17 Sustainable Clothing Brands to Shop Now and Wear Forever
With a strong commitment to sustainability, Cleobella is a GOTS certified brand that uses eco-friendly and biodegradable materials such as ...
SA8000 certified
Transforming the activewear space since its launch in 2016, Girlfriend Collective offers sustainable fitness gear in a diverse size range, up to 6XL. Known originally for their cute, matching activewear sets, the brand has evolved into intimates, menswear, and their latest launch: swimwear. The clothes are made from recycled materials like post-consumer water bottles, fishing nets retrieved from the seas, fabric scraps, and other waste. Girlfriend’s factory is <anchor>SA8000 certified</anchor> and their recycled fabric is certified Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, the world’s leader in testing fabrics to regulate harmful substances.
SA8000® Standard - SAI
SAI

Advancing Human Rights at Work



# SA8000® Standard

## About SA8000

The SA8000 Standard is the world’s leading social certification program. The SA8000 Standard and Certification System provide a framework for organizations of all types, in any industry, and in any country to conduct business in a way that is fair and decent for workers and to demonstrate their adherence to the highest social standards. Created by SAI in 1997 as the first credible social certification, it has led the industry for over 20 years.

### Quick Links

### The SA8000 Standard

The SA8000 Standard is based on internationally recognized standards of decent work, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO conventions, and national laws. SA8000 applies a management-systems approach to social performance and emphasizes continual improvement—not checklist-style auditing.

#### Elements of the Standard

- Child Labor
- Forced or Compulsory Labor
- Health and Safety
- Freedom of Association & Right to Collective Bargaining
- Discrimination
- Disciplinary Practices
- Working Hours
- Remuneration
- Management System

## The Value of Accreditation

Accreditation, or oversight by a credible and authorized independent third party, ensures that social audits are undertaken impartially, competently, and effectively.

Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS) provides SA8000 program oversight to assure quality and reduce risk. Only SA8000 certificates issued by audit firms validated by SAAS are recognized by stakeholders as a true indicator of social performance. If you or a stakeholder are seeking SA8000 certification, ensure you are working with a SAAS-accredited body.

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## Already Certified?

Visit the SA8000 Resource Center for useful resources and information.

### SA8000 Profiles



#### SA8000 Spotlight: Worker Engagement with Tropical Cheese



#### SA8000 Spotlight: Danper

#### SA8000 Spotlight: Dutch-Bangla Pack Ltd.

#### 20 years of prioritizing workers with SA8000

## Subscribe to the SA8000 Newsletter

Get notifications to your inbox when we release news or updates about SA8000.

## SA8000 improves standards for workers and for business.

Management systems, worker engagement, a culture of continuous improvement, and other elements of SA8000 not only lead to better working conditions and worker well-being, they also have benefits for productivity, stakeholder relationships, market access, and more.

Benefits for Employers

SA8000-certified organizations experience a variety of positive business impacts, including:

- Better relationships with workers, customers, and external stakeholders

- More effective management systems that improve workflows throughout the organization, resulting in

  - Improved quality and productivity

  - Better hazard and risk detection

  - Increased supply chain control

  - Higher employee retention


- Enhanced reputation, appeal to global buyers, and preferential status in government tenders

Benefits for Workers

In order to achieve SA8000 certification, an organization has to demonstrate that they meet a standard for worker safety and well-being. The benefits to employees working in SA8000-certified organizations include:

- Safe workplaces and healthy working conditions
- Increased awareness of rights and opportunities to organize
- Better relationships with management and more input in workplace decision-making

Benefits for Brands and Retailers

Brands and retailers that accept SA8000 certification in lieu of first- or second-party social auditing experience benefit from:

- SA8000’s comprehensive social compliance program
- Third-party oversight for quality assurance
- Supplier ownership of social compliance program
- More resources for capacity-building and other social programs, as they are no longer needed for company code-of-conduct audits

## Benefits of SA8000

SA8000 is good for workers and for business. See what some of our certified organizations are saying.

### Trusted by brands and retailers around the world











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## Related Links

### SA8000 Auditor Training

SAI’s auditor training courses equip participants with knowledge of the latest auditing techniques with a special focus on the SA8000 Standard for decent work. These practical courses are designed for certification bodies and internal auditors as well as buyers, managers and workers, who audit to any labor code and standard. Online Training To help auditors…

### Complaints, Concerns & Grievances

Complaints, Concerns, & Grievances Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS)—a department of SAI that provides assurance services—has defined procedures for managing grievances and other concerns against systems in our purview. In order to be credible, an audit program must be responsive to the various types of dissatisfaction that may relate to the certified organization, a SAAS-accredited…

### SA8000 Accreditation Program

SA8000® Accreditation Program SAI is the owner of the SA8000® Standard and updates it regularly to respond to new and emerging social and human rights issues. While SAI provides guidance on the Standard’s implementation and determines the program’s auditing methodology, all SA8000 audits are carried out by certification bodies (i.e. qualified auditing firms) that receive…

### Previous SAAS Programs

This page is about previous programs by SAAS. If you are interested in working with SAAS on a program similar to any of the below, contact saas@saasaccreditation.org. Page Contents: SA8000 Auditor Training Provider AccreditationBusiness Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI)GoodWeave InternationalMagen TzedekInterAction SA8000 Auditor Training Provider Accreditation SAAS has previously offered accreditation services to organizations interested in…

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