◊ By Sumit Gupta

For consumers, a GOTS logo on a fabric means it is authentically organic. Simply put, GOTS is the organic certification for textiles.

GOTS or Global Organic Textile Standard 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 of GOTS 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.

GOTS was developed by leading international standard setters – Organic Trade Association (U.S.), Japan Organic Cotton Association, International Association Natural Textile Industry (Germany), and the 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.

For further information, visit www.global-standard.org

The author was Deputy Director, Standards Development & Quality Assurance, GOTS, India and Bangladesh.