Certification and Assurance Policy
PLNTmatter Certification and Assurance Policy
📅 Version: Draft 1.0
Effective Date: January 1st 2025
Policy Owner: SVP Product and Strategic Growth
Review Frequency: Annual
1. Purpose
This policy outlines PLNTmatter's approach to using independent certification, assurance, and verification mechanisms across our supply chain to uphold environmental, social, and product integrity standards. These systems ensure third-party validation of claims related to responsible sourcing, chemical safety, labor conditions, and regenerative performance.
2. Policy Statement
PLNTmatter commits to using internationally recognized certifying bodies, accreditation organizations, and traceability platforms to ensure that our materials:
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Meet high environmental and social standards
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Are traceable and ethically sourced
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Contribute to circularity and biodiversity
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Comply with relevant regional and international regulations
3. Approved Certifying Bodies & Standards
3.1 Active Certifications & Validation Partners
PLNTmatter will maintain annual audits or active participation in the following:
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FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) — Certified by accredited bodies (e.g., SGS, Control Union) to ensure responsible sourcing where applicable
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CanopyStyle — Annual verification through authorized bodies (e.g., Rainforest Alliance, Preferred by Nature)
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OCS Organic (Organic Content Standard) — Certified by entities such as Ecocert or Control Union
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OEKO-TEX® (Standard 100, Eco Passport, or STeP) — Validated through Intertek or TÜV Rheinland
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Intertek — Used for fiber quality testing, chemical validation, and OEKO-TEX audits
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BCOME — Conducts third-party LCAs across product stages to verify environmental claims
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ISO Standards — Compliance with ISO 14001 (environment), ISO 9001 (quality), and ISO 22095 (traceability) as applicable
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Sedex — Platform participation and self-assessment for ethical trade and social compliance
3.2 Accrediting Bodies
Certifiers used by PLNTmatter must be accredited by recognized international bodies such as:
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ASI (Assurance Services International) — For FSC and Canopy audit oversight
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IOAS — For textile sustainability programs (e.g., GOTS, OCS)
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DAkkS / UKAS / ANAB / SCC — National ISO accreditation bodies
4. Roadmap for Future Compliance and Certification
PLNTmatter will work toward the following certifications and conformance programs as part of its sustainability roadmap:
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BlueSign® Certification — To validate holistic chemical safety and resource efficiency
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ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) — Conformance with MRSL and wastewater guidelines
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REACH Compliance — For chemical safety in EU-regulated markets
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RSB (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) — For renewable feedstock verification and advanced bio-circular inputs
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TextileGenesis™ — To enable real-time digital chain of custody across fiber stages
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Other Blockchain-Enabled or Accredited Traceability Software to enhance transparency across regenerative sourcing networks
5. Roles & Responsibilities
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Executive Team: Strategic approval, alignment with ESG goals
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Sustainability & Compliance: Certification acquisition, audit scheduling, documentation, and corrective action planning
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Product & Supply Chain: Onboarding certified suppliers and ensuring compliance with chain-of-custody protocols
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Third-Party Auditors: Execute certification audits, site visits, documentation reviews, and validation assessments
6. Certification Maintenance Requirements
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All suppliers must undergo third-party certification relevant to their role in the production process
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Certified facilities must complete audits at the frequency required by their certification scheme
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Chain of custody must be maintained at Tier 4–1 based on the Identity Preserved model
7. Oversight
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PLNTmatter’s Sustainability & Impact team manages annual certification reviews and coordinates internal benchmarking of performance
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Only accredited third-party bodies are used for certification and verification activities
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On-site audits, worker interviews, documentation reviews, and material testing may be used as part of the verification process
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A semi-annual roadmap review tracks progress on future certification targets and risk reduction measures
8. Enforcement Mechanisms
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Non-conformities identified during audits will be categorized as:
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Minor: Require documented corrective action within 60 days
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Major: Require immediate remediation and may result in a follow-up on-site audit within 30 days
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Non-compliance that remains unresolved may result in suspension, limitation, or termination of supplier agreements
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Repeat violations, refusal to allow audit access, or intentional falsification of data will result in contract termination and delisting from the approved supplier roster
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All major issues are logged and escalated to the Executive Team as part of the annual compliance audit
9. Continuous Improvement
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Certification performance and emerging risks are evaluated annually
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Suppliers are supported in progressing toward higher-level certifications or broader scheme alignment (e.g., transitioning from OCS to GOTS)
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Integrated assessment of third-party LCA, audit results, and traceability system data informs strategic planning and innovation
Statement of Commitment
PLNTmatter upholds rigorous certification and assurance systems to ensure trust, transparency, and traceable impact across our value chain. Our commitment to enforcement ensures all claims are verifiable and all partners are accountable.