STEP BY STEP  -
HOW TO GET GOTS-CERTIFIED

Step 1:
Inform yourself about GOTS

Step 2:
Reach out to the GOTS Representative in your region

Step 3:
Choose a GOTS-approved Certification Body

Step 4:
Contact your GOTS Certification Body

Step 5:
Prepare for the on-site audit

Step 6:
Receive your GOTS Scope Certificate

GOTS certification process at a glance

How do you correctly label your certified products?

APPROVED CERTIFICATION BODIES

WHO NEEDS TO BE CERTIFIED

• Benefits of GOTS Certification

  benefits
  • Products carrying GOTS logos contain the credible assurance of organic origin of the product, as well as environmentally and socially responsible processing. 
  • The entire organic supply chain is covered, from harvesting to manufacturing and trading, delivering credible assurance to end consumers. 
  • Verification through independent third-party certification. 
  • Risk management tool for buyers. 
  • Protection of health, safety and rights of employees. Social Criteria and Ethical Business Behaviour are essential prerequisites and assure responsible business practices, irrespective of organic orders at hand. 
  • Cost-effectiveness through sustainability – Certified Entities have access to the GOTS Monitor (Water/Energy) to collect data on water and energy consumption (per kg of textile output). Environmental management and wastewater treatment are highly important when it comes to sustainability. 
  • Only low impact GOTS Approved Chemical Inputs free from hazardous substances are allowed to be used for the processing of GOTS Goods, following the Manufacturing Restricted Substance List (MRSL).
  • Accessories are scanned for residues of hazardous substances, following the Restricted Substances List (RSL). 
  • GOTS Goods meet technical quality parameters like colourfastness, shrinkage, etc. 
  • A variety of products can be certified to GOTS, such as garments, home textiles, mattresses, combined products (like furniture, baby bassinets, etc.), personal hygiene products (like diapers, female hygiene, earbuds) and food contact textiles.

  See the GOTS Fact Sheets to find out:

  • Why GOTS - Control of Chemicals in GOTS Goods
  • Why GOTS - How Official Bodies, Organisations and Institutions support the Global Organic Textile Standard
  • Why GOTS - How Companies Benefit with GOTS Certification
  • Why GOTS - How Consumers Benefit from GOTS 
  • Why GOTS - How GOTS Meets Legal Requirements and Demands of NGOs

• Elements of Inspection

  elementsofinspection

  Generally, a company participating in the GOTS certification scheme needs to work in compliance with all the criteria of the standard. The assigned certifier makes use of appropriate inspection methods.

  • Review of bookkeeping in order to verify the flow of GOTS Goods (input/output reconciliation, mass balance calculation and trace back lots and shipments). This is a key aspect of the inspection of any operation that sells/trades GOTS Goods.
  • Assessment of the processing and storage system through visits to the applicable facilities.
  • Assessment of the separation and identification system and identification of any areas of risk to organic integrity.
  • Inspection of the chemical inputs (dyes and auxiliaries) and accessories used and assessment of their compliance with the applicable criteria of the GOTS.
  • Inspection of the wastewater (pre-)treatment system of wet-processors and assessment of its performance.
  • Check on social criteria (possible sources of information include interviews with management, confidential interviews with workers, personnel documents, physical on-site inspection, unions/stakeholders).
  • Verification of the operator's policy on risk assessment of contamination and residue testing, which includes residue testing of random samples (optional) and testing of samples drawn in case of suspicion or manifest non-compliance (compulsory).

• Approved Certification Bodies

  approvedcertificationbodies

  On-site inspection and certification of processors, manufacturers and traders performed by independent specially accredited bodies is the basis of the GOTS monitoring system in order to provide a credible assurance for the integrity of GOTS certified textiles. Entities that wish to become certified should contact a GOTS approved certification body.

  Certification bodies are entrusted with implementation of the GOTS quality assurance system and are able to inform you about the necessary procedures and timeline from the initial request through to inspection and certification. They will be able to provide an individual cost estimation for the certification based on the operator’s location, size, fields of operation and other relevant factors.

  All GOTS approved certification bodies are entitled to offer related inspection and certification services worldwide and each applicant may freely choose their certification body. Some certification bodies operate local offices or work with local representatives in various countries, whereas others coordinate all services through their head offices. There are limitations regarding the scope for which each certification body is accredited to offer GOTS certification. Certification bodies of textile supply chain operators may be accredited to cover the following scopes:

  • Certification of mechanical textile processing and manufacturing operations and their products (scope 1).
  • Certification of wet processing and finishing operations and their products (scope 2).
  • Certification of trading operations and related products (scope 3).
  • Approval of textile auxiliary agents (chemical inputs) on positive lists (scope 4).

