms | Preferred |
Tencel™ Modal | All Forms | Preferred |
Tencel™ Lyocell | All Forms | Preferred |
Upcycled Fibers | All Forms Including Cotton (Refibra), Rayon, Viscose | Preferred |
3. Restricted and Banned Materials
As a key component of our sustainability standard, we maintain a growing list of banned and restricted materials applicable across all product categories. Our restrictions swiftly expand as sustainable alternative materials and manufacturing processes are born.
In certain cases, due to industry limitations, we permit certain noted materials that either extend product life or may be fundamentally necessary for a product category's functional needs. Such restrictively permitted elements are capped by a percentage of the element against the total composition of the product.
Some of our banned and restricted materials, in conventional/virgin form, include :
Material | Form | Restriction |
Animal Derived | All Forms | Banned |
Acrylic | All Forms | Banned |
Bamboo (Cellulose or Heavy Processing) | All Forms | Banned |
Cotton (Conventional) | All Forms |
** Restricted to 50% |
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate | All Forms Including Foam, Padding | Banned - * Restricted to 10% in Footwear |
Feathers + Down | All Forms | Banned |
Fur + Hair + Skin | All Forms Including Angora, Cashmere, Mohair, Wool | Banned |
HDPE + LDPE | All Forms Including Containers, Packaging | Banned - * Restricted to 10% in Lifestyle Products, Personal Care, Beauty |
Lead | All Forms | Banned |
Leather (Conventional) | All Forms | Banned |
Metals (Unethically Sourced) | All Forms | Banned |
Microfiber | All Forms | Banned - * Except as Necessary for Function and Durability in Footwear, Lifestyle Products - * Restricted to 20% in Outerwear |
Paper (Virgin) | All Forms Including Cardboard, Paper | Banned - Unless Eco-Certified - * Restricted to 50% in Lifestyle Products, Personal Care, Beauty |
Pearl + Seashells | All Forms | Banned |
Platinum | All Forms | Banned |
Polyamide | All Forms Including Nylon, Kevlar, Nomex | Banned - * * Restricted to 20% in Activewear, Outerwear, Underwear, Headwear |
Polychloroprene | All Forms Including Neoprene | Banned - * Restricted to 20% in Activewear, Outerwear, Underwear, Headwear |
Polyester (Conventional) | All Forms | Banned - * Restricted to 50% in Footwear - * Restricted to 20% in Lifestyle Products, Outerwear |
Polyether-Polyurea | All Forms Including Spandex, Elastane, Lycra | Banned - * Restricted to 30% in Activewear - * Restricted to 20% in General Clothing, Outerwear, Underwear, Loungewear - Restricted to 10% in Footwear, Headwear |
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) | All Forms Including Containers, Packaging | Banned |
Polypropylene | All Forms | Banned - * Restricted to 20% in Activewear, Outerwear, Underwear, Loungewear, Footwear, Lifestyle Products, Personal Care, Beauty |
Polystyrene | All Forms Including Packaging, Foam, Styrofoam | Banned |
Polyurethane (PU) | All Forms | Banned - * Except as Necessary for Function and Durability in General Clothing, Footwear, Lifestyle Products - * Restricted to 20% in Outerwear |
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) | All Forms Including Synthetic Leather, Packaging | Banned |
Rayon (Generic) | All Forms | Banned - Unless Certified for Reduced Toxins or Sustainable Sourcing |
Rubber (Synthetic) | All Forms | Banned - * Restricted to 20% in Footwear |
Silk | All Forms | Banned |
Solotex® | All Forms | ** Restricted to 50% |
Sorona® | All Forms | ** Restricted to 50% |
Viscose (Generic) | All Forms | Banned - Unless Certified for Reduced Toxins or Sustainable Sourcing |
* Percentages govern the allowable limit of the element against the total composition of a single product.
** In certain cases we may allow more of this element through when considering product function needs, product life expansion and/or the product's net sustainability impact.
4. Banned Ingredients
As part of our safety standard for products primarily across lifestyle, personal care, beauty, and other relevant categories where substances are either absorbed or ingested, we maintain a growing list of banned ingredients.
