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GOTS sends its heartfelt thoughts and best wishes to everyone who is working together to manage and adapt to COVID-19 in their communities and in particular those who are being directly impacted by the virus. We are hoping for solutions and further actions to flatten the curve and suppress COVID-19 outbreaks.
GOTS COVID-19 Update
We are glad to experience a remaining or even increasing focus on sustainability in the textile industry because we see a growing number of GOTS certified facilities.
At the beginning of the pandemic, in response to travel and meeting restrictions, GOTS set up rules for virtual audits for some kinds of facilities and under strict conditions. More information on the guidelines for virtual audits is available here.
Information on GOTS’ measures related to COVID-19 can be found here.
GOTS will continuously review the situation and provide updates as required.
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Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) works with independent third-party Certification Bodies (CBs), who are domain experts, to certify textile operations processing organic textiles. Certified Entities, as well as Certification Bodies, are expected to undertake risk assessments and ensure compliance to GOTS requirements. The Certification Bodies` quality of work is further assessed by an Accreditation Body, a representative of an independent international organisation.
IOAS, USA, is the preferred accreditation partner for the GOTS accreditation programme. During the annual surveillance audits, IOAS noted some non-conformities and came to the decision to suspend two CBs in the second week of August 2020. Said CBs have to submit corrective action to IOAS first. Based on that, IOAS can revoke the suspension. The CBs are permitted to continue to serve their existing clients but are not allowed to accept new applications during this period.
GOTS Deputy Director Standards Development & Quality Assurance Sumit Gupta joined few of said audits as an observer. If you have further questions on GOTS` quality assurance during COVID-19, please contact Sumit Gupta.
In 2019, GOTS also commenced commissioning testing of samples, that were collected by GOTS Representatives from the market, to verify compliance to GOTS requirements. No non-conformities were found. The programme will continue in the future.
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Connect with GOTS from Screen to Screen
For us, it is now more important than ever to stay connected while staying apart. Therefore, you can connect with our GOTS staff all over the globe by watching the “GOTS Screen to Screen”-Series, recorded in our home offices. Learn about correct labelling, latest changes in Standard Version 6.0, how to avoid greenwashing, and more. Stay connected!
 Look for the GOTS Connect clips on our website or on the GOTS Social Media Channels.
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GOTS Advisory on Certification of Retail Groups in Low Risk Countries
Based on requests received from Certification Bodies and Retail Groups, GOTS issued an advisory of certification of retail groups in low risk countries.
Please find the advisory for the specific criteria here.
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Textile Exchange Report shows 31% Increase in Organic Cotton
Earlier this year, GOTS announced a 35% increase in GOTS certified facilities in 2019. Looking at farm-levels, the “Organic Cotton Market Report” by Textile Exchange reports a 31% increase in organic cotton for the data collected in 2018/2019 over the previous year. The results show that 222,134 farmers grew 239,787 metric tons of organic cotton in 19 countries on 418,935 hectares. Additionally, 55,833 hectares of cotton-growing land was in-conversion to organic. This growth is also represented in the total number of 7.765 facilities certified to GOTS in 2019.
Find the full report here.
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EU Commission Target to Reach 25% Organic Land in Europe by 2030
The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) announced their goal to surpass 25% of organically maintained land in Europe by the year 2030. Promotional schemes and green public procurements ought to serve to achieve the aim. IFOAM stresses that more resilient and sustainable organic farming will not only support organic farmers, but will also strengthen the EU sustainable food markets, further climate consciousness and will counteract the biodiversity crisis. IFOAM is certain that their goal is feasible. Furthermore, it will also contribute to a more sustainable and ecologically conscious mindset within the farming system.
To read the entire press release, click here.
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EU Organic Agriculture´s Ability to Mitigate Climate Change
One of GOTS founding partners, the Organic Trade Association, released a major report on organic agriculture's ability to mitigate climate change. The report covers the threat that climate change poses to our world, our ecosystem and our health, and demands bold policy solutions. It identifies policy opportunities to elevate the role of organic in the climate change discussion. Organic agriculture can be a part of the solution and help tackle climate change through its ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, store away huge amounts of carbon, and enable farmers to be resilient in an evolving climate.
Find the full report here.
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GOTS Material for You
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Meet GOTS
Please note that due to the current unpredictable situation caused by COVID-19, all events are subject to change!
We are awaiting further information and will keep you updated about GOTS' participation (in person or online) at international events and fairs.
1st September, Munich, Germany: Munich Fabric Days (instead of Munich Fabric Start). GOTS will feature a booth at the international textile trade show. For more information, please contact Franziska Dormann.
5 – 7 September 2020, Wallau, Germany: Innatex. GOTS will be present with a booth at the only natural textiles fair in the world to feature not only fashion, but also other textile product categories, such as accessories, home textiles, fabrics, toys etc., organised under the auspices of the International Association of the Natural Textile Industry (IVN). For more information, please contact Franziska Dormann.
9 – 11 September 2020, Zhangzhou, China: ECOCERT 2020 Workshop on Sustainable Textiles at the GuangZhaoRen Organic Farm. GOTS Greater Representative in China Felicia Shi will give a lecture on the first day of the workshop. The topic will be “How Global Organic Textiles (GOTS) Helps You to Achieve The Ecologically and Socially Responsible Supply Chain & Update of GOTS Version 6.0.” For more information, please contact Felicia Shi.
23 – 25 September 2020, NECC Shanghai, China: Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Autumn Edition. Felicia Shi will be present at the GOTS booth and deliver a speech at the seminar. The topic thereof will be “The Comprehensive Rules for Ecological and Socially Responsible Textile Production.” Please stay tuned for the detailed booth number and schedule of the seminar! For more information, please contact Felicia Shi.
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