Global Organic Textile Standard - GOTS
At a glance
This document provides an overview of the Global Organic Textile Standard system.
The Global Organic Textile Standard is one of the several standard systems that are referenced in Standards Map, the
interactive web-based tool on private standards developed by the T4SD program of ITC.
What is the Global Organic Textile
Standard (GOTS)
The International Working Group on GOTS is an independent, non-
governmental, not-for-profit organization which promotes textile
processing for organic fibers through environmentally and socially
responsible manufacturing. Its certification applies to the production,
processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, exportation,
importation and distribution of all natural fiber products and is backed
up by independent certification. Organic fiber production is not directly
covered by the GOTS certification system as GOTS does not set
standards for organic fiber cultivation itself. Fiber producers (farmers)
must be certified according to a recognized international or national
organic farming standard that is accepted in the country where the final
product will be sold.
The GOTS standard results from the joints efforts of the International
Working Group which is constituted of four reputable organizations
with expertise in organic (fiber) farming and environmentally and
socially responsible textile processing and manufacturing.
What products are covered by the standard
system
The GOTS standard applies to fiber products, yarns, fabrics and
clothes. It does not set criteria for leather products. In principle, any
product that can be considered as a textile product is covered under
the scope of GOTS.
A product can only be certified and labeled only as a whole (with a
GOTS label indicating: ‘organic’ or ‘made with organic’).
What are the key features of the standard
system
• Companies participating in the GOTS certification scheme
must comply with all of the standard’s principles and
requirements.
• GOTS relies on a dual system to check compliance with the
relevant criteria consisting of on-site auditing and residue
testing.
• Currently, certification requirements are derived from
version 2.0 of the GOTS standard. The release of GOTS
Source: Standards Map, Market Analysis Tools, International Trade Centre and the Global Organic Textile Standard,
http://www.global-standard.org. For more information, visit Standards Map or send us an e-mail: standardsmap@intracen.org.
•
Version 3.0 will occur in 2011.
GOTS has a practical public data base that enables its users
to search for GOTS certified entities in the supply chain, their
location, fields of operation and GOTS certified products
according to individual parameters.
• The standard provides two labels or “grades”: A textile
product carrying the GOTS label ‘organic’ must contain a
minimum of 95% certified organic fibers whereas a product
with the label ‘made with organic’ must contain a minimum of
70% certified organic fibers.
• Certification of fibers during a conversion period is
possible if the applicable farming standard permits
such certification.
GOTS: facts and figures (as of 2010)
• More than 2,800 certified textile processing, manufacturing and
trading operators in more than 50 countries.
• Wal-Mart was the first large-scale enterprise that committed to the
GOTS standard.
• To date, 13 certifiers are approved. .
Support
GOTS provides free of charge online support services including training, access
to tools and information. Its “Manual for the Implementation of the Global
Organic Textile Standard” provides interpretations and clarifications for specific
criteria of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). This manual is intended
to prevent any inconsistent, inappropriate or incorrect interpretation of the
standard and also contains requirements and detailed specifications for the
application of the GOTS and the implementation of the related quality assurance
system for certifiers. Furthermore, an FAQ is made available on the site.
GOTS Contact Details
GOTS
Albstr 38
72764 Reutlingen
mail@global-standard.org
www.global-standard.org
Last up-date: January 2011
The GOTS standard
system is applicable
to producers in the
following countries and
regions
Detailed maps displaying countries
where certification / verifiation is
currently operational and countries
where certified products / services
are sold can be generated on ITC’s
Standards Map website.

40 countries

ASIA Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam
AFRICA Benin, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA Australia CENTRAL AMERICA
AND CARIBBEAN El Salvador EUROPE Belgium, France, Germany, United Kingdom NORTH AMERICA Canada, Mexico, United States of America SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Uruguay

How to become GOTS certified

Step 1: Initial request and application for GOTS certification is to be addressed to a GOTS Approved Certification Body.
They will be able to answer individual questions related to the inspection and certification procedures and will
be able to provide individual cost estimation for the certification based on the operator’s location, size, fields of
operation and other relevant factors.

Step 2: Entities applying for GOTS certification must comply with minimum social criteria based on the key norms of the
International Labour Organization (ILO). Further, operators must have a written environmental policy including
procedures on monitoring and minimizing waste and discharges, use of chemicals, energy, water consumption
and waste water treatment, including the disposal of sludge.

Step 3: An on-site inspection is carried out by the certification body as part of the certification process. Tracing the
organic fiber product flow, assessment of all inputs and accessories used, verification of the waste water treatment
system and monitoring social minimum criteria are key elements of the inspection protocol.

Step 4: Entities that receive a GOTS operational certificate are free to advertise their certified status to the market. They
also become listed in the GOTS public data base of certified entities which is available on the GOTS website.

Source: Standards Map, Market Analysis Tools, International Trade Centre and the Global Organic Textile Standard, Last up-date: January 2011
http://www.global-standard.org. For more information, visit Standards Map or send us an e-mail: standardsmap@intracen.org.
What areas does the GOTS standard system cover
The following table provides an overview of GOTS principles and requirements and related compliance policies covering social, environmental and
economic areas applied in production, processing and trade.

Explanation of Standards Map interpretation of compliance policies in the GOTS standard system:
Immediate Requirement: A company that is participating in the GOTS certification scheme needs to work in immediate full compliance with all criteria of the standard.
These are therefore presented in Standards Map as “Immediate requirements”.

Environment Social Economic

Chemicals Work/labor rights Administration and management
Immediate requirements

List of prohibited chemicals Conditions of work Criteria for quality management

List of authorized chemicals
Synthetic inputs
Fertilizers
Pesticides/herbicides
Natural inputs
Fertilizers
Pesticides/herbicides
Equipment and training on chemical
use
Storage/disposal/waste
Management of chemicals
Biodiversity
Genetically Modified Organisms
(GMOs)
Conversion of primary land use
Waste
Waste management - collection,
treatment, disposal
Recycle waste which cannot be
prevented
Packaging of products in value chain
Water
Disposal of grey waters and run off
Other
Harvesting/post-harvesting practices
Safety at work (ILO 184) Product quality specifications
Training on safety issues Helath and safety issues
Safe work environment
Safe handling chemicals
Healthy work conditions
Access to safe drinking water
Access to sanitary facilities at work
Training requirements on site
No forced labor (ILO 29&105)
No use of physical violence
Child labor prohibited (ILO 182)
Condition of employment
Contract labour policies and
practices
Transparency of employment
practices
Written contracts
Seasonal - partial labour issues
addressed
Pensions and social security benefits
Living wages to cover basic human
services/savings
Minimum age (ILO 138)
Maximum number of working hours
set
Workers empowerment
Freedom of association (ILO 87)
Collective Bargaining (ILO 98)
No discrimination at work (ILO 111)

Source: Standards Map, Market Analysis Tools, International Trade Centre and the Global Organic Textile Standard, Last up-date: January 2011
http://www.global-standard.org. For more information, visit Standards Map or send us an e-mail: standardsmap@intracen.org.