GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD

ECOLOGY & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

GOTS NEWS · October 2024

We've had a busy summer!

Global Standard has spent the last few months at events around the world, updating resources, releasing results of the Satellite Cotton Monitoring Project and kicking off the GOTS Version 8.0 revision process – read more about all these below. Plus, GOTS just wrapped up another successful, fun and educational #BehindTheSeams campaign. Read on for a roundup of the third quarter's activities, upcoming events, things to know and more.

Global Standard looks to the future and updates Vision and Mission

The Global Standard governing councils recently reviewed and revised the Vision and Mission to reflect the paradigm shift of the organisation as one that sets multiple voluntary sustainability standards, including GOTS. Over the next several months, the following language will be incorporated across the website and other channels.

Vision:
Our vision is a world where all textiles are produced in accordance with the principles of health, ecology, fairness and care to enhance people’s lives and the environment. Organic textiles are an integral part of this holistic approach.

Mission:
Our mission is to ensure the highest level of social and environmental impact in textile value chains through voluntary sustainability standards and related activities.

Contribute to the next version of GOTS

Global Standard is commencing a new cycle of revision to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and the accompanying Implementation Manual.

Timeline:

• Finalisation and announcement of Standard Revision Committee (SRC) members: November-December 2024
• Release of first revision draft for public consultation: January 2025
• First public consultation period ends: March 2025
• Analysis of public inputs received by GOTS standard development unit: March-April 2025
• Deliberations with the SRC on inputs: May-June 2025
• Release of second revision draft for public consultation: July 2025
• Analysis of public inputs received by GOTS standard development unit: August-September 2025
• Deliberations with the SRC on inputs: September-October 2025
• Finalisation of GOTS Version 8.0 by SRC: December 2025
• Formal approval of GOTS Version 8.0 by Advisory Council: February 2026
• Release of GOTS Version 8.0: March 2026

Apply to be part of the Standard Revision Committee by submitting this form before 5 October 2024.

Everyone can participate in the process during the public comment period starting January 2025.

Global Standard announces results of groundbreaking AI project that detects organic cotton fields

In a pioneering move that could reshape sustainable agriculture, the Global Standard and AI firm Marple have unveiled the results of their revolutionary Satellite Cotton Monitoring Project in India that differentiates non-organic from organic cotton fields. Addressing critical challenges in the industry, this innovative project aims to increase organic cotton availability and secure fibre integrity, building on GOTS's existing robust measures.

Highlights:

✩ 97% accuracy rate in detecting cotton fields, over 80% accuracy in determining their organic status.
✩ Aims to increase organic cotton integrity and availability.
✩ Analysed 2.7 million square kilometres in India for organic cotton.
✩ Uses first-of-its-kind CoCuRA technology and is unmatched in data collection.
✩ Co-financed by Global Standard and the European Space Agency’s Business Applications and Space Solutions programme.

→ Listen to a podcast between Global Standard Managing Director Claudia Kersten and Ecotextile News here. Watch a short video about the project and read the full press release.

#BehindTheSeams 2024 reaches more than 70 million people

For the second year running, Global Standard took consumers #BehindTheSeams in September, highlighting the sustainable and social qualities of GOTS-certified products – from runway fashion to hygiene products and so much more in between. By expanding the campaign for the entire month, more individuals were educated on the people and practices making sustainable textiles. In addition, GOTS and Organic Cotton Accelerator joined forces to urge industry leaders, businesses and stakeholders to take decisive action in supporting farmers transitioning to organic cotton.

Highlights:

✩ Impressions: More than 151 million (2023: 40 million)
✩ Reach: Over 70 million unique consumers reached (2023: 20 million)
✩ Website visitors: 192,043 (2023: 100,000)
✩ Participants in the educational grand prize giveaway: 5,784

Planning for the 2025 campaign has already started! If you want to be part of this exciting month, register here.

