PROCEDURE FOR LABELLING ENVIRONMENTALLY

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS
JOIN LIFE

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The environmental sustainability team at Inditex has
developed the Join Life procedure, which allows all
parties involved in product development to know and
understand the necessary requirements to label Join
Life products. It also shows the necessary steps for
communicating the benefits of such products.

This procedure is updated continuously with the

strictest criteria, which allows us to improve the
sustainability of our products.

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ENVIRONMENTAL LABELLING
JOIN LIFE

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JOIN LIFE

Join Life is an environmental labelling standard that allows

environmentally preferred raw materials and best technologies to
be highlighted in product labelling.

This procedure for labelling Join Life environmentally sustainable

products includes the following elements:

1. Pre-requisites for Join Life products

2. Environmental attributes and how these attributes can
be translated into a product label for both textile
products and footwear
3. How these attributes must be verified

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WHAT CAN BE LABELLED AS JOIN LIFE?
ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES

BEST

PRE-REQUISITES + RAW
MATERIAL
=
1. Ecologically Grown Cotton
2. Recycled cotton, polyester, polyamide & wool Care for fiber
3. TENCEL Lyocell
4. RefibraTM Lyocell
Care for planet
1. Water-based polyurethane (PU)
SOCIAL ENV.
AUDIT
A/B + AUDIT
A/B
BETTER BEST

Factory where the

product is
All factories where
wet processes of
+ RAW
MATERIAL
+ TECHNOLOGY
=
sewn/assembled the main fabric or
1. Cold pad batch dyeing
component take
2. Dyeing machines with liquor ratio 1:5
place.
3. 100% closed loop water recycling system Care for water
1. Better Cotton (BCI) 4. Spun dyeing
2. LENZING Modal
3. Chrome free leather + 5. Use of ozone for bleaching (Permanganate
free)

1. Use of renewable energy Care for planet

5 2. Leather Working Group Gold
 PRE-REQUISITES
JOIN LIFE

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PRE-REQUISITES FOR LABELLING JOIN LIFE PRODUCTS
TEXTILE PRODUCTS
Textile products include garments and bags.
1. ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT: All factories where wet
processes of the main fabric or component take
place, must be evaluated by the Green to Wear
Standard of environmental sustainability and
receive a Green to Wear classification of A-Best in
class or B-Good performance or have a continuous
improvement plan with ambitious deadlines.
2. SOCIAL AUDIT: Suppliers must have an A or B rating
in the social audit or have a continuous
improvement plan with ambitious deadlines.
FOOTWEAR
The main components of footwear that must meet the following
requirements are upper and lining. For shoes that do not contain lining
it will be enough that only the upper meets the requirements.
1. ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT: All factories where wet processes of the
main components (upper and lining) take place, must be evaluated
by the Green to Wear Standard of environmental sustainability and
obtain a Green to Wear classification of A-Best in class or B-Good
performance or have a continuous improvement plan with
ambitious deadlines.
2. SOCIAL AUDIT: Suppliers must have an A or B rating in the social
audit or have a continuous improvement plan with ambitious
deadlines.
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HOW TO LABEL ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES
JOIN LIFE

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CARE FOR FIBER
BEST ENV.
RAW AUDIT
MATERIAL A/B
Minimum content:
The environmental
One BEST raw material in
assessment applies to
the main fabric or
all wet processes of
component of the product.
the main fabric or
component.
Options:
1. Ecologically Grown
ACCESSORIES AND
Cotton: Min. 50%.
SMALL LINING
2. TENCEL Lyocell: Min. COMPONENTS ARE
30%. NOT INCLUDED IN THE
3. RefibraTM Lyocell: Min. ASSESSMENT AND ARE
30%. OUT OF THE SCOPE

4. RECYCLED: Min. 15% for

cotton and wool; min.
25% for polyester and
polyamide.

