Fiber and Textiles

Certified organic fiber must be grown according to U.S. National Organic Program (NOP) standards without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or genetic engineering. USDA-accredited third-party certification organizations verify that organic producers (farmers) use only permissible methods and materials allowed under the NOP organic regulations

While USDA NOP regulations cover the production of raw agricultural commodities such as cotton and wool, the regulations do not include specific processing or manufacturing standards for textile products, such as t-shirts or mattresses. A product can be labeled as “organic” and make reference to NOP certification ONLY if it is produced in full compliance with both the NOP production standards (crops and livestock for raw materials) and the NOP handling standards (processing for the finished product). However, as most of these methods and ingredients are not applicable to textile processing, NOP labeling is likely unachievable for most garments and textile products that use a variety of dyestuffs and auxiliary agents.

Given the lack of processing standards under the NOP organic regulations, manufacturers may seek out certification for processed textiles through a reputable private standard called the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). GOTS is a stringent voluntary international standard for the processing of textiles containing organic fiber. GOTS addresses the entire post-harvest processing (including spinning, knitting, weaving, dyeing and manufacturing) of apparel and textile products made with organic fiber.