  List Approved Certification Bodies

  Change of Certification Body

  Certified Entities may have to change their certification body for reasons, such as

  1. Change due to business reasons
  2. Certification body is closing operations
  3. Certification body loses accreditation or approval is withdrawn.

  The GOTS organisation has defined a Policy for Change or Migration of Certification Body, currently entailed in version 1.1 and available for download. 

   

   

• Certificates

  certificates

  Scope Certificates

  Processors, manufacturers, traders and retailers, which have demonstrated their ability to comply with the relevant GOTS criteria in the relevant certification procedure, done through an approved Certification Body, receive a GOTS Scope Certificate confirming that the holder is able to produce textile goods of the kinds listed on the Products Appendix of the Scope Certificate in conformity with the Standard.
  Such companies are considered as GOTS certified suppliers (=certified entities). They are listed in the GOTS Certified Suppliers Database. The facilities and subcontractors that have been inspected and assessed for the certification are listed in the Facility Appendix of the Scope Certificate, although their names are not disclosed in the Certified Suppliers Database.

  Scope Certificate Policy
   Template for Scope Certificate (see below explanation under 'Certificate Templates')

  Transaction Certificates

  Whereas Scope Certificates declare that the certified entity is able to process the listed product categories under GOTS certification, they give no proof that specific shipments from this company contain GOTS certified products.

  In order to attest that a specific shipment of products sold by a certified entity is GOTS certified, the Certification Body of the supplier issues a Transaction Certificate. This document lists the individual (batches of) products and relevant shipment details, including the buyer’s name and address, and declares that all goods listed under the shipment are GOTS compliant.

  The buyer of the goods is entitled to receive the Transaction Certificate from the seller. The buyer uses those TCs as proof to their own Certification Body that GOTS certified products were used as an input to further processing or trading. Only with such proof can their Certification Body attest that the resulting products are GOTS compliant – provided that the buyer itself has a valid Scope Certificate and actually applies GOTS compliant processing/trading methods.

  A specific challenge for the practicability of the TC system is that many suppliers generate huge numbers of shipments which may significantly increase the administrative burden and cost if a separate TC is issued for each shipment. To adequately address this issue, the policy for issuing TCs allows to cover multiple shipments on a single TC.

  Transaction Certificate Policy
   Template for Transaction Certificate (see below explanation under 'Certificate Templates')

  Certificate Templates

  In a joint initiative the GOTS organisation and Textile Exchange (TE) developed harmonised policies and templates for transaction and scope certificates. The templates unify layout, format and text of both certificate types among the different certification bodies and standards. This will help all users, especially commercial buyers such as brands and retailers, which purchase goods certified to different standards from various suppliers, issued by different certification bodies to easily compare, handle and verify information provided with scope and transaction certificates issued to GOTS and any Textile Exchange standard.
  The templates are to be used by the GOTS / TE approved certification bodies for any Scope and Transaction Certificates.

   Template for Scope Certificate
   Template for Transaction Certificate

• Approved Consultants

  approvedconsultants

  The GOTS organisation formulated a policy covering approval of formal consultancy services to prospective or existing GOTS certified entities. Approved Consultants can offer consultancy services to the textile industry to achieve certification to GOTS.

   Contact a GOTS Approved Consultant or find out how to become approved as a consultant to offer your services to prospective or existing GOTS certified entities. 
   Download the application form to become a GOTS Approved Consultant

  
   A Conversation with GOTS Approved Consultants
  

• Certification Requirements in the Supply Chain

  The GOTS quality assurance system requires that beyond the entire processing and manufacturing chain (from post-harvest handling up to sewing, packing and labelling) also B2B traders (traders that sell to other businesses such as importers exporters or wholesalers) must participate in the inspection and certification programme before the final products can be labelled as GOTS certified. This is to ensure a credible and consistent product assurance to end consumers.

  Although traders do not modify goods, they buy and sell organic textile products and represent a crucial link for maintaining transparency and traceability in the value chain. The certification of traders is based on verification of their product flow documentation. Certifiers trace the quantity of organic textile products by comparing the amount of purchased with sold GOTS certified textiles to ensure that all products that are sold with GOTS certification claim are correctly certified. The requirement for traders to be certified also ensures that they are aware of the documentation required to verify the authenticity of GOTS certified products thus helping to ensure the integrity of GOTS goods.