SOCIAL The social assessment

AUDIT
applies to the factory
A/B
where the product is
sewn/assembled
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HOW TO LABEL JOIN LIFE TEXTILE PRODUCTS
CARE FOR FIBER
CARE FOR FIBER
In order to label a textile product as CARE FOR FIBER, the main fabric or component
must satisfy the minimum content by weight for at least one of the following BEST raw
materials:

Ecologically Grown Cotton: At least 50%.

TENCEL Lyocell: At least 30%.
Refibra Lyocell: At least 30%.
Recycled material: At least 25% for polyester and polyamide. At least 15% for
cotton and wool.

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HOW TO LABEL JOIN LIFE FOOTWEAR
CARE FOR FIBER
CARE FOR FIBER
In order to label a footwear as CARE FOR FIBER, each main component (upper and
linning) must satisfy the minimum content by weight for at least one of the following
BEST raw materials:

Ecologically Grown Cotton: At least 50% of the component weight.

TENCEL Lyocell: At least 30% of the component weight.
Refibra Lyocell: At least 30% of the component weight.
Recycled material: At least 25% of the component weight for polyester and
polyamide. At least 15% for cotton and wool.

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 CARE FOR WATER / CARE FOR PLANET
BETTER
RAW
MATERIAL
Minimum content:
One BETTER raw
material in the main
fabric or component
of the product.
Options:
1. Better Cotton
(BCI): Min. 90%.
2. LENZING Modal:
Min 50%.
BEST ENV.
TECHNOLOGY AUDIT
A/B
The main fabric or component needs to be dyed,
tanned, printed, washed or finished using one of The environmental
the following: assessment applies to
Care for Water Green to Wear Best Technology: all wet processes of
Cold pad batch dyeing the main fabric or
Dyeing machines with liquor ratio 1:5 component.
100% closed loop water recycling system
Spun dyeing ACCESSORIES AND
Use of ozone for bleaching SMALL LINING
Care for Planet Green to Wear Best Technology: COMPONENTS ARE
Use of renewable energy NOT INCLUDED IN THE
Leather Working Group Gold ASSESSMENT AND ARE
OUT OF THE SCOPE.
BEST
RAW
Another option for Care for Planet is: MATERIAL
Minimum content: One BEST raw material in
the main fabric or component of the product.
Options:
1. Water-based polyurethane (PU): Min. 90%.

3. Chrome free
leather: Min. 90%
SOCIAL The social assessment
AUDIT
applies to the factory
A/B
where the product is
sewn/assembled.
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HOW TO LABEL JOIN LIFE TEXTILE PRODUCTS
CARE FOR WATER
CARE FOR WATER
In order to label a textile product as CARE FOR WATER, the main fabric or component must be
manufactured using a Care for Water Green to Wear Best Technology. In addition, the main
fabric or component also must use one BETTER raw material with the following minimum
content by weight:

Better Cotton (BCI): At least 90%.

LENZING Modal: At least 50%.
Chrome free leather: At least 90%.

If, instead of a BETTER raw material, the main fabric or component is manufactured using a BEST
raw material with the minimum contents indicated for Care for Fiber, the product will be both
Care for Water and Care for Fiber.

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HOW TO LABEL JOIN LIFE FOOTWEAR
CARE FOR WATER
CARE FOR WATER
In order to label a footwear as CARE FOR WATER, the following criteria must be satisfied:

1. At least the 90% by weight of the upper must be manufactured using a Care for Water Green to Wear
Best Technology. In addition, the upper must satisfy the minimum content by weight of one BETTER raw
material:
Better Cotton (BCI): At least 90% of the component weight.
LENZING Modal: At least 50% of the component weight.
Chrome free leather: At least 90% of the component weight.
If, instead of a BETTER raw material, the upper is manufactured using a BEST raw material with the minimum
contents indicated for Care for Fiber, the product will be both Care for Water and Care for Fiber.

