The aim of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is to define requirements to ensure organic status of textiles, from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing up to labeling in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer.
GOTS is recognized as the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibers. It defines high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain and requires compliance with social criteria as well.
Only textile products that contain a minimum of 70% organic fibers can become GOTS certified. All chemical inputs such as dyestuffs and auxiliaries used must meet certain environmental and toxicological criteria. The choice of accessories is limited in accordance with ecological aspects as well. A functional waste water treatment plant is mandatory for any wet-processing unit involved and all processors must comply with minimum social criteria.
Finished or processed textile products sold in the U.S. that imply or leave the consumer to believe that the final product is certified organic must meet either the USDA organic regulations or GOTS.
The Global Standard gGmbH on a Global Organic Textile Standard is made up of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), The Soil Association (UK), International Association Natural Textile Industry (IVN)(Germany), and the Japan Organic Cotton Association.
The Standard
The latest version 6.0 of the Global Organic Textile Standard was released March 1, 2020, replacing Version 5.0. All GOTS companies must fully comply with Version 6.0 by March 1, 2021.
Resources and Highlights for GOTS 6.0 GOTS Version 6.0 GOTS Version 5.0 Summary of Changes from Version 4.0 to 5.0 GOTS Version 4.0 GOTS Licensing and Labeling Guide OTA and Textile Exchange Present GOTS 4.0 Selling GOTS Goods: Info Sheet
Manual for Implementation
The Manual for Implementation is a tool that was developed by the GOTS Technical Committee to provide interpretation advice on specific GOTS criteria and the related quality assurance system.
The Manual represents a flexible quality assurance tool of the Technical Committee to provide advice and clarification to the GOTS approved certifiers and users of the GOTS and can be updated as needed without going through a formal standard revision procedure. The interpretations, corrections and further clarifications as provided in this document are binding for all approved GOTS certifiers and users of the GOTS.
Learn More About GOTS
How Official Bodies, Organisations and Institutions support GOTS How Companies Benefit with GOTS Certifcation How Consumers Benefit from GOTS Compare: From Field to Fashion Future of Organic Wool Industry
Getting Certified
Textile processing, manufacturing and trading entities can apply for certification according to GOTS. There are four different GOTS certification scopes.
- Scope 1: Certification of mechanical textile processing and manufacturing operations and their product.
- Scope 2: Certification of wet processing and finishing operations and their product.
- Scope 3: Certification of trading operations and related product.
- Scope 4: Approval of textile auxiliary agents (chemical inputs) on positive list.
Please contact one of the following OTA-member certification agencies for getting certified:
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US, Control Union Certifications North America LLC |
(503) 378-0690
Approved for scopes 1, 2, 3 |
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+33 5 62 07 74 90
Approved for scopes 1, 2, 3, 4 |
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Visit the GOTS Website Visit the Textile Exchange Website
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