MEET GOTS - Your Source for Sustainable and Ethical Textiles
The GOTS label is your assurance of sustainability and fairness in textiles. You can find the GOTS label in all kinds of textile products - from Aprons to Wool Sweaters.
GOTS-certified products are:
Organic
Organic fibres are natural fibres grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, or herbicides and GMOs according to the principles of organic agriculture. Organic agriculture is a production process that sustains the health of ecosystems, soils and people.
Ethically made
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.
Environmentally friendly
In the processing of organically produced fibres, a clear separation from conventional materials is necessary to ensure the unequivocal identification of organic products. Stringent requirements are established for the use of chemical additives such as dyes and auxiliaries concerning their toxicity and biodegradability. Additionally, certain problematic additives are prohibited in this context.
Traceable from field to final 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.
Certified by third-party experts
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.
Made only in facilities which adhere to the strict GOTS criteria - from field to final product.
The GOTS certification system begins with the cultivation of organic fibres 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."
Say no to Greenwashing, say YES to GOTS.
Meet the GOTS team
GOTS is an independent non-profit organisation. Our team consists of 38 specialists from 14 countries, collectively speaking 17 languages. From Human Rights lawyers to organic production specialists, textile engineers, quality assurance experts, and monitoring & evaluation specialists, we bring a world of expertise to ensure sustainable and social responsibility in textile production.
GOTS in Numbers
GOTS is making a global impact with 13,549 certified facilities, in 84 countries audited by 24 independent Certification Bodies.
13,549 certified facilities
in 84 countries
audited by 24 independent Certification Bodies
Financial Transparency
As an independent, non-profit organisation, GOTS sustains itself mainly through annual fees of €150 per certified facility. This fee remains uniform for all certified facilities worldwide, regardless of their size. In 2022, GOTS received an inflow of €3,306,542. Here's how we used it:
