Certifications, Partners, and Standards

The GRS is the international standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of recycled content. Tenere only uses GRS certified yarns in their fabrics. The GRS verifies the recycled inputs and confirms chain of custody between yarn manufacturers and fabric mills. In addition, a GRS certification also ensures that responsible social and environmental practices have been followed and that chemical restrictions are in place.

The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Programme includes a collaboration of twenty-two signatory brands, eighteen value chain affiliates, and eight associates that are working to eliminate the use (and discharge) of hazardous chemicals in production. Their four focus areas are their Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) & Conformance Guidance, Wastewater Quality, Audit Protocol and Research. ZDHC's vision is widespread implementation of sustainable chemistry and best practices in the textile and footwear industries to protect consumers, workers and the environment. Our commitment to ZDHC MSRL compliance is a positive step towards eliminating hazardous substances from the production process.

The goal of bluesign®️ is to prevent harmful substances from entering the production cycle. bluesign®️ system partners eliminate these chemistries from the beginning of the manufacturing process and adhere to standards for an environmentally friendly and safe production process. This not only ensures that the final textile product not only meets very stringent consumer safety requirements worldwide, but also provides confidence that the product was made responsibly. All fabrics and chemistries in Tenere garments are bluesign®️ approved.

The Fair Labor Association (FLA) is a collaborative effort of universities, civil society organizations, and socially responsible companies dedicated to protecting workers’ rights around the world. Members of the association commit to ten Principles of Fair Labor and Responsible Sourcing and uphold the FLA Workplace Code of Conduct within their supply chains. The FLA Workplace Code of Conduct outlines labor standards that promote the most decent and humane working conditions.The Code’s standards, based on International Labor Organization standards and internationally accepted labor best-practices, addresses areas such as: employment relationship, nondiscrimination, harassment & abuse, forced labor, child labor, freedom of association, health, safety & environment, labor hours, and compensation.

A global supplier of colorants and chemistries headquartered in Switzerland, Archroma is at the forefront of market research and work on dyeing, odor neutralizing, and performance chemistries. Archroma is a bluesign®️ system partner and has a long history of sustainable innovation. All chemistries we source from Achroma are ZDHC compliant and have Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certifications.

Huntsman is a global leader in performance chemistries and colorants. Our team has worked with Huntsman for many years, focusing on water saving chemistries, fluorine free water repellents, and digital inks. Huntsman is a bluesign®️ system partner and all of their chemistries we use are ZDHC compliant and Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certified.

PT. Videx Indonesia produces and supplies ink products made with silicone.

Asahi Kasei’s polymer science team created a recycled spandex fiber made from post industrial waste. The yarns are branded as Roica and have Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex and GRS certifications.

For our recycled nylon yarns, we partner with Formosa Chemicals & Fiber Company (FCFC) in Taiwan. FCFC first introduced recycled pre-consumer yarns made from nylon discards & wastes in 2017. Currently it’s in the process of commercializing recycled post-consumer yarns made from fishing nets, offsetting the impact of discarded fishing nets to the ecosystem. Today all of the recycled nylon yarns we use are made from local recycled feedstock and require minimal transportation to deliver to our mill partners. In addition, all of these yarns are GRS and Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certified.

Far Eastern New Century (FENC) is a leading polyester recycling company. FENC’s products have been adopted by well-known global brands including Coca-Cola, Nike and Adidas. FENC aims to expand its green material business and has integrated sustainable development into its core business with the aim of fulfilling social responsibilities. FENC has also developed operational strategies and has made necessary changes to its corporate values, corporate culture, development roadmap, operational strategies and governance in order to meet their sustainability goals.

Based in Taiwan, Shinkong aligns well with Tenere’s mission, as all recycled bottles that they purchase are from DA.AI Technology, who donates 100% of their proceeds to charity (the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation). Furthermore, Shinkong’s recycled yarns all contain digital tracers to ensure authenticity. In addition to having a responsible feedstock for their recycled yarns, each is also GRS and Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certified.

Our team has worked with Climatex on innovative knit fabrics for many years. Climatex supports Tenere’s knit development in Taiwan and China to help ensure our knit fabrics are held to the highest standard. Climatex along with all other mills making our fabrics have Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certifications, are bluesign®️ system partners, and follow ZDHC MSRL guidelines.

Everest was the first vertically integrated textile manufacturer in Taiwan, specializing in yarn texturizing, weaving, knitting, dyeing, post-finishing and garment production. Everest Textile has been a world leader in responsible weaving and finishing, and is a bluesign®️ system partner.

