G-Star RAW Responsible Materials & Animal Welfare Policy
G-Star RAW Materials Policy
G-Star RAW is committed to sourcing and securing the supply of raw materials from a responsible, ethical,sustainable and transparent perspective which preserves resources and respects human and animal rights. Thesourcing and production of raw materials must be in line with local laws, as well as international standards andmust not lead to the degradation or destruction of ecosystems or biodiversity. G-Star is committed to sourcingand producing materials in a sustainable way, taking into account both social and environmental impacts. Thisis also reflected in our sustainable materials goal: by 2025, 75% of our collection will be made with recycled
and/or organic, bio-based or compostable materials. By 2030 this should apply to the full collection. Read moreon our sustainable materials strategy here.
The scope of the policy covers textile materials used in all apparel and accessories for main fabrics, linings andfilling and where applicable trims/componentry. G-Star requires all involved with the design, development andmanufacturing of products to be informed of the standards set in this policy and ensure that all raw materials
and finished goods meet the applicable standards. G-Star’s Sustainability Department are responsible forcarrying out an annual review of the policy and including relevant updates.
The minimum Social and Environmental requirements, as well as the Health & Safety (EHS) standards for themanufacturing of our products, are outlined in the G-Star RAW Supplier Code of Conduct, found here. The Codeof Conduct refers to the G-Star RAW Responsible Materials & Animal Welfare Policy as the basis for monitoring
the use of raw materials for G-Star RAW products. This Animal Welfare policy contains restrictions andrequirements with respect to the use of raw materials for our products and packaging and applies to all oursuppliers.
All suppliers are required to cascade this policy and create a traceable and transparent system to keep on filerecords that provide credible assurance of the origin of the raw materials and if applicable sustainability
certifications. This information must be shared with G-Star on a seasonal basis and spot-checks will be carriedout on product assortments to verify compliance In the case of a breach, this will be logged internally and aworkstream set up to resolve the non-compliance. In case of unwillingness to cooperate and/or repeatedviolations of this Policy, G-Star may, in its sole discretion, consider terminating the business relationship withthe supplier.
Evaluation and Categorization of Materials
All materials used in G-Star RAW products are evaluated and categorized according to the G-Star RAW
Responsible Materials Ranking. The ranking classifies fibres based on environmental impact, according toexisting industry standards. To guarantee the most objective and up-to-date ranking tool, the categorization of
the fibres is based on existing industry tools and scoring mechanisms such as CanopyStyle’s annual Hot Button
Ranking, the Preferred Material Benchmark by Textile Exchange, Higg Materials Sustainability Index (Higg MSI)
and the rigorous standards of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. Read more about our G-Star
RAW Responsible Material Ranking here.
CottonCotton is our most commonly used fibre representing 86% of all raw materials we use. In 2022, about 1% of thecotton we use is conventional cotton, the rest of our cotton is either organic, recycled or sourced through theBetter Cotton Initiative (BCI) via a system of mass balance.
G-Star does not accept any unethical practices in the supply chain, including cotton cultivation. This is also further
defined in our Supplier Code of Conduct. Unethical cotton practices are defined as cotton that is cultivated incircumstances without respect for human rights, any form of forced labour, a lack of healthy and safe working
conditions for workers and no or limited environmental protection. G-Star prohibits cotton sourced from areas
where ethical practices cannot be guaranteed to be included in G-Star products.

