What is GOTS certified?

If you're looking for high-quality, sustainable clothing for your baby, then you may have noticed more and more baby clothes hangtags showing GOTS certified. But what exactly does this mean?

What is GOTS certified?

GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard, was founded by 4 organization

1. Organic Trade Association (USA)

2. Internationaler Verband der Naturtextilwirtschaft(Germany)

3. The Soil Association(UK)

4. Japan Organic Cotton Association(Japan).

It's recognized as the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibers. GOTS certification provides assurance to consumers that the textile products they purchase have been responsibly produced and meet the highest standards for environmental and social sustainability. It ensures that the entire supply chain of textile production meets strict environmental and social criteria, from harvesting raw materials to labeling and packaging.

What does GOTS certification mean?

GOTS organization has its own stringent requirements which cover environments, ecological and social criteria.

Image by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

GOTS certification is applicable to organic fibers which are certified by any international standards that meet IFOAM standards. And right now, organic cotton fiber is not the only fiber recognized by GOTS. GOTS can apply to Hemp, Flax(Linen), Wool, and silk.

At each stage of the production process, starting from ginning and spinning to weaving, wet processing, manufacturing, and trading, GOTS sets strict criteria that must be met. The manufacturer's factory undergoes an annual audit by an accredited certifier to ensure compliance with these standards.

Chemical Use

In order to be GOTS certified, clothes must be made from at least 70% organic cotton, with a declaration of how much organic cotton is used on the label. For clothes made from over 95% organic cotton, they can be deemed fully GOTS-certified organic.

They have stringent criteria for using chemicals throughout the process. There are a few harmful chemical substances that are prohibited such as (GMOs, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and many more). These are the harmful chemical substances that are commonly found in clothing.

Social Criteria

They take social sustainability very seriously too, these are the criteria they will look into

• No forced labor

• No child labor

• Discrimination, harassment & violence are strictly prohibited

• Remuneration and assessment of the living wage gap

Companies that hold GOTS certification must comply with ethical operating standards, including ensuring that their employees are treated with respect and dignity. This involves ensuring that employees work voluntarily, receive fair wages, work in safe conditions, and are given reasonable working hours.

Image by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

Other Related Organic Certification

While GOTS is an excellent certification to look for when shopping sustainably, there are other manufacturing certifications to consider as well, such as OSC (Organic Content Standard) and ROC (Regenerative Organic Certified), BCI (Better Cotton Initiative), and so on. However, it's important to note that each organization might have its own unique standards, it's worth searching them on Google to learn more.

In addition, organic clothing is not limited to babies and can be beneficial to people of all ages. By choosing organic clothing, not only we can help reduce our exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, we support more sustainable and environmentally friendly textile production practices and support ethical labor practices. According to studies, the textile industry is identified as one of the most polluting industries in the world in terms of water pollution, chemical pollution, and waste production. Cotton is a thirsty crop; The amount of water used to produce 1kg of conventional cotton is about 10,000 -20,000 liters, but organic cotton only requires 91% less water than conventional cotton. So, can you imagine? if the majority of the population in the world opts for organic clothing, we can make a significant impact in reducing these negative effects of the textile industry, including our carbon footprint, and contribute to a more sustainable planet. Although the price of organic clothing may currently be higher than conventional cotton clothing, as time goes on, it can become more normalized.

Final Thoughts

Choosing organic cotton and certified clothing for your baby is a responsible and sustainable choice. It not only benefits your baby's health and comfort but also supports a better world for everyone involved in the production process, from the farmers to the factory workers. Besides, organic clothing is not limited to babies, all of us can choose organic clothing. If the majority of people opt for organic clothing, we can help reduce the negative impact of the textile industry and create a more sustainable planet. So, next time you're shopping for baby clothes or maybe for your own, consider choosing organic cotton - It's a small step that can have a big impact on the world.