From 1 March 2026, WRAP stopped issuing new two-year Platinum certificates and removed Gold/Platinum levels from new certificates. New compliance certificates are annual; existing Platinum certificates remain valid until their stated expiry.

WRAP — certification programme update

This FAQ retains all 30 original questions. Historical organizational details, courses and programme terms are identified as such; check WRAP’s official sources for current fees and requirements.

WRAP — FAQ

WRAP — current certification programme

General information

What is WRAP?

WRAP is an independent, non-profit organization promoting safe, lawful, humane and ethical manufacturing through facility certification and education. Its programme mainly concerns apparel, footwear, sewn products and related industries, alongside social compliance training.

Is WRAP a government organization?

No. WRAP is independent of governments. The original FAQ describes funding from services rather than government support.

Is WRAP an industry association?

No. Although it originated in the apparel and footwear industry, WRAP operates independently with its own governance and funding.

Is WRAP an advocacy group?

The original FAQ describes WRAP as politically neutral and not campaigning for or against domestic or international legislation or policies.

Where is WRAP located?

The original FAQ identifies headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, near Washington, DC, offices in Hong Kong and Dhaka and personnel in India, Thailand and Vietnam. This is the original office profile; verify current contacts through WRAP’s official website.

How is WRAP funded?

WRAP’s fee-for-service model supports its independence. Its funding comes from services such as facility registration and training, rather than membership dues, government grants or charitable donations.

Is WRAP a membership organization?

No. The original FAQ emphasizes avoiding financial, political or membership influence that could compromise independent social compliance certification.

How can people engage with WRAP?

Follow WRAP’s website, social channels and newsletter for responsible sourcing news, programme updates and training dates. The original FAQ states that WRAP did not solicit charitable donations or offer volunteer placements and handled staff recruitment directly; check current opportunities and arrangements on its official website.

How is WRAP governed?

The original FAQ described a ten-member board with a majority from outside apparel and footwear, as required by its governing rules. Treat the size and names in old material as historical; use WRAP’s current governance information.

Is the programme reviewed regularly?

The original FAQ described a thorough programme review every two years, or more often as needed. Current requirements and changes should be checked on WRAP’s official website.

Certification programme

Who can apply for WRAP certification?

Certification applies to individual production facilities, mainly in apparel, footwear, sewn products and related industries. Holding companies, brands and retailers themselves are not eligible.

How does a facility become certified?

The original FAQ presents five stages: application and registration fee, self-assessment, selection of a monitoring firm, audit and review, and certification. WRAP’s current certification page groups these activities differently and treats the pre-audit self-assessment form as optional but encouraged. An accredited monitoring firm audits the site; WRAP’s review process determines certification.

How long does certification take?

Timing depends on readiness and the correction of findings. The original FAQ mentions as little as six weeks, commonly two to six months and sometimes longer. These are indicative ranges, not an ITVC or WRAP guarantee.

How much does certification cost?

The original USD 1,195 registration fee and USD 895 Silver-renewal fee are historical. WRAP introduced worker-count-based registration fees from January 2024. The audit fee is separate, set by the monitoring firm and paid directly to it. Consult WRAP’s current published schedule and obtain a quotation for the audit.

How can I check whether a factory is certified?

Use WRAP’s current facility directory. The original FAQ notes that public listing depended on permission to display a facility. If a site is not shown, seek confirmation directly from WRAP rather than drawing conclusions from the absence of a listing.

Can one certificate cover several facilities?

No. Each production unit must undergo its own certification process.

Can a brand itself be WRAP-certified?

No. WRAP certifies individual production facilities, not brands or retailers.

How can I tell whether clothing came from a WRAP-certified factory?

Certification concerns a factory, not the entire product supply chain. A shirt might be assembled at a certified site while its fabric, buttons or other components come from elsewhere. The original FAQ explains that WRAP did not operate a comprehensive consumer garment-tagging system, while some brands disclosed their sourcing on their websites. Do not infer whole-product certification from a factory certificate; check any logo claims against WRAP’s current rules.

Which buyers accept WRAP certificates?

The original FAQ cited more than 100 buyers, brands and retailers; that is a historical count. Acceptance varies: some buyers use WRAP instead of their own audit, others require an initial inspection, limit acceptance by country, licensee or monitoring firm, or impose additional conditions. Confirm the particular buyer’s current requirements before commissioning an audit.

Audits and assessments

Who conducts WRAP audits?

WRAP-accredited monitoring firms conduct facility audits. The original FAQ also described occasional assessments by WRAP staff. Verify the firm’s current authorization for the location concerned.

How much does an audit cost?

Monitoring firms set their own audit fees, depending on factors such as factory size and location. WRAP’s registration fee does not include that charge.

How often are facilities audited?

The old FAQ described repeated audits under a valid registration, at least 45 days between successive audits, and six-month Silver, annual Gold and two-year Platinum cycles. These historical intervals and levels are not current instructions. New certification is annual under the 2026 change, while facilities remain subject to random unannounced post-certification assessments. Confirm the current scheduling and follow-up rules with WRAP.

Are audit dates announced to facilities?

The original FAQ described certification audits within a one-month window without an exact date being announced, and random unannounced post-certification assessments. Confirm the applicable audit window with the monitoring firm; do not expect advance notice of a PCA.

What qualifications do auditors need?

The original FAQ describes experienced auditors employed by accredited monitoring firms, completing WRAP lead-auditor training and refresher training. Its reference to IRCA recognition is historical; current qualification and training requirements should be checked with WRAP.

Why are audits important?

Audits provide objective evidence and a basis for improvement discussions. They examine whether effective management systems support compliance in everyday operations, rather than treating a single inspection as proof of permanent compliance.

How can someone become a WRAP auditor?

The original FAQ states that applicants should be experienced auditors employed by a WRAP-accredited monitoring partner before undertaking the relevant WRAP training. Confirm current entry criteria with WRAP.

Training

What training did the original FAQ list?

It listed four subjects: internal auditor training, lead auditor training, fire safety awareness and CTPAT for foreign manufacturers. This is a historical course list; consult the current training programme for availability.

Who can attend training?

The original FAQ described internal auditor, fire safety and CTPAT courses as open generally, with lead auditor courses restricted to accredited monitoring partners. Current admission rules depend on the course.

How much does training cost?

Fees vary by course. Consult the applicable training information and quotation.

Who delivers WRAP training?

The original FAQ described WRAP staff with experience in social compliance education as its trainers. WRAP’s own training and ITVC’s consulting or training services are separate; confirm the provider and course scope when registering.