Updates to GOTS implementation manual and other resources

Global Standard is pleased to announce the release of the GOTS Implementation Manual Version 7.2 and the updated GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Certified Entities Version 1.1. These documents demonstrate Global Standard’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring the sustainability and integrity of the organic textile supply chains.

Our updates aim to closer align with international standards. The new editions, while not drastically different, reflect a shift of certain criteria from being recommendatory to mandatory for Certified Entities. These refinements, along with specific additions, provide clearer guidance on the effective implementation of the due diligence process, and aim to align closer with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct in the Garment and Footwear Sector.

Manual for the Implementation of GOTS 7.2
The updates in the Manual for the Implementation of GOTS 7.2 are intended to help Certified Entities to better understand and navigate their responsibilities, particularly around identifying, preventing, and addressing environmental, social, and governance risks in their operations. These revisions aim to align with the expectations set forth in the OECD Alignment Assessment Tool, providing clearer directives for responsible business practices.

GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Certified Entities Version 1.1
Similarly, the GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Certified Entities Version 1.1 now offers enhanced, practical guidance on how to implement these due diligence measures. This ensures that Certified Entities have the necessary tools and understanding to fulfil their obligations and move towards more responsible production practices.

Materials, Processes, and Products Classification Version 1.1
Global Standard also recently updated the Materials, Processes, and Products Classification Version 1.1. that was released in Sept. 2024. This document is harmonised with Textile Exchange. GOTS transaction and scope certificates issued as of November 2024 are required to comply with Version 1.1.

Revised limit of D4 in GOTS
Over the past year, the GOTS Standard Revision Committee, with contributions from expert members and consultations with leading industry specialists, has conducted a comprehensive review of the latest regulatory changes concerning D4. Following reassessment and the hazard calculations, the allowable residue limit in GOTS for D4 is being revised to 0.1% (1000 ppm).

New Certification Body welcomed to Global Standard

Global Standard is pleased to welcome Control Union Services SAC, Peru as an GOTS-approved Certification Body (CB). Control Union, a longtime Global Standard-approved CB, created in September an independently administered operation in Peru to serve those geographical regions efficiently and have received their own accreditation. See a full list of approved CBs here.

Intertek partially suspended

Based on the discovery of serious lapses at Intertek Testing Services NA Inc. (Intertek), a GOTS-approved Certification Body, Global Standard management decided to partially suspend the work in specific areas of Intertek’s operations. Intertek was notified on 25 July 2024. Please find more information about the suspension here.

Global Standard welcomes new faces to the team

Heather Kline, Global People & Culture Responsible
Heather joined Global Standard in September as the new Global People and Culture Responsible. She brings extensive experience as a senior HR and global operations business partner, holding three degrees from the United States, Germany and Norway, specializing in international management and innovation. Heather has worked on a global scale in both the fast-moving tech and compliance-heavy non-profit sectors, where she acted as strategic talent advisor, designing and implementing efficient and empowering user-centric solutions. She is a strong advocate for creating engaging and impactful opportunities for global communication and knowledge sharing, helping teams exchange ideas across borders and scale capacity. Her collaborative approach, combined with her expertise in fostering people-centered strategies, will make a meaningful contribution to Global Standard as we continue to grow and evolve.

Olga Joloud, Technical Product Manager
Olga, who previously acted as the Global Standard Quality Assurance Consultant, is based in Canada.
With more than 14 years of experience as a quality engineer, including four years in a lead role, she has a strong track record of upholding the highest quality standards in all her projects. She is eager to contribute to the team's efforts to deliver impactful products that meet user needs and business goals. Olga holds an electrical engineering degree and is working towards a data science certification at the Metropolitical Toronto University. She firmly believes leveraging data insights can lead to well-informed and intelligent decision-making. Outside work, Olga enjoys organic gardening and sharing fresh produce with friends and family, reflecting her fascination with nature.

