SGS, a testing, inspection and certification company, has joined forces with Uniqlo to launch the retailer’s first Independently Checked Mark (IC Mark) for infants’ clothing in China.
The SGS IC Mark is a voluntary product certification program that gives manufacturers and retailers greater ability to demonstrate their focus on quality and performance, and to reach their sustainability goals. Uniqlo, the Japanese casualwear manufacturer and retailer, has contracted SGS to undertake a factory qualification audit alongside product testing, comprising compliance and hazardous chemical substances testing, of its infant series of textile products, fabrics and accessories.
SGS was able to certify that Uniqlo met the program’s mandatory and technical requirements, allowing the IC Mark certification to be awarded.
“Our congratulations to Uniqlo in China for achieving this certification, which reinforces their companywide commitment to sustainability in the manufacture of their infant textile products,” Yvonne Tse, vice president of global softlines at SGS, said. “By taking a customized approach to our quality assurance certification, we were able to provide a corresponding certification mark based on the characteristics of Uniqlo’s products. This award enables the company to demonstrate the outstanding characteristics of its products and stand out to consumers among fierce market competition. To consumers around the world, we believe it’s only trusted because it’s tested.”
The SGS IC Mark was developed by SGS to address consumer concerns and to enable organizations to display a QR code on product packaging, which gives consumers instant access to the certification test results. This includes a brief description of the product with an image, the date and scope of the test, the test criteria and results, and the approval number. It also provides details of the manufacturer and any applicable retailers.
SGS operates a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.