Welles Certifications
by / Apr 09, 2025
When we say our scrubs are sustainable, we back it up with rigorous third-party certifications. Discover the recognized standards that verify our commitment to environmental responsibility, human health, and ethical production.
Why Certifications Matter
In today's marketplace, many brands claim to be "sustainable" or "eco-friendly," but these terms can be vague and sometimes misleading. At Welles, we believe in transparency and accountability, which is why we pursue recognized third-party certifications to validate our sustainability claims.
These certifications provide you with the assurance that our products truly deliver on their promises—from the materials we source to our manufacturing processes and the finished garments themselves. Each certification represents a rigorous evaluation against established standards by independent organizations.
Our Core Certifications
Global Recycled Standard (GRS)
The Global Recycled Standard is an international, full product standard that verifies recycled content and responsible social, environmental, and chemical practices in production.
What this certification verifies:
* Our recycled polyester genuinely comes from post-consumer plastic
* The recycled content is tracked throughout our supply chain
* Our manufacturing processes meet strict environmental standards
* Workers involved in production are treated ethically
Why it matters to you: When you choose Welles scrubs with GRS-certified recycled polyester, you're helping divert plastic waste from landfills and oceans while reducing the demand for virgin petroleum-based materials. This certification ensures your sustainable choice has real environmental impact.
OEKO-TEX® Standard 100
This internationally recognized certification ensures textiles are tested for harmful substances and are safe for human health.
What this certification verifies:
* Our fabrics are free from harmful levels of over 100 substances
* Testing includes regulated and non-regulated substances
* The entire product is evaluated, not just selected components
* Regular re-certification ensures ongoing compliance
Why it matters to you: Healthcare professionals spend long hours in their scrubs, with fabrics in direct contact with skin. OEKO-TEX® certification means your Welles garments are free from harmful chemicals, reducing your exposure to potential irritants and toxins during those long shifts.
bluesign® System Partner
The bluesign® system is the gold standard for sustainable textile production, focusing on resource productivity, consumer safety, water emission, air emission, and occupational health and safety.
What this certification verifies:
* Our dyes and textile chemicals meet stringent environmental criteria
* Production processes minimize resource consumption
* Wastewater and air emissions are carefully controlled
* Worker safety is prioritized throughout manufacturing
Why it matters to you: As a healthcare professional, you care about wellbeing—both for your patients and the planet. When you wear Welles scrubs with bluesign®-approved processes, you're choosing apparel made with significantly reduced environmental impact in its production.
Material-Specific Certifications
CiCLO® Technology Verification
CiCLO® is an innovative textile technology that allows synthetic materials like polyester to biodegrade in environments where microbes are present, such as landfills and wastewater treatment systems.
What this verification confirms:
* Our synthetic fabrics are enhanced with biodegradability accelerants
* Testing demonstrates significantly faster breakdown compared to conventional synthetics
* The technology is built into the fiber, not applied as a coating
* Biodegradation creates non-toxic byproducts
Why it matters to you: Conventional scrubs made from synthetic materials can persist in the environment for hundreds of years. With CiCLO® technology, your Welles scrubs address the end-of-life challenge, biodegrading much faster when they eventually reach landfill environments.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification
This certification applies to the sustainable viscose components in our fabric blends, ensuring they come from responsibly managed forests.
What this certification verifies:
* The forest sources are managed sustainably
* Indigenous peoples' rights are respected
* Workers' rights and safety are protected
* Biodiversity and ecosystem health are maintained
Why it matters to you: When your Welles scrubs contain sustainable viscose, this certification ensures that the natural materials come from forests that will continue to thrive and support biodiversity rather than contributing to deforestation.
Beyond Certifications: Our Ongoing Commitment
While certifications provide valuable third-party validation, our commitment to sustainability goes beyond check boxes and logos. We continuously seek to improve our environmental performance through:
Circular Design Principles
We design with end-of-life in mind, working toward a future where nothing we create ends up in landfill. This means:
* Selecting materials that can biodegrade or be recycled
* Designing for durability to extend product lifespan
* Minimizing mixed materials that complicate recycling
Transparency in Reporting
We believe in being open about both our achievements and our challenges. That's why we:
* Regularly update our sustainability metrics
* Share our progress toward goals
* Acknowledge areas where we're still working to improve
* Invite customer feedback on our sustainability efforts
The Future of Certified Sustainability at Welles
As sustainability standards evolve, so do our certification goals. We're currently working toward additional certifications, including:
* B Corp Certification: A comprehensive assessment of our entire business model's social and environmental impact
* Cradle to Cradle: Evaluating our products for material health, material reuse, renewable energy, water stewardship, and social fairness
* Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi): Aligning our climate action with the latest science on what's needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement
Conclusion: Certifications as Our Promise to You
At Welles, certifications are backbone of our promise to create truly sustainable medical apparel.
These certifications represent our commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in our sustainability journey. We believe healthcare professionals deserve workwear that's as committed to wellbeing as they are—both for people and the planet.