G-STAR RAW Responsible Material & Animal Welfare Policy

Page | 1Organic Cotton
G-Star defines organic cotton as cotton fibres grown using low environmental impact methods free of toxic
pesticides, insecticides and chemical fertilizers leading to improved soil condition, preventing watercontamination and conserving biodiversity as well as lowering greenhouse gas emissions and improving cotton
growers’ healthOrganically grown cotton must follow internationally recognized organic farming standards that are enshrined inlaw such as the Council Directive on Organic Farming (EU), the National Organic Program (NOP) (US and Asia)and the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS).
All organic cotton in G-Star RAW products must be certified in accordance with the Organic Content Standard(OCS), or equivalent, and certifications must be issued by a certification body accredited by Textile Exchange.
Recycled Cotton
Recycled cotton is defined as fibres produced from left-over material from production (pre-consumer recycled)
or from used textiles that have been given a new life by being shredded, re-spun and knitted or woven into newmaterial (Post-consumer recycled).
All recycled cotton in G-Star RAW products must be certified according to Global Recycling Standard (GRS) or
Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and issued by a certification body accredited by Textile Exchange.
Man-made Cellulosic fibres
G-Star does not accept wood-based and wood-derived products deriving from illegally logged sources, ancientand endangered forests, or any endangered species as listed in the International Union for Conservation ofNature’s Red List as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable. To meet this, we became a CanopyStyle
partner in 2015 and committed to avoiding sourcing fabrics from ancient and endangered forests, such as theCanadian and Russian Boreal Forests; Coastal Temperate Rainforests; tropical forests and peatlands ofIndonesia, the Amazon and West Africa. We avoid recent deforestation from these sources by keeping clear ofplantation fibres established after 1994 and require our suppliers to ensure the Free Prior and Informed
Consent (FPIC) of local and indigenous communities prior to logging. This is supported by our preference for
FSC certification.
In addition, G-Star prefers next-generation fibres and suppliers of man-made cellulosic fibres that use a ‘closedloop’ production, defined as a system that ensures emission controls and chemical recovery rates in line with
EU Best Available Techniques (BAT).
To track the progress of our fibre suppliers we use the Canopy Hot Button Ranking for Man-Made Cellulosic
fibre sourcing decisions and only source from green-ranked producers.
The sustainable manmade cellulosic that are currently used in G-Star products are Lenzing branded fibres. For
these fibres G-Star requires a Lenzing certification number from its suppliers.
Synthetic fibres
G-Star aims to phase out all virgin synthetic materials by 2030. We only accept recycled synthetic fibres madefrom reclaimed pre-industrial, pre-consumer (industrial waste) and post-consumer materials. Recycled
synthetic materials must contain at least 50% recycled content in order to be claimed as recycled material. All
recycled synthetic materials used in G-Star RAWs products must be certified according to the Global Recycled
Standard (GRS) or Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and issued by a certification body accredited by Textile
Exchange. Read more about the synthetic materials we currently source here.

G-STAR RAW Responsible Material & Animal Welfare Policy

Page | 2

G-Star RAW Animal Welfare Policy
G-Star is committed to ensuring all apparel, accessories and footwear are manufactured ethically, andtherefore that animals receive an excellent standard of care. All materials of animal origin must be sourced
with respect to animal welfare and species conservation. G-Star is on a journey to achieving the ‘General
Welfare Aims’ of the Five Domains Model across our supply chains. We recognise the challenges that currently
exist, and strive to achieve farm-level traceability and work with our partners to improve the standard of care
we can ensure, whilst continuing to seek animal-derived materials certified to the highest standards of animalwelfare available.
We do not accept any kind of ill-treatment of animals associated with the manufacturing of our products.
Therefore, suppliers must implement international industry best practices for animal welfare on the farm, intransit, at the market or at a place of slaughter, based on the internationally recognized Five Domains Modelfor assessing Animal Welfare. The corresponding General Welfare Aims and the associated Provisions to theFive Domains assessment framework are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Good nutrition: Provide ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
Good environment: Provide shade/shelter or suitable housing, good air quality and comfortable
resting areas.
Good health: Prevent or rapidly diagnose and treat disease and injury, and foster good muscle tone,
posture and cardiorespiratory function.
Appropriate behaviour: Provide sufficient space, proper facilities, congenial company andappropriately varied conditions.
Positive mental experience: Provide mental experience: Provide safe, congenial and speciesappropriate opportunities to have pleasurable experiences.

G-Star is committed to strictly complying with all applicable laws, conventions and regulations and adhering toglobal guidance provided by the following conventions:
1.
2.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Appendix I.
The European Commission Wildlife Trade Regulations.

Prohibited Animal Derived Materials
It is strictly prohibited to use:
Raw materials from wildlife, which includes undomesticated species, vulnerable, endangered, exotic or wildcaught species.
This includes all materials derived from animals as listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature
Red List or the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
FurG-Star has adopted a Fur Free Policy and publicly reaffirmed our commitment to being a fur-free retailer bybecoming a member of the Fur Free Alliance. Fur is defined as any animal skin or part thereof with hair or furfibers attached thereto, either in its raw or processed state or the pelt of any animal killed for the animal‘s fur.
Fur shall not include:
1.
2.
3.

