Global Organic Textile Standard

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the world's leading standard for textiles made from organic fibers that meet both ecological and social criteria. GOTS was founded by four renowned organizations: the Organic Trade Association (OTA, USA), the International Association of Natural Textiles (IVN, Germany), The Soil Association (UK), and the Japan Organic Cotton Association (JOCA, Japan)[3][4].

The main mission of GOTS is to establish a uniform, transparent, and comprehensive standard for the production of textiles made from organic fibers. This standard aims to ensure that the entire textile supply chain is certified independently and transparently. GOTS is committed to promoting ecological and social practices in the textile industry and provides consumers with the assurance that the products they purchase come from environmentally friendly and fair supply chains[5].

GOTS offers comprehensive certification for a variety of textile products, including:

• Fiber products
• Yarns
• Fabrics
• Clothing
• Home textiles
• Mattresses
• Personal care products
• Textiles in contact with food

This certification enables textile manufacturers and processors to export their products worldwide with a single and globally accepted organic certification[5].

GOTS is committed to promoting sustainability and transparency in the textile industry. This includes:

• Ecological Criteria: GOTS ensures that textile production adheres to environmentally friendly practices, including the use of organic fibers and minimizing environmental impacts.
• Social Criteria: The standard also includes strict social criteria to ensure fair working conditions and human rights throughout the supply chain.
• Independent Certification: Certification is carried out by independent and accredited certification bodies that ensure all requirements of the GOTS standard are met[5].

GOTS is managed by the "Global Standard gemeinnützige GmbH," a legal entity under German law, established in 2008 by the founding organizations. The organization has set up various bodies, including the Advisory Council, the Standards Committee, and the Certifiers Council, to ensure the implementation and further development of the GOTS standard[1][2].

Through this structured and transparent approach, GOTS sets standards for sustainability and responsibility in the global textile industry.

• 1 - https://global-standard.org/de/ueber-uns/organisation
• 2 - https://global-standard.org/about-us/organisation
• 3 - https://global-standard.org/de/ueber-uns
• 4 - https://global-standard.org/about-us
• 5 - https://global-standard.org/de/der-standard