The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) gets to the heart of one of the most challenging issues in sustainability – helping consumers cut through greenwashing to find better, more eco-friendly products. When you see the GOTS tag, you know that a product has met strict criteria and is confirmed to be authentically organic.
What is GOTS certification?
GOTS is a set of sustainability best practices surrounding fabric and textile production. This set of standards is now recognized across the world and minimizes the legwork needed for consumers and other purchasers of textiles to make sure what they are buying is responsibly made and meets the criteria to be labeled organic.
With GOTS certification, testing for compliance with GOTS standards happens at each step in the production journey. Certification includes examining:
Raw materials
The fibers used to produce a product must be at least 70% organic. Fibers considered include cotton, linen, wool, and silk.
Chemicals used
Hazardous chemicals are prohibited from being used during manufacturing in favor of environmentally friendly products. This restriction targets formaldehyde, synthetic dyes, heavy metals, and other toxic substances.
Resource efficiency
GOTS requirements include environmental criteria such as waste reduction and the use of renewable energy in production facilities.
Fair labor practices
GOTS-certified products must be made in safe working conditions without forced or child labor and workers must have access to collective bargaining.
Traceability
Products certified with the GOTS label are guaranteed to meet GOTS requirements throughout their supply chain. This means that they must have thorough documentation and labeling at each step to make sure that each product can be tracked and traced according to standards.
What products can be Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified?
GOTS certification applies specifically to textile products. Here are some examples of products that can be GOTS certified:
- Clothing: This is a very popular GOTs product category and includes clothing for adults, children, and infants.
- Home Textiles: GOTS certification is available for home goods like sheets, blankets, towels, pillows, and curtains.
- Fabrics: Both woven and knit fabrics made from organic fibers, such as cotton, wool, silk, or linen, can be GOTS certified.
- Accessories: GOTS certification is available for accessories like hats, scarves, gloves, socks, bags, and shoes.
- Personal Care Products: In some cases, personal care products that have textile components and these may be eligible for GOTS certification.
What’s the difference between OEKO-TEX® and GOTS?
It can be a little confusing to understand the difference between OEKO-TEX® and GOTS because both are certifications relate to the safety and sustainability of textile products. There are, however, a few differences worth noting.
The biggest is that while GOTS focuses on certifying that products have at least 70% organic fibers, products do not necessarily have to be organic to quality for OEKO-TEX® certifications. While several OEKO-TEX® certifications cover aspects of textile production and safety, OEKO-TEX® is heavily focused on the absence of harmful chemicals.
Global organic textile standard mattress manufacturers
Because we spend so much time sleeping, it makes sense to go to extra lengths to find a safe mattress. GOTS can be an important sustainable certification to look for in investigating mattress safety for you and your family.
Avocado is a great company to check out if you’re in the market for a new mattress. Their products have a host of 3rd party sustainability certifications including GOTS.
While you might not think of mattresses right away when you think of Pottery Barn, they do have a few GOTS-certified options on their site available through Pottery Barn Kids.
Where to buy global organic textile standard sheets and towels
Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn offers an assortment of GOTS certified bedding, and towels in their Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Teen, and Pottery Barn Kids.
The Citizenry
The Citizenry offers GOTs certified bedding and bath items.
Crate & Barrel and CB2
Crate and Barrel and CB2 list GOTS among important certifications that will help them continue to progress toward their sustainability goals.
Parachute
Parachute has a wide assortment of GOTS-certified bedding and bath items.
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