Hojeon was founded in 1985 and currently operates three factories, two in Indonesia (PT Hoga and Yongjin) and one in Vietnam. Between the three factories, Hojeon holds several certifications - Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Fair labor Association (FLA), all of which are a testament to its holistically sustainable approach towards both the environment and human capital. In addition, all three factories have completed the BetterWork assessment. Hojeon has been a leader in garment manufacturing for the outdoor and sport apparel markets for many years. And, this commitment to manufacturing excellence is matched by Hojeon’s commitment to its workforce and the environment. Hojeon has also made significant investments in advanced manufacturing to ensure garments are made responsibly from an environmental perspective, but also under strict policies to ensure safe working conditions. As a brand we have actively partnered with Hojeon on a long term strategy to ensure alignment on our sustainability roadmap.

YKK is trusted world-wide for their impeccable production standards and thorough quality control processes for zippers. The company has been making zippers and fasteners since 1934. An advantage to working with YKK is getting zippers locally, to reduce the need for unnecessary transport. YKK has a strong commitment to sustainability and offers products made from recycled content and colored through waterless dyeing technologies. YKK works hard to eliminate hazardous chemicals from the manufacturing process and has created the YKK Restricted Substance List (YKK RSL) which is referenced from OEKO-TEX ® and the Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) of Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC). Our exclusive alignment with YKK zippers ensures we are building a long lasting product that is durable and has been made responsibly.

Bemis is one of the world’s highest regarded tape and adhesive manufacturers. The company headquarters is based in Shirley, Massachusetts. We work with Bemis to ensure we are maximizing garment durability by using their adhesives and seam reinforcement tapes. The company holds many certifications including Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex and they are bluesign®️ system partners.

Shimada is one of our Japanese trims partners. The company has been making buttons since 1887. They have a global network of manufacturing locations allowing more flexibility for local component sourcing. In addition to certifications for responsible manufacturing, the company also offers components made from recycled and bio-based materials. They have been a great partner to meet our high standards for creating our products responsibly.

American & Efird (A&E) has been in the textile business for more than 125 years, surviving depressions, technological upheavals, and numerous other challenges to remain one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of industrial sewing thread, embroidery thread, and technical textiles. A&E operates as part of Elevate Textiles with worldwide operations in the United States, Mexico, and China.

Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) Sinar Mas is a pulp and paper manufacturing company which supplies our recycled tissue paper and box cartons. Our specific tissue paper and cartons are manufactured in their Pt. Pindo Deli Pulp & Paper mill in Kerawang, Indonesia. The company has a strong sustainability roadmap aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

EcoEnclose is a leader in sustainable packaging. They believe in a future where humans and the earth are thriving together, where humans are a net positive, “regenerative” force for our planet and humanity. They believe this vision for the future can become a reality as more individuals, businesses, and communities move away from a disposable culture towards one in which people are making holistic, thoughtful decisions. Decisions that are rooted in respect for the human and natural resources that go into how something is created, how something is used, and where something ends up after its initial use. A culture rooted in conscious decision making will give way to improved creation and usage of raw materials, to balanced carbon emissions, to enriched lands, habitats and oceans, to groundbreaking eco-minded innovations, and, ultimately, to a world where climate change and pollution has truly been reversed. They believe this way of life also makes sense for humanity as it leads to more mindful, appreciative people and connected communities.

Founded as Organic Exchange in 2002, Textile Exchange is a global non-profit organization that works closely with all sectors of the textile supply chain. Textile Exchange identifies and shares best practices regarding farming, materials, processing, traceability, and product end-of-life in order to create positive impacts on the environment. They expanded from a focus solely on organic cotton in 2010 to include a diverse preferred fiber and materials portfolio. Textile Exchange inspires and equips people to accelerate adoption of preferred materials in the textile value chain. They focus on carbon reduction, soil health, water and biodiversity as part of our holistic approach to drive positive impact for the entire industry. Their strategy is to accelerate climate action in the textile industry by providing trusted data and reporting, market-based solutions, and a community that can do what no single company or organization can do alone. They envision a global textile industry that protects and restores the environment, while enhancing lives. By 2030 we aspire to guide the textile industry to reduce GHG emissions (CO2 equivalents) by 45% from a 2020 baseline. Tenere is a brand member of the Textile Exchange.

