Selection criteria

+ Bioplastics

The main environmental benefit of bioplastics is to use a renewable plant resource as raw material and not oil as for conventional plastics. However, to ensure that bioplastics in Go for Good products are not derived from crops potentially destined for food, only bioplastics made from castor oil, wood sourced from sustainably managed forests, waste or agricultural co-products can qualify to the Go for Good label.

+ Certified organic cotton, linen, wool and silk

• “Conventional” cotton is a crop that relies heavily on water and chemicals. Organic cotton production excludes the use of pesticides and insecticides, greatly reduces water consumption, preserves biodiversity and soil fertility and is free of GMO, which conventional cotton is often derived from.
• Wool, when it comes from intensive farming, has consequences for both animals and the environment (groundwater pollution, soil depletion, animal cruelty linked to certain practices, etc.). Organic certification guarantees that the wool comes from free-range, extensive farming, where sheep are fed on organically produced feedstuffs. Medical treatments given to animals are also free of controversial substances and the practice of mulesing is forbidden.
• Organic silk and flax are grown based on organic farming principles
  To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must be made from at least 50% of organic materials certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or Organic Content Standard (OCS) labels.

+ “Cotton made in Africa” certified cotton (CmiA – Hard Identity Preserved)

“Conventional” cotton is a crop that relies heavily on water and chemicals. “Cotton made in Africa” certified cotton is grown exclusively in African countries, ensures there is limited use of insecticides and pesticides, it is GMO-free and does not allow the use of crop irrigation systems. The water used to grow cotton comes exclusively from rainwater. In addition, the certification provides guarantees on the standards of employee welfare (pay, fight against child labour, freedom of association, etc.). To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must be made from at least 50% “Cotton made in Africa” certified cotton with the label “Hard Identify Preserved” which ensures full traceability of every single production step.

+ Certified organic cotton “in conversion”

Cotton “in conversion” supports farmers making the three-year transition from conventional to certified organic farming, increasing the global supply of organic cotton. This cotton follows the strict requirements of organic agriculture during this period of transition. To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must be made from at least 50% of “in conversion” cotton certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or Organic Content Standard (OCS) labels.

+ European hemp fibres

Hemp fibres are textile fibres whose cultivation requires little water and minimal chemicals. To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must be made from at least 50% hemp fibres certified by the European Flax label.

+ Wood pulp fibres: Tencel®, Ecovero® and Monocel®

Tencel®, Ecovero® and Monocel® are trade names for textile fibres made from wood pulp sourced from sustainably managed forests (FSC or PEFC certified) which are then turned into yarn. Tencel® and Monocel® are derived by turning wood pulp into yarn using the Lyocell process, which uses an organic solution free of toxic solvents and process water in a quasi-closed circuit. Ecovero® is also derived from a manufacturing process that is very eco-friendly and is EU Ecolabel-certified. These fibres are therefore a more sustainable alternative to viscose, both in terms of the raw material used but also the transformation process. To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must be made from at least 50% Tencel®, Monocel ® or Ecovero®.

+ Alternative materials to leather

Many plant-based materials are now available as an alternative to leather. The best known are made from pineapple leaves (Piñatex®), apple residue (Appleskin®), cactus leaves (Desserto®), grapes or mushrooms. To qualify for the Go for Good label:

• These fibres must be derived from agricultural co-products, i.e. from parts of the plant not intended for food use;
• The products must be composed of at least 50% of these materials and the material itself of at least 20% of waste/co-products.

+ RWS, ZQ Merino or Nativa certified sheep wool

Wool, when it comes from intensive farming, has consequences for both animals and the environment (groundwater pollution, soil depletion, animal cruelty linked to certain practices, etc.). The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), ZQ Merino and Nativa certifications (label developed by Chargeurs Wool) ensure that sheep wool is sourced from an extensive farming environment with grazing practices that are soil, biodiversity and animal welfare-friendly. To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must be made from at least 50% RWS, ZQ Merino or Nativa certified wool.

+ RMS certified mohair wool

Wool, when it comes from intensive farming, has consequences for both animals and the environment (groundwater pollution, soil depletion, animal cruelty linked to certain practices, etc.). Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS) certification ensures that angora goat wool (from which mohair fibre is derived) is sourced from an extensive farming environment with grazing practices that are soil, biodiversity and animal welfare-friendly. To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must be made from at least 50% RMS-certified mohair wool.