Materials clipped, shorn, or combed from animals, such as fleece, sheepskin, or shearling, with theexception of angora and mohair which, are not permitted.
Leather or hair attached to a cow, sheep, buffalo, goat and pig skin. We give preference to leather
processed through facilities rated by the Leather Working Group (LWG) as Gold, Silver or Bronze.
Synthetic materials intended to look like fur.
G-STAR RAW Responsible Material & Animal Welfare Policy

Page | 3

Angora and Mohair
G-Star prohibits the use of Angora and Mohair as the humane treatment of Angora goats and Angora rabbits
cannot be assured.
Down or Feathers
Since 2020, G-Star banned the use of down and feathers to prevent the plucking of live geese or force-feeding
techniques. Instead, we give preference to other sustainable alternatives such as 3M Thinsulate or Thermore®
insulation made with recycled content.
Restrictions on Animal Derived Materials
Wool
Mulesed wool from sheep and lamb is not permitted and G-Star gives preference to wool certified inaccordance with the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), with the exception of karakul lamb which is prohibited.
G-Star also accepts recycled certified wool according to the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or, the Global
Recycling Standard (GRS) and issued by a certification body accredited by Textile Exchange.
In 2025 all virgin wool used in G-Star products will be organic, according to the Organic Content Standard (OCS)or certified at a yarn level according to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).
AlpacaSourced Alpaca wool must be sourced from producers with good animal husbandry. If using this fibre in futurecollections we will source certified alpaca wool, according to the Responsible Alpaca Standard.
Cashmere
Sourced Cashmere must be sourced from producers with good animal husbandry. If using this fibre in futurecollections we will use source-certified cashmere according to the Good Cashmere Standard or, recycled
cashmere. Recycled Cashmere must be certified according to the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global
Recycling Standard (GRS) and issued by a certification body accredited by Textile Exchange.
LeatherToday, G-Star only accepts leather as a co-product from the meat industry from cows, sheep, buffalo, goats andpig and, from producers with good animal husbandry. G-Star is open to low-impact and durable alternatives forleather, such as Yakron or plant-derived materials, as well as recycled leather. Recycled Leather must be
certified according to the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycling Standard (GRS) and issued by acertification body accredited by Textile Exchange.
Silk
Silk is rarely used in the G-Star RAW collection. If using this fibre in the future, G-Star will give strong preference
to silk from alternative keeping and harvesting systems with low potential animal welfare risk such as Ahimsa(also called Eri silk or peace silk), wild silk - Tasar, Tussar or Muga silk or organic certified silk.
Shell
G-Star prohibits the use of shells derived from animals as listed in the International Union for Conservation ofNature Red List or, the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

G-STAR RAW Responsible Material & Animal Welfare Policy

Page | 4

Circularity
To minimise the use of finite resources and operate within planetary boundaries G-Star gives preference toinput materials which are safe, recycled and/or renewable as well as durable and recyclable. To eliminate
waste in the textiles industry, G-Star aims to champion resource reuse and bring clear benefits for naturalresources, economic wellbeing, and health and safety of the people who produce and dispose of our products.
Resource efficiency at every stage is important. Since 2018 we have been introducing and growing our offer ofCradle to Cradle certified® innovations. G-Star has set ambitious goals for 2025 to have 20% of our collection
made with Cradle to Cradle certified® fabrics. In order to be certified at a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum level,a product must meet the minimum criteria for that level in all five criteria categories (material health, productcircularity, clean air & climate protection, water & soil stewardship, social fairness). All Cradle to Cradle®
certifications must be issued directly by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, listed on theirwebsite and shared directly with G-Star.
On-Product Sustainability Claims
G-Star requires a high level of credibility and transparency to make product claims related to the level ofsustainability of a material or product. All claims must be substantiated against a standard methodology toassess the reduced impact on the environment. Sustainability claims on G-Star RAW products must be able toprovide information on relevant aspects of the product that contribute to the product’s sustainability profilesuch as the material or processes used. All claims must be verifiable by being third-party standard and issued
by a certification body accredited by Textile Exchange.
Questions regarding G-Star RAW’s Responsible Material & Animal Welfare Policy and the RAW Responsibility
programme can be addressed to cr@g-star.com.

G-STAR RAW Responsible Material & Animal Welfare Policy

Page | 5