WRAP Certification Guide 2026: Responsible Production

Complete guide to the Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production program for apparel, footwear, and sewn products manufacturers

What is WRAP Certification?

WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production, formerly Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting safe, lawful, humane, and ethical manufacturing worldwide. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, USA, WRAP operates the world's largest factory-based certification program specifically designed for the apparel, footwear, and sewn products sectors.

Unlike product certifications, WRAP certifies the manufacturing facility itself — meaning a WRAP-certified factory's entire production output meets the program's standards. This makes it a highly efficient credential for factories supplying multiple buyers. WRAP certification is accepted by hundreds of leading global brands and retailers, including Walmart, Gap, JCPenney, H&M, Disney, Costco, and many others, often as a prerequisite for supplier approval.

According to the WRAP Facility Handbook 2025, the program follows the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP)'s Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) guidelines for supply chain security, in addition to its comprehensive social compliance framework.

The 12 WRAP Principles

The WRAP program is built on 12 Principles grounded in internationally recognized workplace standards, including ILO conventions, the UN Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

#	Principle	Core Requirement
1	Compliance with Laws	Adhere to all applicable local, national, and international laws, including ethics, anti-corruption, and environmental regulations.
2	Prohibition of Forced Labor	No involuntary, bonded, indentured, prison, or trafficked labor. Employment must be strictly voluntary.
3	Prohibition of Child Labor	No workers below age 15 (14 in less-developed countries) or the legal minimum age, referencing ILO Convention 138.
4	Prohibition of Harassment and Abuse	Workplace free from corporal punishment, harassment, intimidation, and bullying of any kind.
5	Compensation and Benefits	Pay at least the legally mandated minimum wage, overtime premiums, allowances, and social insurance. Show progress on working hours.
6	Hours of Work	Respect legal limits on working hours and provide at least one day off per seven-day period. Create a Working Hours Action Plan if needed.
7	Prohibition of Discrimination	Base employment decisions on ability, not personal characteristics such as gender, race, religion, age, or disability.
8	Health and Safety	Provide a safe, clean, and healthy workplace. Maintain fire safety, emergency exits, PPE, and proper sanitation. Residential facilities where provided must meet basic needs.
9	Freedom of Association	Respect workers' lawful rights to form and join trade unions. Maintain an effective grievance mechanism.
10	Environment	Comply with environmental regulations, manage waste responsibly, and apply reduce-reuse-recycle practices.
11	Customs Compliance	Accurate product labeling, complete records, and prevention of illegal transshipment or counterfeit goods.
12	Security	Maintain corporate, transportation, and physical security. Benchmarked against the US CBP CTPAT program to prevent non-manifested cargo.

WRAP Certification Levels

WRAP awards certification levels based on the breadth and stability of a facility's social compliance program. The certificate level is determined by WRAP based on audit findings and the facility's demonstrated commitment to the 12 Principles.

Level	Validity	Requirements	Percentage of Certified Facilities
Platinum	2 years	Three consecutive Gold certifications with no corrective actions, no gaps in certification periods	Under 10%
Gold	1 year	Full compliance with all 12 WRAP Principles during the audit	Over 90%
Silver	6 months	Substantial compliance with minor non-compliances; no "red flag" issues (child labor, forced labor, safety hazards). Max 3 consecutive Silver.	Small minority

Important: Facilities that cannot show complete and accurate records regarding wages and/or working hours during any audit automatically lose eligibility for Platinum and Gold certification for their current period. This includes any violations of Principles 5 (Compensation) or 6 (Hours of Work) where issues with record keeping are identified.

WRAP Certification Process: Step by Step

The WRAP certification process follows a structured six-step workflow as outlined in the WRAP Facility Handbook 2025:

Step 1: Submit Application and Pay Registration Fee

The facility creates an account on the WRAP website (wrapcompliance.org), submits the initial application, selects a WRAP-accredited monitoring firm, and pays the registration fee. The registration is valid for six months from the date of payment — the facility must complete the audit and receive certification within this timeframe or re-register.

Step 2: Complete Pre-Audit Self-Assessment (PASA)

The Pre-Audit Self-Assessment is optional but strongly recommended. It includes sample questions that the monitoring firm will ask and guidance for compiling relevant documents. The PASA can be downloaded from the WRAP website in English, Spanish, or Chinese and uploaded to the facility's dashboard.

Step 3: On-Site Audit by Accredited Monitoring Firm

The monitoring firm conducts a full social compliance audit of the facility. WRAP audits are semi-announced — the facility knows the audit will take place within a 2-4 week window but does not know the exact date. The audit covers all shifts, includes worker interviews, document review, and facility inspection. Upon completion, the monitoring firm has 10 days to submit the audit report to WRAP.

Step 4: Report Review and Corrective Actions

WRAP compliance staff review the audit report. If non-compliances are identified, the facility is provided with a list of corrective actions that must be implemented. An additional inspection from the monitoring firm verifies that corrective actions have been completed.