+ European flax

Flax is an eco-friendly crop (no irrigation systems, very little pesticides or insecticides used) and, on top of that, it is mainly European. As a matter of fact, France is the world's leading producer! To qualify the Go for Good label, products must be made of at least 50% flax certified by the European Flax or Masters of Linen labels.

+ Recycled materials

Recycling is a very eco-friendly practice. The practice preserves raw materials and turns waste into a resource. The most common recycled materials used to make Go for Good products are polyester (from recycled plastic bottles), nylon (from old fishing nets for example) as well as cashmere, wool and cotton (mostly from recycled production waste). We also come across other types of recycled materials such as leather, various metals (e.g. brass for jewellery-making), rubber (e.g. shoe soles), etc. To qualify for the Go for Good label, the percentage of recycled material in products must be at least:
     • 90 % for metals
     • 50 % for textile fibres (excluding cotton), polyester, nylon and leather
     • 20 % for cotton
The recycled material must be certified by the GRS (Global Recycled Standard) or RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) labels. The material can also be a registered recycled material name such as Econyl® or Seaqual®.

+ Upcycled materials

Upcycling is based on recovering materials or products that are no longer used to create high-quality products. The practice does not involve the use of any industrial transformation processes such as recycling and is more aimed at reusing products to turn them into more fashionable, value-added items. Go for Good upcycled products are made from other products that have already had a first life (e.g. vintage clothing, curtains, household linen) or from production offcuts or end-of-stock items purchased from external actors (e.g. resourceries, end-of-rolls from Maison de Luxe) or specialised. To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must made from at least 50% upcycled materials.

+ Leather from tanneries with certified environmental performances

Leather Working Group (LWG) certification is an international reference certification for the environmental performance of tanneries (energy and water consumption, water discharges, air emissions, etc.). To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must be made from at least 50% leather from a tannery that is LWG certified at the "gold" level, the highest of the 4 certification levels of this standard.

+ Leather: Chrome / metal free Tanning

This leather tanning process does not rely on chromium salts, a substance that is potentially hazardous to health if mishandled. To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must be made with at least 50% leather from a chrome*/metal-free tanning process and from a tannery in the European Union or one that is certified by the Leather Working Group.

*Not to be confused with the absence of Chromium VI which is a regulatory requirement

+ Leather: Vegetable Tanning

Leather tanning often relies on large quantities of chemicals that are potentially hazardous to health if mishandled. Vegetable tanning is a more traditional process that uses vegetable extracts, generally bark from various tree species (oak, mimosa, pine, etc.), which are chosen depending on the required purpose. Natural tannins, which can also be berries or even fruit, have properties that can stabilise and soften leather. To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must be made from at least 50% vegetable-tanned leather from a tannery in the European Union or certified by the Leather Working Group.

+ Eco-labelled products

A number of eco-labels issued by third party organisations make products or materials from more eco-friendly manufacturing processes more easily identifiable. These labels focus on different types of environmental issues such as the use of chemicals, water management, energy, air emissions or wastewater discharge. The labels selected as part of the Go for Good movement include: EU Ecolabel, Bluesign®, Blue Angel®, C2C (Cradle to Cradle) Gold Level certification and Oeko-Tex® Made in Green.

+ Eco-friendly dyeing techniques

The fashion industry accounts for approximately 20% of global wastewater discharge. As one of the various industrial stages needed to transform raw materials into fabrics, dyeing is the one that uses the most water and is the main source of process water pollution. Over the past few years, we have seen the development of technical innovations in the area of dyeing that have led to huge reductions in water, energy, chemicals consumption and wastewater discharge: materials are pre-treated to facilitate the penetration of colours, dyeing at the fibre stage (“spun dyeing” for polyester), CO2 dyeing without water, bacterial dyeing, etc. Products that have used this type of innovative treatments can qualify for the Go for Good label. Any reduced environmental impact provided by the technologies used must be certified by independent scientific studies such as an LCA (Life Cycle Analysis).

+ Lifetime warranty

A product with a lifetime warranty can be repaired or replaced for life by the brand. These products can qualify for the Go for Good label.

