Tenerife Introduces Sustainable Fashion Certification
The Cabildo of Tenerife has given the green light during its Government Council to create the new certification mark, Tenerife Moda Sostenible. Through the Departments of Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies, as well as Employment, Education and Youth, this initiative aims to certify the textile and fashion sectors on the island as sustainable activities, in line with the Tenerife Fashion Strategic Plan 2024-2027.
For President Rosa Dávila, this certification places Tenerife once again at the forefront of fashion and the international market. “We have been doing this every year with the celebration of Tenerife Moda; now we seek to consolidate our commitment to creating a sustainable island and export it to the rest of the world.”
Supporting Sustainable Practices
Tenerife Moda Sostenible is established with the premise of identifying, recognising, and supporting brands, textile companies, and designers operating in Tenerife who implement environmentally respectful practices and sustainable actions. The Minister for Natural Environment and Sustainability, Blanca Pérez, has also stated, “The goal is to bring together the sustainable fashion sector under one island brand that does not compete with the professional activities of the industry.”
Sustainable Growth
The accredited label is integrated into the Strategic Plan, which encompasses not only a series of short-term objectives but also a long-term comprehensive vision. Its mission is to propel the evolution and sustainable growth of the fashion industry in Tenerife, promoting innovation, design excellence, training, and the development of local talent, as well as encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices.
Efrain Medina, the Minister for Employment, has asserted, “This is another step towards strengthening the Tenerife Moda brand; we require a project that looks to the future, and initiatives like this set the direction. The international projection of our island’s fashion thus becomes a green platform committed to the natural environment.”
Sustainability Criteria
The goal of the Cabildo of Tenerife is to create a coordinated tool on the island to establish it as a cutting-edge centre for fashion and textiles, recognised for its creativity, quality, and sustainability in production and design. Sustainability is intended to be the central pillar, seen not merely as an option but as an essential necessity.
The Department of Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies will define the sustainability criteria for the sector, which will be assessed. Professionals aiming to obtain the quality mark must meet at least one of these criteria. Among others, professionals, brands, or companies will have to provide textile, footwear, and accessory collection points for reuse, repair, remanufacturing, or recycling in workshops or stores.
Additionally, they must be producers or users of organic cotton, linen, hemp, banana fibres, or silk, or create items using reused materials or recycled waste from the island. They will also need to provide information to consumers about the production chain, the origin of raw materials, and the ethical standards of suppliers in terms of environmental and labour sustainability, as well as offer textile reuse workshops (upcycling) to the general public.
Other requirements for benefiting from the advantages and visibility of Tenerife Moda Sostenible include affiliation with the institutional platform, Tenerife Moda.