2. The lining must satisfy the minimum content by weight of one BETTER raw material above described.
If, instead of a BETTER raw material, the lining is manufactured using a BEST raw material with the minimum
contents indicated for Care for Fiber, the product will be both Care for Water and Care for Fiber/Care for
Planet:
2.1 BEST raw material (Care for fiber)
2.2. At least the 90% by weight of the linning is Water-based polyurethane (PU) (BEST raw material).
2.3. At least the 90% by weight of the lining has been manufactured in tanneries that have rated Gold
according to the Leather Working Group protocol.

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HOW TO LABEL JOIN LIFE TEXTILE PRODUCTS
CARE FOR PLANET
CARE FOR PLANET
In order to label a textile product as CARE FOR PLANET, the following three options are possible:
1. The main fabric or component must content by weight, at least, 90% of Water-based
polyurethane (PU) (BEST raw material).

2. The main fabric or component must be manufactured using Renewable Energy in at least
one of its manufacturing processes. Furthermore, the main fabric or component must
satisfy the minimum content by weight for at least one of the following BEST raw materials:
Ecologically Grown Cotton: At least 50%.
TENCEL Lyocell: At least 30%.
Refibra Lyocell: At least 30%.
Recycled material: At least 25% for polyester and polyamide. At least 15% for cotton
and wool.
In this case, the product will be both Care for Planet and Care for Fiber.

3. The main fabric must be manufactured in tanneries that have rated Gold according to the
Leather Working Group protocol.

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HOW TO LABEL JOIN LIFE FOOTWEAR
CARE FOR PLANET
CARE FOR PLANET
In order to label a footwear as CARE FOR PLANET, the following criteria must be satisfied:
1. At least the 90% by weight of the upper must satisfy one of the following criteria:
1.1. To be Water-based polyurethane (PU) (BEST raw material).
1.2. To be manufactured in tanneries that have rated Gold according to the Leather Working Group protocol.

2. The lining must satisfy one of the following criteria:

2.1 Must reach the following minimum content by weight of one BETTER raw material:
Better Cotton (BCI): At least 90% of the component weight.
LENZING Modal: At least 50% of the component weight.
Chrome free leather: At least 90% of the component weight.
If, instead of a BETTER raw material, the lining is manufactured using a BEST raw material with the minimum
contents indicated for Care for Fiber, the product will be both Care for Planet and Care for Fiber.
2.2. At least the 90% by weight of the linning is Water-based polyurethane (PU) (BEST raw material).
2.3. At least the 90% by weight of the lining has been manufactured in tanneries that have rated Gold
according to the Leather Working Group protocol.
2.4. To be manufactured using Renewable Energy in at least one of its manufacturing processes.

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VERIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES
JOIN LIFE

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VERIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES
Minimum content: RECYCLED
One BEST raw material in the Ecologically TENCEL RefibraTM Water - based
BEST At least 15% for cotton and
main fabric/component of Grown Cotton Lyocell Lyocell wool.
polyurethane (PU)
RAW the product.
At least 50% At least 30% At least 30% At least 25% for polyester At least 90%
MATERIAL and polyamide
THIRD PARTY VERIFICATION:

Minimum content:
BETTER One BETTER raw material in the Better Cotton (BCI) LENZING Modal Chrome free leather
main fabric/component of the At least 90% At least 50% At least 90%
RAW
product.
MATERIAL
THIRD PARTY VERIFICATION:

The main fabric/component

of the product has been -COLD PAD BATCH DYEING WATER LEATHER
OZONE USE OF
BEST dyed, tanned, printed, Bleaching
-DYEING MACHINES RECYCLING WORKING
RENEWABLE
TECHNOLOGY washed or finished using LR 1:5 100% Closed loop GROUP GOLD
water recycling ENERGY
one of the following: -SPUN DYEING Certification

THIRD PARTY VERIFICATION:

More information: environment.product@inditex.com
angelasug@inditex.com
germangi@inditex.com
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TOGETHER
TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY

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