Tackling misconceptions in organic claims
Tackling misconceptions in organic claims
First UK Organic Textile Week aims to educate and unite
Press Release
For immediate release
Stuttgart, 11 May 2023
A new poll launched ahead of the first Organic Textile Week (15th-21st May 2023) highlights the public misunderstanding of organic claims on products. The survey of 2,000 people across the UK makes it clear that consumers are not interested in buying from companies who engage in greenwashing – that is, making false or misleading claims to exaggerate their sustainability efforts.
A full 70 percent of participants said that if they found out a brand was falsely claiming their products were organic, they would be less likely to purchase that brand in the future. Along the same lines, over a third of respondents said they felt “angry” to learn that clothing brands may actually contain hazardous synthetic pesticides and other chemicals.
With the goal of raising awareness and educating consumers, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and the Organic Trade Board (OTB), are holding the UK's inaugural Organic Textile Week, with a program of events, talks and workshops designed to celebrate and promote certified organic textiles, while informing consumers about how to identify truly organic options. Kicking off the week on May 15 is an online forum that will delve into the results of the survey. GOTS Representatives Christopher Stopes in the UK, and Lori Wyman in North America will be part of the panel leading a discussion about greenwashing and consumer awareness. Learn more and register for the event here.
As the worldwide leading processing standard for organic textiles, GOTS is the all-inclusive choice for companies who want to ensure that their products are truly sustainable - from farm to field. A GOTS certification follows stringent requirements regarding the environment, due diligence, and social responsibility along the entire supply chain.
“GOTS defines the requirements that ensure organic status of textiles, from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing up to labelling,” notes Christopher Stopes, GOTS Representative in the UK. “This provides a credible assurance to the end consumer and protects them from the inflated claims that are so prevalent in the textile sector. These statistics show it’s important to people that they buy genuine organic textiles. Aware consumers who know what is behind the labels will ensure brands don’t get away with greenwashing for long.” Find out more about Organic Textile Week here and click below to register for the Forum. 
About GOTS: GOTS 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 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 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 more information please see www.global-standard.org and follow @globalorganictextilestandard on LinkedIn, Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook.
The GOTS logo is available for download.
Rebecca Gollin
GOTS PR Specialist
GOTS
Global Organic Textile Standard
