The GREEN SHAPE® brand
Green Shape® as a registered EU trademark
The Green Shape® brand – tested, protected, trustworthy
Labeling certified products with the Green Shape® Standard certification mark gives manufacturers, retailers, and consumers the assurance that a product has been manufactured in accordance with the textile industry’s high environmental standards and that the certified companies comply with all requirements defined in the Green Shape® Standard.
The mark may only be used by companies and for products that have been certified according to the Green Shape® Standard—based on transparent, publicly accessible environmental criteria.
To use the assurance mark, a valid license agreement between the company and Green Shape e.V. as well as a valid Green Shape® certificate issued by an accredited certification body are required. Use of the warranty mark prior to certification is prohibited.
Furthermore, retailers who purchase and distribute certified Green Shape® products from companies (certified according to the Green Shape® Standard) may use the warranty mark in connection with the distribution of these products.
Legal framework
- Brand owner and standard setter: Green Shape e.V.
- Green Shape is registered as an EU guarantee mark.
Program compliance is based on ISO/IEC 17065, ISO/IEC 17067, IAF guidelines, and OECD industry standards. - Admission requirement:
- Valid Green Shape® certification
- Concluded license agreement
- Compliance with the trademark statutes and the trademark manual
Any unauthorized use of the trademark will be prosecuted by certification bodies and the program owner. Use of the trademark prior to completion of the certification process is prohibited.
Based on the EU Consumer Protection Directive
Green Shape® complies with the requirements of Directive (EU) 2024/825 (“Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition”):
- No greenwashing: no blanket environmental promises
- Comprehensible standards: test criteria and test procedures are publicly accessible
- Transparent control: only permitted with independent certification
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EmpCo specification |
Green Shape® Implementation |
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No environmental claims without evidence (Art. 6, Annex I 4a) |
All statements are based on certified criteria, documented audits, and published certification bodies. |
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Prohibition of logos without third-party certification (Annex I 4b) |
Green Shape® is a system certified to ISO/IEC 17065, which requires audits by independent bodies. |
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Ban on generic claims ("green", "sustainable") without evidence |
Brands may use such terms only in connection with certified Green Shape® products. |
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Labeling systems must be transparent & up-to-date (Annex III) |
Green Shape® publicly discloses its criteria, product lists, testing bodies, and review procedures. |
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Labels may only show genuine added value (Annex I 4c) |
Green Shape® can be used as a standalone label; meta-labels are included solely for verification purposes and are not intended for customer communication. |
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Third-party certification requirement for eco-labels (Annex I 4b) |
Green Shape® is a product-specific third-party certification under ISO 17065, involving a testing program and an audit conducted by an independent certification body. |
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Prohibition of "green/sustainable" statements without evidence (Annex I 4a) |
Green Shape® permits such claims only for certified products. |
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Comprehensible criteria & test certificates (Art. 6 / Annex III) |
List of criteria in the inspection program; documentation of compliance is managed via the audit report and certificate. |
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Clearly defined standard bearer (Art. 2 para. 1 o + p) |
Program Owner: Green Shape e.V., with publicly available bylaws, trademark regulations, and award guidelines. |
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Prohibition of misleading multiple seals (Annex I 4c) |
Green Shape® uses only a logo; meta-seals are incorporated as evidence but not as a separate label. |
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No "self-certification" permitted (Art. 6 para. 2 / Annex III) |
Green Shape® is clearly distinct from self-assessments; auditors and decision-makers are independent. |
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Product-related statements instead of company information (Art. 6 para. 1-2) |
The certification applies at the product level to approved product categories . |
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Publicly accessible information (Annex III No. 2b) |
Green Shape® requires the publication of certified products and testing bodies on the program owner's website. |
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Relevance, transparency, timeliness (Annex III general) |
Green Shape® conducts audits every three years (recertification), annual monitoring, and a review through a stakeholder process. |
The term “environmentally friendly” refers exclusively to the specific criteria assessed under the Green Shape® Standard. It is not a blanket assessment of the entire company or its entire product range.
The brand creates orientation
Green Shape® makes environmental performance in the textile sector transparent and verifiable—for companies, retailers, and consumers. The brand is thus a credible symbol of consistently verified environmental responsibility.