WRAP Certification for Textile Factories

WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) is an independent social compliance certification programme for factories producing sewn products and related sectors including textiles, home furnishings, and footwear. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia USA, WRAP operates the world's largest independent factory certification programme for sewn goods. WRAP certification verifies that a factory operates according to 12 humanitarian principles covering lawful employment, working conditions, wages, health and safety, environmental responsibility, and factory management. Over 3,000 factories across 50+ countries are WRAP certified, with India being one of the largest certifying countries.

The 12 WRAP principles cover: (1) Compliance with Laws — all local laws and regulations; (2) Prohibition of Forced Labour — no involuntary, bonded, or prison labour; (3) Prohibition of Child Labour — no use of child labour; (4) Prohibition of Harassment or Abuse — dignified treatment; (5) Compensation and Benefits — wages at or above legal minimum; (6) Hours of Work — no excessive working hours; (7) Prohibition of Discrimination — hiring and employment without discrimination; (8) Health and Safety — safe and healthy work environment; (9) Freedom of Association — workers' right to associate; (10) Environment — environmental laws and sound practices; (11) Customs Compliance — legal trade procedures; (12) Drug Interdiction — prevention of illegal drugs or contraband. WRAP monitors all 12 principles through independent third-party audits.

The WRAP certification process involves: (1) Factory application to WRAP International with documentation; (2) Self-assessment form completion by the factory covering all 12 principles; (3) Third-party audit by a WRAP-approved independent audit firm — auditors review documents, inspect facilities, and interview workers; (4) Audit report submission to WRAP International; (5) WRAP International review of the report and certification decision; (6) Certificate issuance if all 12 principles are met. WRAP offers three certification levels: Platinum (exceptional), Gold, and Silver. Certificate validity is typically 6 months (first certification) or 1–2 years for renewals. Factories must re-audit annually or bi-annually. Unannounced follow-up audits are possible.

WRAP, SA8000, and BSCI are all social compliance standards for factories but have different structures: WRAP is factory-certified directly by WRAP International — the factory initiates certification. It covers 12 principles similar to SA8000. SA8000 (Social Accountability International) is an internationally recognised management system standard with 9 elements — often considered more rigorous than WRAP, particularly on freedom of association and grievance mechanisms. BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative, now Amfori BSCI) is a buyer-driven audit system — the brand/retailer initiates the audit, not the factory. BSCI audits are not certificates; they produce audit reports shared within the Amfori platform. For Indian textile factories, SA8000 and WRAP are factory-held certificates; BSCI is often a buyer requirement using third-party auditors. Many factories hold more than one.

India has one of the largest concentrations of WRAP certified textile factories globally. Major certifying states include Tamil Nadu (Karur, Tirupur), Kerala, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Most mid-to-large Indian home textile exporters hold WRAP certification as a standard requirement for US retail and hotel buyers. WRAP certification can be verified at the WRAP International database (wrapcompliance.org) — buyers can search by factory name or country. When evaluating an Indian supplier, request their current WRAP certificate and verify the certification number is valid and unexpired on the WRAP database.