Guide: GOTS

GOTS: Global Organic Textile Standard

It can be difficult to navigate the many different eco-labels and certifications. But when it comes to organic cotton, one standard stands out as the world leader: GOTS.
With this label on your garment, you know that your clothes were produced under the best possible conditions for both nature and the people who created them.

What is GOTS? 

GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. When a company has earned this certificate, it is your guarantee that their textiles meet the highest organic standards in the world.
Essentially, GOTS is about ensuring that your clothes are produced under the best possible conditions for both the environment and the people working with the materials. The vision is to create a textile production process that adheres to principles of health, ecology, and fairness throughout the entire production chain.

This means that GOTS looks at the big picture. The certification serves as your security that the organic mindset does not stop at the cotton plant itself but continues all the way through processing to the finished t-shirt. By combining independent inspections with high, binding requirements, GOTS ensures full transparency and decent conditions for everyone involved.

The GOTS certificate is therefore one of the most comprehensive for a company to achieve—but for you as a consumer, it is also one of the absolute most important to look for.
To make it a bit clearer, we have gathered the most important points and requirements that a company must meet to become certified.

The two labeling grades: How to read the logo 

To ensure full transparency, GOTS operates with two different labeling grades. This makes it easy for you as a consumer to see exactly what percentage of your clothing consists of organic fibers.
When you see a GOTS logo on a product, there will always be a subtext telling you exactly how much of the material is organic:

• 'Organic': The product must contain at least 95% certified organic fibers. The remaining 5% can consist of non-organic materials or synthetic fibers, but these must still comply with GOTS' strict environmental and chemical requirements.
• 'Made with x% organic materials': The product must contain between 70% and 94% organic fibers. If it says 'Made with 80% organic cotton', it means that 80% of the fibers are organic, while the remaining 20% are other materials—but the entire processing procedure is still fully controlled and approved.

Two levels are used to make it possible to certify products where it is necessary to mix cotton with other materials—for example, elastane to provide stretch in jeans or sportswear.

What does it mean to have a GOTS certificate?

In short, GOTS examines the entire life cycle of the cotton product.
The process starts at the cotton plantations. Then, every step of the cotton's production is examined until it finally becomes a t-shirt or another form of cotton textile. This process involves a wide range of criteria that must be met.

Organic fibers 

The first focus is on whether conventional fibers have been separated from organic fibers. The two types of fibers must not be mixed, as conventional fibers contain chemicals and pesticides. Organic fibers must be grown from untreated seeds. They must not contain pesticides or other types of chemicals and must be hand-picked to preserve quality. This ensures that the fibers are long, soft, and strong, unlike conventional fibers, which are shorter and of lower quality.

Dyeing 

The next requirement applies when the clothing needs a color other than the natural cotton color. Here, the use of dangerous chemicals is strictly prohibited. Many clothing manufacturers use Azo dyes, which are known to be carcinogenic. To achieve GOTS certification, the company must instead use safe dyes with natural enzymes.

Packaging

The packaging must also meet strict environmental requirements. First and foremost, it must not contain PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride). This is an important requirement because PVC is harmful to the environment when burned. This is due to the release of chloride molecules, which form hydrochloric acid and contribute to acid rain that destroys forests. Furthermore, all cardboard and paper must be recyclable.

Wastewater 

Wastewater management is a major environmental issue for many companies. Therefore, GOTS-certified companies must have a clear plan and diagram detailing the quantities of chemicals, energy, water consumption, and the resulting wastewater. The wastewater must be treated in a special treatment plant and must be recyclable.

Quality 

The quality of the product is also a decisive requirement for GOTS certification. The clothing must meet a series of strict technical requirements covering everything from fastness to perspiration, light, and washing, to shrinkage and rubbing. If these quality requirements are not met, the company cannot be GOTS-certified.

Social requirements

Producers also have a crucial responsibility to set proper social requirements for both employees and suppliers. GOTS therefore examines the working conditions of those who produce the cotton and process the textiles. All producers must comply with the rules of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and must have a specific social policy defined to ensure that the various requirements are met.

Here are some of the most important requirements that guarantee a fair and safe working environment:

• There must be safe and hygienic working conditions.
• Strict prohibition of child labor and forced labor.
• Employees are entitled to a minimum wage and fixed working hours.
• As an employee, you have the right to negotiate wages and working hours, and you may choose your own position within the company.
• Zero tolerance for discrimination, violence, and harassment. Companies must ensure equal, fair, and transparent procedures for recruitment, pay, and promotion.

In short: GOTS looks at all aspects of the product's life cycle. The certificate sets strict requirements for everything from wastewater management and packaging to garment quality and decent working conditions at the producers. The requirements are extensive, but for you as a consumer, a GOTS certificate means the ultimate guarantee of security.

GOTS at Fair Tee

At Fair Tee, we are proud to work with suppliers who share our mission of making it easy to choose clothing that respects both the planet and the people who produced it. That is why we have two suppliers, Neutral and ID, who have earned the GOTS certificate. They do an enormous amount of work to make the textile industry a better and more sustainable place, and that is at the heart of why we have chosen them as our partners.

If you want to read more about the certificate, you can visit: https://global-standard.org/

Summary: 5 reasons to choose GOTS-certified clothing

If you want to be sure that your clothing is produced with respect for both the planet and the people who made it, GOTS is your best guarantee. Here are the most important things to remember:

• Guaranteed organics: You know exactly how much of the garment is organic.
• No dangerous chemicals: There is strict control over dyes and auxiliary substances.
• Protection of the environment: Production must meet strict requirements for wastewater treatment and eco-friendly packaging without PVC.
• Decent working conditions: GOTS ensures employees a minimum wage, safe working conditions, and zero tolerance for child labor and discrimination.
• High quality: The clothing is tested for shrinkage and wash fastness, among other things, so you get a product that lasts longer.