The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is globally accepted for being the leading textile processing standard for organic yarns. GOTS provides a framework for ensuring product safety like the Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, as well, it considers environmentally friendly and social welfare criteria across the complete supply chain.

The method for a new organic certification rose from the need to adjust the existing organic standards into 1 naturally certified global standard. At a convention in Dusseldorf Germany during 2002 GOTS was born.

Does GOTS Mean Organic Cotton?

The key differentiator for GOTS is it doesn’t basically focus on any single fibre, it focuses on all organic fibres which includes cotton, wool, silk and bamboo.

GOTS certification comes in 2 label grades which are made plainly visible on the product label for buyers to see and verify with GOTS.

• Organic be required to contain a minimum of 95% certified organic fibres.
• Made with Organic, the final product must contain a minimum of 70% certified organic fibres and may not exceed a 10% composition of synthetic fibres. More leniency is given to socks, sportswear and leggings (which are permitted 25%)

As GOTS is a textile standard and not a farming standard, it does not set organic farming standards, but it does need that natural fibres are grown in accordance with a domestic or worldwide accredited organic farming.

What Are The GOTS Requirements?

GOTS is an individual certification which covers the whole textile supply chain, including areas of fibre production, processing and manufacture.

Environmentally Friendly Standards

GOTS sets limits on the environmental impacts of the manufacture process, this includes: restricting chemicals that are toxic and possibly toxic including Azo dyes, biodegradability requirements, waste management and water treatment, packaging material.

Public Standards

Happiness of workers involved in the whole textile supply chain is another assessment standards in GOTS. Workers must have the freedom to decide their employment, no child labour, health and safety criteria met, and fair wages given.

How To Become GOTS Certified?

All applicants in the textile supply chain must have a GOTS certification for the final product to carry a GOTS merchandise label. This includes operators of the processing and production chain and includes BtoB buyers.

Retailers are not required to become GOTS certified as the merchandise supplier will label the product with their license information. If a retailer was to alter the merchandise in some way (embroidery for instance) the retailer would then be needed to become certified.

How To Check GOTS Certification?

The GOTS website lists all companies that have certification, if you have a merchandise you would like to confirm you can validate the merchandise label using the GOTS database. This will allow you to validate the label and verify that the company is in fact certified and the label grade they have certification for ‘organic’ vs ‘made with organic’.