Lapis Label
New: the 12 vows grouped into 8 action labels
One label for any human creation: an object, a dish, a book, a piece of music, a film, a game, software, a website, a building, a place, a remedy, a service, an event, research, a practice, an organisation, a public body, or something made by one person. It draws on the twelve vows of the Medicine Buddha, turned into simple, checkable criteria. No creation holds this label yet.
The Lapis Label is not an official or legal certification. It is an independent opinion, run by one private individual, with no association or organisation behind it. It is not a registered trademark. It is free, always.
The common core
These 7 criteria apply to everything. If one does not fit the creation (for example, nobody works on it), we simply say so in the file.
Heal, do no harm
Vows 6 and 7: relieve illness and pain.
No known health risk for those who make it, use it or live nearby; accidents tracked.
Sources: 84000 — Sūtra of the Medicine Buddha’s vows (Toh 504) ILO C155 — Occupational Safety and Health
No child labour
Vow 2: protect the most vulnerable.
No work under the legal age, in-house or at suppliers.
Sources: ILO C138 — Minimum Age ILO C182 — Worst Forms of Child Labour
Decent, free work
Vows 8 and 10: free people from oppression and coercion.
No forced labour; lawful pay and hours; right to complain without reprisal.
Sources: ILO C029 — Forced Labour UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
Respect for animals
Vow 1: compassion for all beings.
No mistreatment, no cruel testing or shows; local law respected at the very least.
Sources: EU — TFEU art. 13 (animal welfare) WOAH — Terrestrial Code (animal welfare) French Civil Code art. 515-14 (animals are sentient)
Fair and free of corruption
Vows 3 and 11: relieve poverty and hunger.
Reasonable prices and earnings; no abusive debt; no corruption.
Sources: OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises UN Convention against Corruption
No control, no pressure
Vow 9: free from views that trap.
No psychological control, forced donations or cutting people off; freedom of belief.
Clarity and truth
Vow 12: give without deceiving.
True information, cited sources, a creator or person in charge who can be reached.
Sources: UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights UN Sustainable Development Goals
What we add, by family
A few short points, on top of the common core.
- Objects and productsmaterials, manufacturing, safety, packaging, repair.
- Food and recipesingredients, origin, hygiene, allergens listed.
- Remedies, care and medicinescomposition, national approvals, no promise of a cure, side effects reported.
- Works: art, books, music, films, gamescredits, copyright, production, content warnings.
- Software, websites and appspersonal data, security, accessibility, no tricks to make you click or pay.
- Buildings and placessafety, access for all, energy, construction, neighbours.
- Servicesclear prices, readable contract, complaints handled.
- Events and festivalssafety, access, waste, volunteers and staff, sound levels.
- Research, texts and practicesmethod, sources, people’s consent, conflicts of interest declared.
- Organisations: companies, associations, groupssuppliers, wages, accounts, governance.
- Public bodies: states, regions, municipalitieslaws applied, public budget, health and support services.
- Creations by one personreal author (a pen name is fine), original work, materials, no copying.
How a review works
- Free. No payment is possible or accepted.
- Written consent from the creator or person in charge before anything is published. For a public body: its legal representative (mayor, president, ministry).
- A dated file with our evidence and sources.
- A new review every month, for every family, and whenever an alert comes in.
- If a criterion is no longer met: 30 days to fix it, otherwise withdrawal. Serious fraud: immediate withdrawal.
- Every label granted, suspended or withdrawn is published here.
This label asks for no belief. The vows are an ethical guide, not a religious message.
Not to be confused with “Lapis Verified”: that badge only covers shops and products shown on this site. It stays unchanged. See the shop labels