GOTS

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the leading worldwide standard for textiles produced from organic fibers. It governs the processing, manufacturing, labeling, and distribution of organic textiles, requiring compliance with strict ecological and social criteria across the entire supply chain from fiber to finished product.

GOTS covers several core areas. The standard specifies that textiles must derive from organic fibers, prohibits GMOs, and imposes restrictions on the use of toxic chemicals in spinning, knitting or weaving, dyeing, and finishing. It requires environmentally responsible processing, including wastewater treatment, energy and water efficiency, and safe waste management. In addition, packaging and labeling practices must align with sustainability requirements. The product’s organic content and processing must meet GOTS criteria to qualify for the GOTS label.

Social criteria are integral to GOTS. The standard adopts core International Labour Organization conventions and requires safe working conditions, reasonable wages, limits on working hours, no child or forced labor, and the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Audits and certifications verify compliance at each stage of production.

Certification and labeling involve third-party, GOTS-accredited certification bodies that assess producers, processors, and traders. A chain-of-custody system ensures that organic status is maintained throughout the supply chain. Products earning the GOTS label must meet the standard’s thresholds and labeling rules, providing consumers with assurance of organic content and responsible production.

GOTS is widely adopted by brands seeking verifiable organic textiles and is viewed as a benchmark for sustainability in the international textile industry.