GOTS - Your Source for Sustainable and Ethical Textiles

Organic fibres come from certified organic agriculture, the only legally regulated system for sustainable farming. Grown without GMOs, toxic pesticides, or synthetic fertilisers, these fibres can protect ecosystems, promote biodiversity and safeguard human health. Whether plant-based (like cotton, hemp, or linen) or animal-based (like wool, silk, or cashmere), organic fibres help support soil regeneration, clean water and resilient farming communities.

GOTS social criteria, based on the key norms of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), must be met by all processors, manufacturers and traders.

GOTS sets rigorous environmental criteria for safe textile production. The harvested organic, natural fibres are just the beginning. All chemical inputs — from dyes to auxiliaries — are strictly regulated under the principle “no hazard in, no hazard out.” Certified facilities must treat wastewater, monitor energy use and emissions, and follow comprehensive environmental management plans to continually reduce their impact. Even accessories and additional materials are carefully controlled to maintain the integrity of every GOTS-certified product.

GOTS is a holistic standard, with comprehensive and strict requirements for the entire textile supply chain. This ensures full traceability from field to finished product starting with the raw material allowed and continuing through the next stages of processing; spinning, weaving and knitting, wet-processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, and trading, all the way to the final distribution of organic textile products. GOTS consists solely of mandatory criteria. For the end product to carry a GOTS label, every company that is part of the process must be certified.

On-site inspection and certification of processors, manufacturers and traders is performed by independent Third-Party GOTS accredited Certification Bodies and forms the basis of the GOTS monitoring system. It serves to provide a credible assurance for the integrity of GOTS certified textiles.

The GOTS certification system begins with the cultivation of organic fibers and extends to cover all subsequent stages of processing, manufacturing, and trade in organic textiles. All aspects must be certified according to strict ecological and social criteria for the final product to bear the GOTS label. In this way, GOTS puts an end to "greenwashing."

GOTS has strict criteria for the use and approval of chemicals aimed at protecting the health of workers along the supply chain, the environment, and the end consumer. To produce a final product free from harmful residue, GOTS prohibits all chemicals that don’t meet rigorous conditions, including flame retardants, PFAS and toxic dyes. Allergenic, carcinogenic or toxic chemical residues are also not allowed.