Similar to our materials standard, our restrictions swiftly expand as existing ingredients are proven to be unsafe and/or new alternative ingredients are born.
Ingredient | Status |
2-Methoxyethanol | Banned - All Forms |
Aluminum Powder | Banned - All Forms |
Animal Derived | Banned - All Forms |
Aspartame | Banned - All Forms |
Beeswax | Banned - All Forms |
Benzaldehyde | Banned - All Forms |
BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) | Banned - All Forms |
BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) | Banned - All Forms |
Biotin (Animal Derived) | Banned - All Forms |
Camphor | Banned - All Forms |
Caprylic Acid (Animal Derived) | Banned - All Forms |
Carbon Black | Banned - All Forms |
Carmine | Banned - All Forms |
Carrageenan | Banned - All Forms |
Casein |
Banned - All Forms Including as Casinate or Caseinate |
Chemical Sunscreens | Banned - All Forms Including Benzophenone, Oxybenzone, Octinoxate |
Collagen | Banned - All Forms |
Cyclic Silicones | Banned - All Forms Including Cyclotetrasiloxane (D4), Cyclopentasiloxane (D5), Cyclohexasiloxane (D6), Cyclomethicone |
EDTA | Banned - All Forms Including Calcium Disodium , Tetrasodium, Trisodium |
Elastin | Banned - All Forms |
Ethanolamines | Banned - All Forms Including Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA), Monoethanolamine (MEA) |
Ethoxylated Compounds | Banned - All Forms Including Ceteareth-20, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Ammonium Laureth Sulfates |
Ethyl Acetate | Banned - All Forms |
Fluoride | Banned - All Forms |
Formaldehyde | Banned - All Forms |
Fragrances (Synthetic) | Banned - All Forms Including Parfum |
Glitter (Not Planted- Based) | Banned - All Forms |
Glycerine (Animal Derived) | Banned - All Forms |
Guanine | Banned - All Forms |
Heavy Metals | Banned - All Forms Including Lead, Nickel, and Cadmium |
Homosalate | Banned - All Forms |
Honey | Banned - All Forms |
Hydroquinone | Banned - All Forms |
Japanese Honeysuckle | Banned - All Forms |
Keratin | Banned - All Forms |
Lanolin | Banned - All Forms |
Limonene | Banned - All Forms |
Linalool | Banned - All Forms |
Methyl Cellosolve | Banned - All Forms |
Methylchloroisothiazolinone | Banned - All Forms |
Methylene Chloride | Banned - All Forms |
Methylisothiazolinone | Banned - All Forms |
Mica (Unethically Sourced) | Banned - All Forms |
Nitromusks | Banned - All Forms |
Oleic Acid (Animal Derived) | Banned - All Forms |
Palm Oil (Unethically Sourced) | Banned - All Forms |
Parabens | Banned - All Forms Including Butylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Methylparaben |
Paraffins | Banned - All Forms |
Pearl + Seashells | Banned - All Forms |
Perfluorinated Compounds (PFASs or PFCs) | Banned - All Forms |
Petrolatum | Banned - All Forms |
Phthalates | Banned - All Forms |
Pollen | Banned - All Forms |
Polycyclic Musks | Banned - All Forms |
Polyethylene Glycol Compounds (PEGS) | Banned - All Forms |
Polypropylene Glycol | Banned - All Forms |
Polysorbate-20 | Banned - All Forms |
Propolis | Banned - All Forms |
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds | Banned - As Preservatives |
Resorcinol | Banned - All Forms |
Retinol (Animal Derived) | Banned - All Forms |
Royal Jelly | Banned - All Forms |
Sacchrin | Banned - All Forms |
Shellac | Banned - All Forms |
Silica | Banned - As Crystalline Silica |
Silicones | Banned - All Forms Including Dimethicone |
Siloxanes | Banned - All Forms |
Squalene (Animal Derived) | Banned - All Forms |
Stearic Acid (Animal Derived) | Banned - All Forms |
Styrene | Banned - All Forms |
Talc | Banned - All Forms |
Teflon | Banned - All Forms |
Toluene | Banned - All Forms |
Triclocarban | Banned - All Forms |
Triclosan | Banned - All Forms |