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Definition of GOTS Certification
The GOTS certification (Global Organic Textile Standard) is an international label created in 2005 by the international organization GOTS, itself composed of four organizations: Organic Trade Association, Japan Organic Cotton Association, International Association of Natural Textile Industry (UK), and JOCA (Japan). It is a normative, referential document aimed at guaranteeing a responsible production process in all aspects: social, environmental, and human. According to the GOTS website, the certification covers the entire production and distribution process: transformation, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, selling, and distribution.
Several versions of the GOTS certification have been published. The latest, the 6th version, was updated on March 1, 2020, demonstrating that the certification addresses constantly evolving challenges.
Conditions for Issuing GOTS Certification
The GOTS certification represents the highest guarantee for textiles in terms of environmental and social equity. Please note that it is different from Organic certification, which only ensures a production process free of pesticides.
To certify its fabrics as GOTS, the manufacturer must comply with numerous, strictly regulated production conditions, such as:
- All textile products labeled “made from organic fibers” must contain at least 70% certified organic fibers.
- All textile products labeled “organic GOTS” must contain at least 95% certified organic fibers.
- All chemical substances must be evaluated and meet specific restrictions on toxicity and biodegradability.
- From raw materials to intermediate products to finished goods, all components involved in procurement, production, and marketing must adhere to strict guidelines regarding undesirable residues.
- Numerous social rules must be respected: fair pay for workers, abolition of discrimination and forced labor, improvement of working conditions, prohibition of child labor, etc.
- Farmers must be certified under a national or international organic agricultural standard recognized and accepted in the country where the finished product is sold.
As you can see, GOTS certification requires numerous socio-environmental conditions. It is a guarantee of quality for manufacturers, a guarantee of safety for consumers, and a guarantee of equality for workers. Like OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification, GOTS certification must be renewed every year. Once accepted, it allows the manufacturer to participate in the GOTS program and use the logo on its products.
GOTS Certification and Domotex
At Domotex, your French fabric supplier, we are committed to developing fabrics that respect both the environment and humanity. Already OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified, our fabrics must evolve and adapt to current environmental and social conditions. Because yes, producing a single t-shirt requires 2,700 liters of water. We agree; this is enormous. It is undeniable that our consumption habits must change, or we risk depleting our planet.
On the other hand, cheap cotton fields do not reflect what we want to offer our consumers. To you, as well as to those who produce our fabrics, we wish to establish safety in our fabrics, starting with eliminating pesticides in cotton production and supporting the local economy. This is why Domotex is committed to launching, from 2021, ranges of GOTS fabrics to complement its collections.