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.

  1. Certifications
  2. Preferred and Permitted Materials
  3. Restricted and Banned Materials
  4. 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