+ Rentals and subscriptions

Rental and subscription services promote the use of products over owning them, which improves the product lifespan and total number of uses. They help preserve natural resources by reducing the demand for new products and can qualify for the Go for Good label.

+ Second-hand products

Engaging in second-hand practices extends a product’s lifecycle and its number of uses. This practice plays a role in protecting natural resources by curbing demand for new items. All second-hand products can qualify for the Go for Good label.

+ Organic cosmetics

Organic cosmetics are made from natural ingredients sourced from organic farming. This production method does not permit the use of pesticides and insecticides, preserves biodiversity and soil fertility, and is GMO-free. To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must be certified by one of the following standards that ensure that over 95% of the natural or plant-based ingredients used are certified organic: Natrue (3 stars), Ecocert Cosmebio or Nature et Progrès labels. Products must also not contain any of the controversial substances included in our List of Prohibited Substances.

+ Natural cosmetics

Natural cosmetic products are made using natural ingredients over ingredients derived from petrochemicals. To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must contain a minimum of 95% natural ingredients. Products must also not contain any of the controversial substances included in our List of Prohibited Substances.

+ Packaging reduction

Packaging (glass bottles, plastic tubes, etc.) used on cosmetic products has a heavy impact on the environment. To qualify for the Go for Good label, the weight of the main (primary) product packaging must have been reduced by at least 20 % compared with its previous version for the same quantity of product contained. The weight reduction shall not lead to a higher overall environmental footprint (increase of secondary packaging, recyclability, CO2 emissions, etc.).

+ Recycled packaging

Packaging (glass bottles, plastic tubes, etc.) used on cosmetic products has a heavy impact on the environment. To qualify for the Go for Good label, the main (primary) product packaging must be made up of at least 50% recycled materials or bio-sourced materials from farming by-products, i.e. from plant parts not intended for food.

+ Refillable products

Packaging (glass bottles, plastic tubes, etc.) used on cosmetic products has a heavy impact on the environment. Refillable products curb the need to produce new packaging which in turn reduces any environmental impact. To qualify for the Go for Good label, the refill system (refill station, perfume fountains, cream dispensers, etc.) must be available in Galeries Lafayette Group stores.

+ Washable and reusable hygiene products

The products grouped into this category include hygiene products that offer a reusable alternative to products that are generally single-use (e.g. makeup remover wipes, cotton buds, menstrual underwear, etc.). Using these products reduces the generation of waste if they are frequently used.

To be considered in addition to the general criteria applicable to all industries mentioned above. The criteria for leather and textiles would apply to watch straps.

+ Synthetic diamonds

Synthetic diamonds have the same molecular structure as diamonds extracted from “natural” mines. These diamonds are grown in laboratories, a process which requires large amounts of energy from electricity networks located mainly in countries that are heavy users of fossil fuel such as coal. While some producers of synthetic diamonds use renewable electricity sources, the benefits of synthetic diamonds compared to natural diamonds in terms of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are not well known. However, synthetic diamonds can be awarded the Go for Good label because of the benefit they bring compared to natural diamonds thanks to the low impact they have on biodiversity, soil pollution and water consumption (no mining involved).

+ Solar-powered watches

Solar-powered watches use renewable solar energy. They can qualify for the Go for Good label.

+ Fairtrade or Fairmined certified gold

Fairmined or Fairtrade gold certification assures that gold can be traced back to the mine of origin, the extraction conditions comply with social and environmental standards, and fair trade principles are followed (fair pay for miners in particular). Jewellery or watches containing more than 50% Fairmined or Fairtrade certified gold can qualify for the Go for Good label.

+ Gold certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) Chain-of-Custody

The RJC Chain-of-Custody (CoC) certification for gold ensures complete traceability from the supply chain to the mine or origin and compliance with social and environmental standards. Jewellery or watches made of more than 50% Chain-of-Custody certified gold can qualify for the Go for Good label.

+ Recycled gold

Gold is a metal that is easily recycled without any impact on quality. The use of recycled gold reduces the mining of new gold and the associated environmental impact. Jewellery or watches made with more than 50% RJC Chain-of-Custody-certified recycled gold can qualify for the Go for Good label.

To be considered in addition to the general criteria applicable to all industries mentioned above. Textile criteria apply to household linen (sheets, blankets, tea towels, etc.) and recycled/upcycled materials criteria apply to culinary or home decoration products.

