Download the 2025 Report
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product
chemicals management
At Carter’s, prioritizing product safety through effective chemicals management is essential for customer trust and protecting the children who wear our clothes. Our comprehensive approach combines rigorous standards, third-party certifications, and proactive testing protocols to uphold our commitment to safe, quality products.
product safety
Our commitment to third-party certification through OEKO-TEX demonstrates our leadership in product safety. This certification assures consumers that our products meet strict safety standards. It is one of the world’s best-known certifications for textiles tested for over 1,000 harmful substances. Ninety-nine percent of our products, which we source directly, and 100% of the manufacturing facilities we use are OEKO-TEX certified. The certification excludes products that we do not source directly.
Looking ahead, we expect to maintain certification for approximately 99% of eligible products and recognize that certain product categories and low-volume specialty items may remain outside certification scope.15 Starting in Fall 2025, we expanded our certification program to include Little Planet products, building on their existing use of GOTS-certified products, and further strengthening our chemical safety commitment across our brand portfolio.
15
Carter’s defines in-scope items as those apparel items which we source directly.
99% of our products, which we source directly, are now OEKO-TEX certified and 100% of the manufacturing facilities we use are OEKO-TEX certified.
99%
restricted substances list (RSL)
We utilize the AFIRM RSL, which is developed by the Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management group and is widely acknowledged as an industry-leading restricted substances list. A restricted substances list is a tool used by manufacturers, suppliers, and regulatory authorities to manage the use of chemicals and other materials in products. With over 99% of in-scope vendor styles now OEKO-TEX certified, we use OEKO-TEX as the testing method to track that suppliers are compliant with the AFIRM RSL.
manufacturing restricted substances list (MRSL)
A Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) bans the intentional use of specific chemicals in the production of raw materials and finished goods, even if those chemicals wash off or are no longer present when the product is tested. The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC MRSL) is a widely adopted industry standard, and we met our goal of 80% adoption of the ZDHC MRSL by the end of 2025 across our supply chain.
93%
fabric yards
produced came from Tier 2 suppliers engaged with the ZDHC MRSL
86%
wash & laundry
facilities used engaged with the ZDHC MRSL
80%
adoption across supply chain
of the ZDHC MRSL by the end of 2025
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
We maintained our proactive stance on PFAS management in 2025 by upholding the stricter standards we set in 2024. Per our MRSL, we do not intentionally add PFAS to our apparel or accessory products, and we expanded the scope of product categories we test, outside of products we claim to be water or stain resistant.
Our risk-based testing strategy encompasses products that are subject to heightened scrutiny, including outerwear and bath-related items. This comprehensive approach provides multiple layers of protection against PFAS presence in our products. We have also enhanced our testing protocols by:
- Conducting total fluorine testing for Carter’s in-scope sourced apparel and Skip Hop products
- Expanding the scope of testing beyond water or stain-resistant claims
- Enhancing documentation requirements for E.U. market compliance
- Strengthening supplier engagement to increase PFAS awareness