At GOTS, we strive to ensure that our certification process is transparent, effective and independent. The process operates as follows: GOTS establishes the criteria for the Standard, while the certification procedure is conducted by an accredited third-party Certification Body that operates independently. This ensures an unbiased and fair evaluation of adherence to the GOTS Standard and its stringent criteria, guaranteeing that the production process genuinely contributes to the well-being of individuals and of the environment. 

Implementation

• A Certification Body conducts on-site inspections and certifications of processors, manufacturers and traders.
• Accreditation Bodies ensure that Certification Bodies meet the requirements for impartiality, competence and consistency.

Certification Bodies

To ensure that GOTS- certified textiles are genuinely compliant with GOTS’ social and environmental criteria, independent organisations that have been specially accredited conduct on-site inspections of the companies involved in processing, manufacturing and trading in the respective organic textiles and emit certifications based on this.  Additionally, the organic textiles themselves are also being assessed, as well as the chemicals used for processing. 

These inspections and certifications form the cornerstone of the GOTS monitoring system, delivering dependable assurance regarding the authenticity and quality of organic textiles certified under GOTS. A Certification Body (CB) is responsible for checking whether the mandatory environmental and social criteria set by GOTS are met. If a supplier meets these criteria, the CB will issue a so-called Scope Certificate, demonstrating the supplier’s ability to comply with the relevant GOTS criteria at the respective stage.  

Accreditation Bodies

GOTS has developed its own accreditation system in accordance with ‘Approval Procedure and Requirements for Certification Bodies’, by the main co-operation partner of the Global Standard gGmbH for this process, IOAS Inc., or another recognised Accreditation Body.

This approval process and the continuous monitoring of approved Certification Bodies guarantees that Certification Bodies have the necessary technical competence and impartiality to carry out their certification duties.

Accreditation Bodies play a vital role in upholding the credibility and trustworthiness of GOTS certifications by ensuring that the Certification Bodies themselves adhere to high standards and follow rigorous assessment processes. 

Are you curious about the behind-the-scenes processes that safeguard the integrity of GOTS-certified textiles? Click here to find out more about GOTS’ Quality Assurance System. 

Why is Third-Party Certification Important? 

Third-Party Certification – though entities independent from GOTS – represents an impartial verification that GOTS Goods meet the criteria described in the GOTS Standard. Not only does it help in building trust between buyers and suppliers, but it also warrants that the products are authentic, safe and that they comply with ethical and environmental standards. Additionally, third-party certification helps to avoid conflicts of interest between the Certification Body and the standard-setter GOTS.  

The clear separation of the standard-setting process from the certification process is a crucial asset in maintaining the independence and objectivity of certification. This strengthens the credibility of the certification procedure and offers stakeholders the assurance that products and services have been evaluated equitably, free from any potential conflicts of interest. 

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is an all-inclusive, comprehensive standard which which sets strict environmental, human-rights and social criteria throughout the entire value chain. Find out about all GOTS key features:

All Processing Stages
Due Diligence
Human-Rights and Social Criteria
Environmental Criteria
Traceability
Third-Party Certification
Organic Fibres