+ Recycled wood and paper or sourced from sustainably managed forests

Wood and paper (made from wood cellulose fibre) sourced from sustainably managed forests are derived from forests where the location is known, in which case fallen trees are replanted sustainably to ensure the revival of the forest and the preservation of its biodiversity. Recycled wood and paper avoid the felling of trees and turn waste into resources. To qualify for the Go for Good label, wood or paper products must be FSC or PEFC certified.

+ Beeswax or vegetable wax candle

Beeswax or vegetable wax candles (e.g. rapeseed, soya) are a natural alternative to paraffin candles which are derived from the oil industry. To qualify for the Go for Good label, candles must be made from 100% beeswax or vegetable wax.

+ Reusable containers and packaging

The products grouped into this category include containers or packaging that offer a reusable alternative to products that are generally single-use (e.g. reusable bottles, produce bags, reusable food protection film, etc.). Using these products reduces the generation of waste if they are regularly used.

+ Water saving

The products grouped into this category include systems that greatly reduce domestic water consumption (e.g. mixer taps, drip irrigation, etc.).

+ Energy saving

The products grouped into this category include systems that greatly reduce domestic energy consumption: electrical products with the highest energy rating, LED lighting, light motion sensors, etc.

+ Coating products to protect indoor air quality

Products in this category include partitions, floor coverings, insulation, paint, varnish, glues or adhesives. These produce VOC and formaldehyde emissions that can degrade indoor air quality. To qualify for the Go for Good label, coating products must have an A+ health label which ensures very low levels of indoor air pollutant emissions.

+ Eco-labelled coating and maintenance products

To qualify for the Go for Good label, coating and maintenance products must have one of the following eco-labels: EU Ecolabel, NF Environnement, Blue Angel®, Nordic Swam®. These labels focus on different types of environmental issues such as the use of chemicals, water management, energy, air emissions or wastewater discharge.

+ Natural and traditional cleaning products

These products are a traditional or natural alternative to chemical cleaning products such as white vinegar.

+ Products from organic farming

To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must have AB (French label) or “Euro-Leaf” (European label) certification.

+ Products sourced from sustainable fishing

To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must be MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certified.

+ Charitable products

These are products where a high percentage of the selling price goes to a charitable association or cause. The donation may apply to all brand products or only certain products for a temporary or permanent period of time. It is expected that the percentage of the selling price donated will be higher in special campaigns where there is a limited quantity of products. The “Buy-one-give-one” model also falls under this Go for Good criterion.

+ Fair trade products

Fair trade products selected for Go for Good are certified by one of the official fair trade labels (FairTrade Max Haavelar and WFTO in particular) which both require adherence to the principles of the International Fair Trade Charter (2018). In addition to the social and environmental production criteria, fair trade ensures that a minimum price higher than the market price is paid to producers. This minimum price aims to cover production costs and enable them to provide for their families. Over and above to this price, a development premium goes to cooperatives to support local projects. Fair trade certification mainly focuses on food products (fruit, chocolate, coffee, etc.) as well as cotton and gold.

+ Social enterprise products

“Social enterprise” products under the Go for Good label meet one of the following criteria:

• Products are manufactured by specialised organisations that employ people who have disabilities or significant barriers to mainstream employment
• Products are manufactured as part of a programme that has a substantial societal or environmental impact on local populations

To qualify for the Go for Good label, the brand must provide a complete dossier on the approach and its benefits, such as the economic and societal impact of the project.

+ Products made in France

To qualify for the Go for Good label, products must comply with customs regulations on the definition of "Made in France":

• Derive a significant part of their value from one or more manufacturing stages located in France;
• Have undergone its last substantial transformation in France;
• The products must carry a "Made in France" label affixed by the brand.

Products meeting more demanding specifications such as those of the "Origine France Garantie" and "France Terre Textile" labels are automatically qualified for this criterion.

Important information:

• The made in France criterion is not applied to cosmetic products. This is because most of the cosmetic products sold in our stores are made in France, which would make this criterion less relevant.
• The made in France criterion is not applied to food products. To qualify for the Go for Good label, food products must meet a more stringent criterion on local production.

+ Locally manufactured products

This criterion is aimed at food products only. To qualify for the Go for Good label, these products must have been manufactured within 150km of their point of sale.