The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the world's leading benchmark for processing textiles made from organic fibers. It ensures that certified products meet stringent and verifiable environmental and social standards throughout the entire supply chain -from raw material harvesting to the final labeled product.

GOTS applies to textiles made with at least 70% certified organic fibers. It covers every step—harvesting, processing, manufacturing, labeling, and trading - through mandatory independent third-party certification. Two label grades are used:

• “Organic” for products with ≥95% certified organic fibers

• “Made with organic materials” for products with 70–94% certified organic fibers

Certification is based on annual on-site audits, with unannounced inspections triggered by risk assessments. Certified entities must meet strict requirements related to chemical safety, worker protection, and environmental performance. These include:

• Use of only approved substances from the GOTS Positive List

• Pre-approval of all dyes and auxiliaries

• Ban or restriction of over 30 hazardous substance groups (e.g., PFAS, phthalates, heavy metals, endocrine disruptors)

• Proper wastewater treatment and environmental monitoring

To illustrate, consider a GOTS-certified cotton t-shirt: the cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides or GMOs, spun and woven in certified factories that treat wastewater and monitor emissions, dyed with approved non-toxic chemicals, and sewn in a facility that ensures fair wages and safe working conditions in accordance with International Labour Organization (ILO) standards. Each step is verified and documented using Transaction Certificates for full traceability.

GOTS applies to a broad range of products, including:

• Garments and fashion textiles

• Home textiles

• Mattresses and bedding

• Personal hygiene items (e.g., cotton swabs)

• Food-contact textiles

Certified facilities must also track and report key environmental metrics:

•Energy and water consumption per kilogram of output

• Greenhouse gas emissions

• Full traceability across production stages

Its social criteria are equally robust, addressing labor rights and workplace conditions. Certified entities must ensure:

• Prohibition of forced or child labor

• Wage assessments aligned with living wage benchmarks

• Freedom of association and protection of worker rights

• Compliance with core ILO conventions

Version 7.0, released in March 2023 and effective from March 1, 2024, introduced a mandatory six-step due diligence process aligned with OECD guidance. Certified entities must identify, prevent, and respond to human rights and environmental risks in their own operations and throughout their supply chains.

GOTS is reviewed every three years to remain current. A new version (8.0) is under development, with public consultation open through mid-August 2025.

The standard is managed by Global Standard gGmbH, a nonprofit founded by the Organic Trade Association (USA), International Association of Natural Textile Industry (Germany), Soil Association (UK), and Japan Organic Cotton Association. Since 2006, GOTS has certified over 12,000 facilities worldwide and is widely regarded as the most trusted and comprehensive framework for sustainable textile production.

For more information, visit the official GOTS standard page.