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Topics such as sustainability, fair working conditions and organic quality have become increasingly important and relevant over the last few years. This is precisely why many people are increasingly paying attention to the so-called GOTS certification when buying clothing and textiles. But what exactly is behind the well-known seal? And is GOTS-certified clothing really the better and more sustainable choice? We will take a closer look at these questions in this article.
What does GOTS certification stand for?
The Global Organic Textile Standard seal, also known as the GOTS seal for short, is a recognized certification that is intended to make the production of textiles more ecological and controllable. In order to receive GOTS certification, various requirements must be met and examined by an independent testing body. The most basic factor is that the textiles tested are at least 70% certified organic fibers. At the same time, other factors are also checked during the test that can affect whether the seal can be used or not. We will present the criteria for GOTS certification in more detail here.
Textiles made from organic natural fibres
The most important aspect of GOTS certification is the type of material used. In order for the textiles to be certified, they must consist of at least 75% organic natural fibers. To prove this, appropriate proof must be presented. Materials such as cotton, merino wool, linen or wool are accepted. Ideally, the proportion of organically certified natural fibers should of course be as high as possible. Textiles with a proportion of 75% or more can receive the “GOTS made with” label, and those with 95% or more can also receive the coveted “GOTS organic” label.
Free from harmful substances
Pesticides and other chemicals are used during the production of many textiles, which can harm both the environment and our health. The use of these harmful substances is not permitted in textiles with GOTS certification. This applies not only to the finished product, but also during cultivation and the entire manufacturing process up to the delivery of the textiles. In this case, it must be proven that no harmful chemicals, pesticides or other harmful substances were used during harvesting, care, processing, dyeing, printing and cleaning.
Sustainable cultivation
There are strict regulations not only for the processing of textiles, but also for the cultivation of raw materials. Only materials and raw materials from controlled organic farming (kbA) are accepted. In addition, it must also be proven that the farming is based on mixed crops. If materials of animal origin are used, such as wool, these must also come from controlled organic livestock farming (kbT).
Fair conditions
Of course, for GOTS certification, it is not just the agricultural and environmental factors that have to be right. The conditions for the people involved in production and manufacturing must also be demonstrably fair. This means fair wages, fair trade, social working conditions and, of course, no child or forced labor. These requirements apply to the entire supply chain and must be met without restriction in order for certification to be awarded.
GOTS certification for greater sustainability
Especially in today's world, where new trends and fast fashion are constantly putting a lot of pressure on the textile industry, there are more and more consumers who want to rely on sustainable alternatives. The GOTS certification is awarded by the International Working Group (IWG) on Global Organic Textile Standard. This was founded with the aim of making the textile industry more sustainable and environmentally friendly and to make verifiably organically grown and environmentally friendly items recognizable as such.
Sustainable baby clothes from Cosy Roots
We at Cosy Roots also believe that sustainable textiles are the future - not only for us, but above all for our little ones. It's not just about protecting our health, but also about leaving our little ones a better and greener world and creating a better awareness of protecting our environment from an early age. For this reason, we consciously focus on sustainability in our textiles and received our GOTS Organic certification in October 2021. We not only want to set an example, but also show that quality and sustainability are our top priority.
The fact that our baby clothes are GOTS-certified also means that we have to comply with the strict requirements of the IWG both in the materials we use and in the production of our clothes. We use organic natural fibers from sustainable cultivation and production without any harmful chemicals. At the same time, we ensure that all of our materials are grown and processed sustainably and fairly: when growing the seeds, when harvesting, when further processing - and of course by us.