OIA was founded in 1989 by a group of 14 visionary outdoor industry pioneers who created the association to be a unified, collaborative, pre-competitive voice to help guide the industry. Today, OIA is the voice of the outdoor recreation industry, both locally and in Washington D.C., serving more than 1200 manufacturers, retailers distributors, suppliers, sales representatives, nonprofits and outdoorists. Outdoor Industry Association collaborates with members and key stakeholder groups to move the needle in our key focus areas of outdoor recreation and trade policy, sustainable business innovation and outdoor participation while providing meaningful benefits to help your business thrive. Tenere is a brand member of the Outdoor Industry Association.

The CAC represents the OIA’s evolution toward focused initiatives to drive collective impact through collaboration. The CAC aspires towards a future that is profit positive and climate positive acting as a force for climate action and demonstrating outdoor industry leadership in ensuring the vitality of our natural playgrounds. Tenere is a brand member of the Climate Action Corps.

Developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, the Higg Index is a suite of tools that enables brands, retailers, and facilities of all sizes — at every stage in their sustainability journey — to accurately measure and score a company or product’s sustainability performance. The Higg Index delivers a holistic overview that empowers businesses to make meaningful improvements that protect the well-being of factory workers, local communities, and the environment. Tenere uses information from the Higg Index to calculate its environmental footprint.

GreenStep was founded in 2008 to help organizations tackle a common challenge: owners and managers want to do more to reduce their environmental impacts and be responsible; but with competing priorities they often lack the time, knowledge, and budget to make meaningful progress. That’s where GreenStep comes in. Its people are your sustainability sherpas; walking beside you on your sustainability journey, offering guidance, expertise, and building capacity each step of the way. To date, they have worked with more than 2000 businesses and organizations within several sectors, including private, public, non-profit and academic institutions; in a variety of industries such as tourism and hospitality, retail, professional services, and manufacturing; and with organizations of all sizes, from owner-operated businesses to publicly traded companies. Ultimately their goal is to help businesses improve their sustainability performance while also increasing their profits. They practice what they preach. GreenStep is a Certified B Corporation and they’re powered by 100% renewable energy with Bullfrog Power. Tenere works with GreenStep to help research, quantify, and calculate its environmental impact around emissions, waste, and water.

It all started when two businessmen met and bonded over their shared love for the outdoors. Realizing their responsibility to protect our planet, they decided to give 1% of their sales back to the environment—whether or not they were profitable. In 2002, Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, created 1% for the Planet and started a global movement. Soon after its inception, 1% for the Planet’s mission began to resonate across the globe. The idea was simple: because companies profit from the resources they take from the earth, they should protect those resources. From the individual members who give back by donating to and volunteering with local environmental nonprofits to singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, who joined our network in 2004 to protect the shores of his home state of Hawaii—everyone has a 1%. They connect their members with high-impact nonprofit partners that align with their values and add to their brand story. Today, they have more than 3,000 members coming together to protect the future of our planet. Tenere donates 1% of its sales to 1% of the Planet or its affiliate organizations.

Eden Reforestation Projects is a 501c3 non-profit whose mission is to provide fair wage employment to impoverished villagers as agents of global forest restoration. They hire the poorest of the poor to grow, plant, and guard to maturity native species forest on a massive scale. Their “employ to plant methodology” results in a multiplication of positive socio-economic and environment measures. By the year 2025 its objective is to plant a minimum of 500 million trees each year and to offer hope through the employment of tens of thousands of people in countries where extreme poverty is rampant. By keeping their overhead costs low, they are now recognized as one of the most cost-effective reforestation projects on the planet. While their primary goal is to lift people out of extreme poverty, they have also become a model for environmental restoration and land management. Tenere donates to Eden to plant trees as part of its carbon offset strategy and provide decent work.

As global pioneers of recycled-to-recycled products, DA.AI Technology has dedicated itself to helping resolve global environmental crises through both innovative and compassionate means since its founding on December 10th, 2008. The day that five forward-thinking entrepreneurs with ties to the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation met was the day a tremendous change for the good was brought forth in the world and DA.AI was created. DA.AI follows Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s teachings that humans should “coexist with the Earth,” and, therefore, they do so by using recycled PET bottles as raw material to manufacture our recycled eco-products. This activates a new life cycle for the PET bottles without increasing the total PET volume, and reduces the consumption of natural resources. Adhering to and upholding the humanitarian principles which serve as its very foundation, 100% of our net proceeds are donated to charity (the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation)