What is GOTS?
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognised as the worldwide leading standard for the manufacture of organically produced natural fibres. It defines environmental requirements to a high level throughout the textile production chain and also calls for compliance with social criteria.
What criteria are covered by the GOTS certificate?
- Use of chemicals
Chemicals which could be harmful to the health or the environment, such as aromatic solvents, chlorinated benzenes, heavy metals, and many more are forbidden.
- Social criteria
In the GOTS standard there are important social criteria that must be complied with. These include the following points:
- No child labour
- No discrimination
- Safe and hygienic working conditions
- Fair payment
- Regulated working times
- Humane treatment
- Socially responsible management
- Ethical business practice
- Storage, packaging and transport
Organic textiles must be stored and transported so that contamination with forbidden substances or a mix up or substitution with conventional products or components is avoided.
- Testing for harmful substances
Products and all constituent substances must be regularly tested by independent laboratories.
Regular checks to make sure that standards are maintained, on-site inspections and the certification of processing facilities, manufacturers and distributors will be carried out by independent, specially accredited testing institutes according to the GOTS monitoring framework. This guarantees complete security for GOTS certified textiles.
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