  Traders that have an annual turnover of less than 20.000 € of GOTS certified goods are exempt from the certification obligation, provided that they do not (re-)pack or (re-)label GOTS Goods. However, such traders must register with an approved certifier and must inform them immediately if their annual turnover of GOTS labelled goods exceeds 20.000 €.

  Brand holders and retailers selling GOTS certified final products, which are received, ready packed and labelled directly and exclusively to end consumers, are generally exempt from this certification obligation.
  
  

• Application of the Labelling

  The completion of GOTS certification by an approved certifier includes the right to participate in the GOTS programme, including use of the standard and the GOTS logo on its GOTS goods in accordance with the provisions of the GOTS Conditions for Use of GOTS Signs, as long as the certification remains valid.
  The GOTS labelling may only be applied to the GOTS Goods and their packaging by a certified entity and must have been approved by the certified entity's approved certifier in advance of its application with the form Labelling Release for GOTS Goods.

  In principle the GOTS Label contains the license number of the certified entity which applies the GOTS Labelling. However, a buyer who is a certified entity itself and who wishes the GOTS labelling to be applied by his supplier, may request that the labelling includes its license number: It is possible to trace the identity and other data of a certified entity by entering the license number into the 'free text field' of our Certified Suppliers Database. 
  
  

• Correct and Complete GOTS Labelling

  For product marking, the GOTS logo must always be accompanied by a reference to the applicable label grade, the approved certifier who certified the marked goods (e.g. certifier's name and/or logo) and the license number of the certified entity. Thus, the labelling will contain the elements shown in the images below. 

        

  Retailers (including mail order companies) that are not obliged to participate in the GOTS certification system may show the GOTS labelling in catalogues and on web pages, in the same way as is used on the on-product identification of the certified products they purchase/sell. Products which are not legally labelled as described above are not certified and no reference to GOTS must be made. This also applies if only product components, such as the yarn or fabric, were GOTS-certified.

  It is a precondition for use of GOTS labelling that the whole value chain and the final product is certified and that the labelling is explicitly approved by a GOTS certifier. Thus, GOTS labelling or referencing with regard to products is also not permitted if an operator in the respective supply chain, which is obliged to be certified (such as a B2B trader), is in fact not certified.
  
  

• Off-Product Logo Use

  In addition to its application as identification mark for GOTS Goods, the GOTS logo represents the Global Organic Textile Standard as such. Thus, it may be used in appropriate and unambiguous contexts, such as for informative and advertising purposes by:

  • Founding organisations of GOTS
  • Approved certifiers referring to their approved status and offering their quality assurance services
  • Certified entities, brand holders and retailers with reference to their certified operational status and/or their GOTS goods that are labelled with the GOTS logo. In particular, traders and retailers may only use the GOTS logo or other reference to GOTS (certification) for this purpose if the products they sell carry complete and correct GOTS on-product labelling
  • Stakeholders, NGOs, media and other parties that distribute independent (consumer) information
  • Approved GOTS consultants referring to their approved status and offering their services

   

• Off-Product Logo Use by Suppliers of GOTS Additives

  The GOTS organisation now permits the voluntary and limited use of the GOTS logo by suppliers of GOTS Additives. The use of the logo is subject to the payment of an Additives Annual Fee and is strictly limited to off-product publicity material detailed under section 3.4 of the Labelling Guide. Use of the GOTS logo by suppliers of GOTS additives is administered by approved certifiers through the form Labelling Release for GOTS Additives.  
  
  

• Fees

  In addition to the certification cost, each certified entity must pay an annual fee. As of April 1 2020, the fee is set at 150 € for each facility that is inspected, irrespective of related sales. This fee also covers the right to use the GOTS logo on certified textile products as described above. Fees are collected by the approved certifier and transferred to GOTS.
  
  

• Reference Information

  • The complete labelling conditions, including the provisions for product marking and the related design specifications are defined in the Conditions for the Use of GOTS Signs
    
  • Answers to frequently asked questions about labelling can be looked up here.
  • Further information about the GOTS certification process is provided in the section How to get certified.
  • The GOTS approved certifiers, their local contacts, as well as the countries in which they already have certified GOTS clients are listed here.
    
    

• Protection of the GOTS Programme

  The GOTS organisation, under the direction of the GOTS Protection Officer, investigates unauthorised, false or misleading use of the trademark-registered GOTS logo or other claims related to GOTS certification on product declarations, in advertisements, catalogues or other contexts, and takes appropriate action, such as corrective and/or legal action and/or publication of the transgression so as to safeguard the credibility of the GOTS programme and its labelling system.