The importance of GOTS certification

What does GOTS certification mean ?

GOTS is a benchmark standard for sustainable garment manufacturing.

How did this GOTS label come about ?

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) was born in 2002 during the Intercot Conference in Düsseldorf (Germany). The participants of the conference have indentificated the many problems of the textile industry and the need to harmonise organic textile standards. There were many binding standards for responsible brands. In addition, there were many problems in the labour standards.

Standards needed to be harmonised for the responsible brands and they could join forces and become more competitive. That is why the International Working Group on Global

Organic Textile Standard developed a set of global standards.

In 2006, the group released the first complete certification. There are many criteria and an inspection that must be respected by the company if it wants to have GOTS qualification.

What are the guarantees of GOTS certification ?

An eco-label

Consumers recognize GOTS as the first sustainable standard. GOTS certified the entire production chain. The label is beneficial both for the recognition of responsible brands in the market and for consumers who are aware of what they are buying !

To obtain the GOTS “organic” label, textile products must contain a minimum of 95% certified organic fibres. There is also the label “composed of organic fibres” which certifies a product that contains a minimum of 70% certified organic fibres.

The GOTS label is now anchored in European legislation. It is managed by GOTS, an international organisation consisting of four members, each of which used to have a separate label for organic textiles ( which are : Organic Trade Association, Japan Organic Cotton Association, International Association of Natural Textile Industry (UK) et JOCA (Japon)).

A social label

The GOTS standard prohibits forced labour, child labour, discrimination and physical abuse. The label promotes safe working conditions and trade union freedom.

This label is now a universal recognition, and a standard for the textile brands who use organic fibres, including environmentally oriented, technical and social criteria.

In February 2021, more than 10,300 GOTS certified facilities in 2020 with more than 3 million workers in 72 countries.

To summarise, GOTS certifies that the working conditions are dignified but also that the product is environmentally friendly and does not affect the health of the wearer.

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