Sustainability Tags
OVERVIEW
What is this field?
The Sustainability Tags field captures environmental, ethical, and social responsibility attributes of a product. These tags communicate how a product was made, what it is made from, and what values it represents.
Sustainability claims must be specific and verifiable. Generic claims like “eco-friendly” without supporting detail can damage trust and may run afoul of greenwashing regulations.
This field should contain structured, specific tags that describe verifiable sustainability attributes.
BUSINESS VALUE
Why this field matters
- A growing percentage of consumers actively filter for sustainable products
- Regulatory bodies are increasing scrutiny on unsubstantiated sustainability claims
- AI-powered shopping assistants use sustainability data to match eco-conscious queries
- Sustainability tags enable dedicated collections and marketing campaigns
- Specific sustainability claims differentiate products from competitors
- Retail partners increasingly require sustainability data for product listings
TECHNICAL SETUP
Recommended setup
Field type: List of single-line text entries (multi-select)
Namespace: custom.product
Key: sustainability_tags
Multi-value: Yes — allow multiple entries where applicable
STEP-BY-STEP WALKTHROUGH
How to create the Sustainability Tags field in Accentuate
Follow these steps to create and configure this metafield in your Accentuate dashboard.
Step 1: Navigate to metafield definitions
Open your Accentuate dashboard and go to the metafield definitions section. Select the “Product” resource type to add a new product-level metafield.
| Accentuate dashboard — navigate to Product metafield definitions |
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Step 2: Create a new metafield
Click the “Add definition” or “Create metafield” button. Enter the namespace “custom.product” and the key “sustainability_tags”. Set the display name to “Sustainability Tags”.
| Click “Add field” to create the “Sustainability Tags” metafield |
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Step 3: Select the field type
Set the field type to “List of single-line text entries (multi-select)”. Enable the “List” or multi-value option so merchants can enter multiple values.
| Select the data type for “Sustainability Tags” |
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Step 4: Configure validation and description
Add a helpful description for merchants: “Environmental, ethical, and social responsibility attributes of this product (e.g., Organic, Recycled content, Fair trade).” This will appear as helper text when merchants edit the field on a product.
| Description and validation settings for “Sustainability Tags” |
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Step 5: Save and verify
Save the metafield definition. Then navigate to any product and confirm that the “Sustainability Tags” field appears in the metafields section, ready to accept values.
| The “Sustainability Tags” field visible on a product editing page, empty and ready |
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STRUCTURING GUIDANCE
How to structure the values
Use specific, verifiable terms. “Organic cotton (GOTS certified)” is better than “eco-friendly.”
Separate material-related claims from production-related claims.
If a tag refers to a certification, name the certification explicitly.
Be prepared to substantiate any sustainability claim. If you cannot verify it, do not tag it.
Consider the entire product lifecycle: materials, manufacturing, packaging, end-of-life.
Use consistent terminology catalog-wide.
USAGE CONTEXT
When to use this field
- Products made with certified organic, recycled, or responsibly sourced materials
- Products from fair trade or ethically certified supply chains
- Products with reduced environmental impact in packaging or shipping
- Products designed for longevity, repairability, or circular fashion
- Vegan or cruelty-free products where this is a verified claim
- Any product where sustainability is a meaningful part of the brand story
REFERENCE VALUES
Example values
The following values are recommended starting points. Adapt them to your product catalog as needed.
| Value | When to use |
|---|---|
| Organic | Made from organically grown fibers; specify certification (e.g., GOTS) |
| Recycled content | Contains materials reclaimed from pre- or post-consumer waste |
| 100% recycled | Entire product made from recycled materials |
| Vegan | Contains no animal-derived materials |
| Cruelty-free | No animal testing in any stage of production |
| Low-impact dyes | Dyed using processes that reduce water, chemicals, or pollution |
| Biodegradable | Materials decompose naturally under appropriate conditions |
| Plastic-free packaging | Ships without any single-use plastic packaging |
| Ethically manufactured | Made in facilities with verified fair labor practices |
| Fair trade certified | Produced under fair trade standards; workers receive fair wages |
| Locally made | Manufactured within the same country or region as the primary market |
| Carbon-neutral / Carbon-conscious | Production carbon footprint is offset or minimized |
| OEKO-TEX certified | Tested and certified free from harmful substances |
| Bluesign approved | Responsible resource management throughout the supply chain |
| Made to last / Durable design | Designed for longevity with reinforced construction |
| Deadstock fabric | Made from surplus fabric that would otherwise go to waste |
| The “Sustainability Tags” field populated with example values |
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Best practices
- Only tag what you can verify — unsubstantiated claims erode trust
- Name specific certifications rather than generic claims
- Update sustainability tags as supply chain practices change
- Combine sustainability tags with material data for a complete picture
- Create a dedicated sustainability collection powered by these tags
- Educate your team on what each tag means for consistent application
AVOID THESE
Common mistakes
- Using “eco-friendly” or “green” as standalone tags without specifics
- Claiming “sustainable” without specifying which aspect
- Not updating tags when certifications expire or supply chains change
- Greenwashing: applying tags to products with minimal actual sustainability attributes
- Using different terms for the same concept across products
- Ignoring packaging sustainability while tagging product materials as sustainable
IN CONTEXT
Example: How it appears on a product
Women’s Recycled Down Puffer Jacket Sustainability: Recycled content, OEKO-TEX certified, Plastic-free packaging, Ethically manufactured Material: Recycled nylon shell, Recycled down fill Season: Winter, Cold weather Care: Machine wash cold, Tumble dry low with tennis balls |
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| Sustainability Tags data displayed on the storefront via Custom Liquid |
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