Step 5: Certification Decision

WRAP staff and its independent review board review the audit report and corrective actions. Certification is granted only after all corrective actions have been implemented and verified. The facility receives a Gold (1 year) or Platinum (2 year) certificate based on the audit findings.

Step 6: Post-Certification and Renewal

All certified facilities are subject to random, unannounced Post-Certification Assessments (PCAs) during their certification period. WRAP contacts facilities within 90 days of certificate expiration with renewal instructions. Renewal requires a new audit to demonstrate continued compliance.

WRAP Registration Fees (2026)

Effective January 1, 2024, WRAP introduced a tiered fee structure based on facility size, reducing costs for smaller facilities. The registration fee covers the application processing and is valid for six months.

Facility Size (Workers)	Registration Fee (USD)
100 or fewer workers	$650
101-200 workers	$950
201-1,000 workers	$1,350
1,001 or more workers	$1,550

Note: The registration fee is paid directly to WRAP. Additional costs include the monitoring firm's audit fees, which vary by firm, facility size, location, and scope. These fees are negotiated directly between the facility and the chosen monitoring firm. Interpreter fees may also apply if needed.

How WRAP Certification Benefits Your Factory

• Brand Acceptance: WRAP certification is accepted by hundreds of global brands including Walmart, Gap, JCPenney, H&M, Disney, and Costco. For many, it is a mandatory supplier requirement.
• Reduced Duplicate Audits: Because WRAP certifies the facility itself, one certificate satisfies multiple buyers' social compliance requirements, reducing audit fatigue.
• Market Access: Particularly important for the US market, where many retailers and brands require WRAP certification as a supplier prerequisite.
• Continuous Improvement: The tiered certification system (Silver → Gold → Platinum) provides a clear pathway for facilities to demonstrate progressive improvement.
• Transparency: WRAP maintains a Certified Facilities Map, allowing buyers to verify a facility's certification status directly.

FAQ: WRAP Certification

Q: What is WRAP certification?

A: WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) is the world's largest independent factory-based certification program for the apparel, footwear, and sewn products sectors. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, USA, WRAP certifies manufacturing facilities against 12 Principles covering labor rights, health and safety, environmental protection, and ethical business conduct.

Q: How long is WRAP certification valid?

A: WRAP offers three certificate levels: Gold certification (1 year) awarded to facilities with full compliance; Platinum certification (2 years) awarded after three consecutive Gold certifications with no corrective actions; and Silver certification (6 months) for facilities with minor non-compliances, limited to three consecutive Silver certificates.

Q: How much does WRAP certification cost?

A: WRAP registration fees are scaled by facility size (effective January 2024): USD 650 for ≤100 workers, USD 950 for 101-200, USD 1,350 for 201-1,000, and USD 1,550 for 1,001+ workers. Additional audit fees from the monitoring firm vary. The registration is valid for six months. Silver renewal uses a reduced fee of USD 895.

Q: What are the 12 WRAP Principles?

A: The 12 WRAP Principles cover: Compliance with Laws, Forced Labor prohibition, Child Labor prohibition, Harassment and Abuse prohibition, Compensation and Benefits, Hours of Work, Discrimination prohibition, Health and Safety, Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, Environment, Customs Compliance, and Security. These principles are grounded in ILO conventions, UN declarations, and OECD guidelines.

Q: Is WRAP audit announced or unannounced?

A: WRAP audits are semi-announced — the facility is given a 2-4 week audit window but does not know the exact date. After certification, facilities are subject to random, unannounced Post-Certification Assessments (PCAs) during the certification period.

Q: Who accepts WRAP certification?

A: WRAP certification is accepted by hundreds of global brands including Walmart, Gap, JCPenney, H&M, Disney, and Costco. It is particularly important for the US market, where many retailers require WRAP certification as a supplier prerequisite.

How to Get WRAP Certified

Follow this step-by-step process to obtain WRAP certification for your facility:

Conclusion

WRAP certification is one of the most important credentials for apparel, footwear, and sewn products manufacturers supplying global brands and retailers. With its 12 Principles grounded in international labor and human rights standards, tiered certification levels (Gold, Platinum, Silver), and acceptance by hundreds of leading brands, WRAP provides a comprehensive and widely recognized framework for social compliance.

The certification process — from application and semi-announced audit to corrective actions and certification decision — is designed to ensure that factories maintain safe, lawful, humane, and ethical manufacturing practices. With registration fees scaled by facility size (USD 650-1,550) and a clear pathway from Silver to Gold to Platinum, WRAP offers an accessible and progressive certification system for manufacturers of all sizes.

References

1. WRAP Facility Handbook 2025 — wrapcompliance.org
2. WRAP Certification Explained — wrapcompliance.org/en/certification/certification-explained/
3. WRAP Stakeholder Report — wrapcompliance.org
4. WRAP's 12 Principles and Certification Levels — wrapcompliance.org