Product label: GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)
GOTS is a globally recognized standard for the processing of natural textiles.
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) was developed by leading standard setters to define globally recognized requirements for organic textiles. From the harvesting of raw materials to environmentally and socially responsible production and labeling, GOTS-certified textiles offer credible security for consumers.
Award criteria for the GOTS product label
The Global Organic Textile Standard includes environmental, human rights and social criteria. These criteria are checked along the entire textile supply chain. The key criteria for GOTS certification are:
- Organic fibers: The certified textiles consist of at least 70% organic fibers.
- Ecological and social standards: Safety, equal rights and fairness along the entire value chain for all workers are just as relevant as compliance with environmental criteria to ensure ecological sustainability.
- All processing stages: All processing steps are checked and every company along the textile value chain must be certified according to environmental, human rights and social criteria.
- Certification by third parties: Verification and certification is carried out by accredited independent certification bodies.
- Traceability: GOTS guarantees independent and complete verification throughout the entire product manufacturing process, thus ensuring transparent traceability – from the raw material to the end product.
GOTS: Certification body
GOTS certification is carried out by independent, accredited certification bodies. It is possible that several certification bodies are required to cover all areas along the value chain. An official list of all accredited GOTS certification bodies can be found on the GOTS website.
Costs for GOTS product certification
The costs for certification depend on the number of company locations, the size and type of company and the product range that is to be processed or traded within the scope of certification. As a rough estimate, companies with one business location can expect annual certification costs of between 1,200 and 3,000 euros. Individual cost estimates can be obtained from the approved certification bodies.
Additional costs: In addition to the certification fee that the companies pay to the certification body, the following additional costs are incurred: Each certified company pays a license fee per calendar year.
This amounts to 150 euros for each operating site. The license fee must be paid to the approved certification company, which forwards the fees to GOTS and verifies receipt of payment.
The GOTS label is suitable for the following product groups and materials:
- Fiber products
- Yarns
- Fabrics
- Clothing
- Home textiles
- Mattresses
- Body care products
- Textiles with food contact (e.g. cheesecloth)
Is the GOTS label mandatory?
The “GOTS” (Global Organic Textile Standard) label is not legally binding, but a voluntary certification for textiles that must fulfill certain ecological and social criteria. It is used to label products made from organically produced natural fibers and to ensure that they have been produced in an environmentally friendly manner and under fair working conditions along the entire supply chain.
Source: GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD (2024)