🎙️ Interview - ECOCERT x GOTS

1. Why did you launch GOTS?

GOTS was launched to create a globally unified and credible standard for organic textiles.

Before GOTS, the sector was fragmented, with numerous national and private standards that made it difficult for producers, brands, and consumers to ensure consistent environmental and social compliance across textile supply chains.

The goal was to ensure one transparent, verifiable standard that covers every stage — from the harvesting of organic fibers to environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing and labeling. This enables brands to demonstrate true sustainability, and consumers to make informed choices.

2. What are the key guarantees of the label?

The GOTS label guarantees that a textile product:

• Contains a minimum of 70% certified organic fibers (and 95% for “organic” labeled products).
• Is processed in environmentally responsible facilities — covering chemical use, wastewater treatment, and energy efficiency.
• Meets strict social criteria, based on key norms of the International Labour Organization (ILO), including fair wages, safe working conditions, and the prohibition of child or forced labor.
• Ensures traceability and transparency at every step, from raw materials to finished goods.

The GOTS logo is therefore a comprehensive assurance that a product is both genuinely organic and ethically produced.

3. Why is this label reliable?

GOTS certification is reliable because it is independently verified by accredited third-party certification bodies such as Ecocert, Control Union, Soil Association Certification, and others.

These bodies:

• Conduct annual on-site inspections of processing and manufacturing facilities.
• Verify documentation, material flows, and labeling claims.
• Must themselves be accredited to ISO/IEC 17065, ensuring their competence and impartiality.

This independent verification mechanism is what gives the GOTS label its global credibility and integrity. Neither brands nor suppliers can self-declare compliance — only accredited certifiers can issue the certification.

4. Who is GOTS certification aimed at?

GOTS certification is aimed at the entire textile supply chain, including:

• Spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, and finishing mills
• Manufacturers of garments, home textiles, and accessories
• Brands and retailers wishing to market certified products
• Traders and exporters involved in the organic textile trade

In short, any organization that processes or handles organic fibers and wants to sell finished products with the GOTS label must be certified.

5. What are the main challenges facing the textile sector, and how does GOTS respond to them?

Here are the various challenges and the solutions provided by the GOTS label:

• Greenwashing & lack of transparency: GOTS offers a clear, verifiable certification system with supply chain traceability.
• Environmental impact of processing: GOTS restricts toxic inputs, mandates wastewater treatment, and encourages sustainable energy use.
• Poor working conditions: GOTS embeds ILO-based social criteria and requires regular audits. As well as a Due Diligence Process

Consumer trust The GOTS label acts as a credible label that combines ecological and social criteria.

6. What are your ambitions for 2026?

By 2026, GOTS’s ambition is to remain the global gold standard for sustainable textiles, driving a systemic shift toward transparent, fair, and circular textile production.