Stuttgart - Twenty years after its inception, the world’s leading textile processing standard for organic fibres has recorded all-time high figures: 18 GOTS Approved Certification Bodies report a total of 12,338 certified facilities (+19 per cent) in 79 countries (+11 per cent).
Among the countries with the largest increase in GOTS certified facilities in 2021 are Turkey (+61 per cent to 1.799), Italy (+53 per cent to 894), Germany (+19 per cent to 817), Portugal (+35 per cent to 608), France (+22 per cent to 122), Denmark (+14 per cent to 115), Switzerland (+15 per cent to 61), Belgium (+55 per cent to 59), Sweden (+34 per cent to 51) and Vietnam (+264 per cent to 51).
“What seemed utopian to many in 2002 has become a reality in the past 20 years. We have created an organic textile standard, certified by approved certification bodies, which is accepted in all major markets. GOTS is a standard that gives consumers the power to choose truly organic products sourced from sustainable supply chains,” said Claudia Kersten, managing director at GOTS. “Despite ongoing difficulties and uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, decision-makers continue to pursue their sustainability goals and value GOTS as a tool to accomplish them”.
The results of the annual GOTS Survey among certified entities underline this. Out of 1.114 respondents (+39 per cent), 63 per cent indicated a permanent shift in their sustainability strategy with a focus on the environment and health of their workers and staff.
Growing interest from industry, the public, and the media drove website visits up an impressive 48 per cent. Media exposure grew by 64 per cent and GOTS social media followers across several platforms jumped by 57 per cent.
“As much as we are pleased with the development so far, we don’t intend to rest on our laurels,” added Rahul Bhajekar, Managing Director at GOTS. “In March 2022 we begin revision for GOTS version 7.0 involving all stakeholders including associations, organisations, companies, and individuals to further advance the progressive, innovative, stringent yet practical standard of GOTS.”
GOTS is the stringent voluntary global standard for the entire post-harvest processing (including spinning, knitting, weaving, dyeing and manufacturing) of apparel and home textiles made with certified organic fibre (such as organic cotton and organic wool), and includes both environmental and social criteria. Key provisions include a ban on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), highly hazardous chemicals (such as azo dyes and formaldehyde), and child labour, while requiring strong social compliance management systems and strict waste water treatment practices. G
OTS was developed by leading international standard setters - Organic Trade Association (U.S.), Japan Organic Cotton Association, International Association Natural Textile Industry (Germany), and Soil Association (UK) to define globally-recognised requirements that ensure the organic status of textiles, from field to finished product. GOTS is a non-profit organisation which is self-financed.
