WRAP — Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production — is an independent non-profit that certifies individual factories, principally in sewn products and apparel, against 12 principles covering labor law compliance, workplace conditions, and customs/security practice. A WRAP certificate tells a buyer that a specific facility has been audited by an accredited monitor and found compliant — it is a factory credential, not a product label.
The 12 Principles, in Brief
The principles track the issues garment audits exist to catch: compliance with local laws; prohibition of forced labor; prohibition of child labor; prohibition of harassment and abuse; compensation and benefits meeting legal minimums; hours of work within legal limits; prohibition of discrimination; health and safety; freedom of association and collective bargaining; environmental compliance; customs compliance; and security (including supply-chain security practices aligned with programs such as CTPAT). The last two distinguish WRAP from purely social standards — a WRAP factory is also expected to run a lawful, secure shipping operation, which matters directly to importers managing programs like the ones in our DDP guide.
Certificate Levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver
WRAP certificates are tiered by audit history and findings. Platinum (valid two years) is for facilities with a sustained record of full compliance across consecutive audits. Gold (one year) is the standard full-compliance certificate. Silver (six months) may be issued where minor non-compliances exist with an approved corrective path, excluding any serious findings. Facilities self-assess first, then an accredited monitoring organization audits; unannounced follow-ups can occur within the term. As with SA8000, buyers should verify the certificate’s facility address, level, and expiry in WRAP’s registry rather than trusting a scanned copy.
Where WRAP Fits
WRAP began with US apparel production and is now global, and many North American brands and retailers accept a current WRAP certificate in lieu of running their own social audit at that facility. It pairs in a compliance file with product-chemistry programs — Prop 65 management, bluesign inputs, OEKO-TEX — which answer different questions (what is in the product vs. how the factory operates). No single certificate covers both, and credible sourcing files hold one of each kind.
FAQs
- What does WRAP stand for?
- Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production. It is an independent non-profit certification program focused on sewn-product and apparel factories.
- Is WRAP a product certification?
- No. WRAP certifies a facility’s practices, not individual garments, so products do not carry a WRAP quality or content claim.
- How long is a WRAP certificate valid?
- Platinum: two years. Gold: one year. Silver: six months. Validity depends on level, and audits or follow-ups occur within the term.
- WRAP or SA8000 — which should a factory get?
- Both are credible social certifications. WRAP is apparel-specific and adds customs/security principles; SA8000 is cross-industry with a strong management-system emphasis. Buyer requirements usually decide.
More B2B Production Guides
This guide is part of the Apparel Search B2B production series on specifications, printing, dyeing, trade terms, and compliance. Browse the full series below, or start from the manufacturing guides hub.
Spec, Measure & Inspect
Print Methods
Dye Methods
Trade & Compliance
- DDP Incoterms
- Prop 65 for Apparel
- SA8000 Certification
- WRAP Certification (this guide)
- bluesign
Apparel Search: explore the manufacturing guides hub and production & sourcing resources for the fashion industry.
Please note: WRAP certification principles and audit requirements are set by Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production and are revised over time. This page is a general overview provided for information only — it is not legal or compliance advice, and it may not reflect the most current requirements. Always confirm the current requirements directly with Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) before making certification or sourcing decisions, rather than relying on this website.