Emre Eroglu, Product Manager
Emre embarked on his journey with Global Standard in August, taking on the role of Product Manager within the IT Unit. Currently residing in the vibrant city of Berlin, Germany, Emre has a background in industrial engineering, which laid the foundation for his diverse career in the IT field. Since 2011, he has gained extensive experience across various sectors, working as a software developer, consultant and, more recently, transitioning into product and project management roles. His wide-ranging exposure has not only honed his technical skills but also fostered his ability to quickly adapt, self-learn, and proactively tackle new challenges. Outside of his professional life, Emre is an avid adventurer. He enjoys staying active, exploring new activities and indulging in his love for travel. Additionally, he is a certified SCUBA diving instructor and a professional tango instructor, blending his passion for discovery and movement into his personal pursuits.

Susanne Diener, Representative in Germany/Austria/Switzerland (DACH)
Susanne is a textile professional with more than 20 years experience in the industry. She grew up and studied in the South-West of Germany. After graduating as an engineer in clothing technology, she went to Vietnam for a traineeship in the production management of a large lingerie group and stayed in South-East Asia for seven years. Susanne has held leading positions in the fields of production management, technical product development, purchasing and quality management. She is also a trained Lead Auditor for the ISO 9001 family. Before joining GOTS, she was the "Team Leader Approval-Sustainability-Audit" at one of the biggest federally owned procurement organisations, advocating sustainability aspects in public textile procurement under EU law. Susanne lives near Cologne. She is married, has three grown children, and loves gardening and swimming.

With Susanne joining the team, Juliane Ziegler, the former Representative in DACH, is now the GOTS Representative to Global Brands. Franziska Dormann, previously Head of Regional Representatives & Representative to Global Brands, is now Head of Regional Representatives & Representative to Luxury Brands.

We are hiring! Apply for the Head of Quality Assurance (remote)

We are seeking an experienced and dedicated person to lead and continuously develop our global quality assurance programme for our voluntary sustainability standards. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in quality assurance, auditing, and standards management within the textile industry or a related field. Learn more about the role and how to apply here.

Meet GOTS

• GOTS and Twyg host first Southern African regional round table
  
  
  
  GOTS in collaboration with Twyg hosted the first Southern Africa regional round table in Cape Town on 17 August. It was attended by representatives of GOTS-certified entities from South Africa and Mauritius with guests from the local textile and fashion industry. The discussions centered around connecting brands and retailers from South Africa with GOTS-certified suppliers in Mauritius, Madagascar and the wider region. In addition, the GOTS certification process and the certified suppliers' database were discussed and demonstrated.
  
  
• Global Standard makes a successful showing in Shanghai
  
  
  
  Global Standard participated in the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Autumn 2024 from 27-29 August, where Felicia Shi, Representative in APAC, and Cécile Chi, Assistant to the Representative, hosted a booth and delivered a seminar on GOTS. These activities covered the introduction and updates of GOTS as a standard as well as the #BehindTheSeams campaign, aimed at enhancing understanding and education around standards. The trade show was a great opportunity for Global Standard to engage with a diverse audience, reconnect with old friends and make new connections. Felicia and Cécile thank everyone involved for making it a success and can’t wait to return next year to share the latest updates and insights.
  
  
  
• Managing director Rahul Bhajekar speaks at TAG 2024 in Mumbai
  
  
  
  Global Standard Managing Director Rahul Bhajekar spoke at and moderated a session on Realigning Business to Build a Sustainable Industry at TAG 2024 in Mumbia. The event on 20 September was hosted by FICCI in partnership with Textile Department, Government of Maharashtra and focused on the theme of "Embracing Transformation in Textiles: Sustainability, Digitalization and Innovation".

Upcoming events

• 3-5 October | Organic Lifestyle EXPO, Tokyo, Japan
  Fiona Matsumoto, Representative in Japan, will co-host a booth with the Japan Organic Cotton Association. Discover helpful materials and GOTS-certified products, and connect with Fiona for any questions or insights.
  
  → Learn more about the event here.
  
  
• 6 November | Fashion On Earth, Bristol, United Kingdom
  Join Sustainable Fashion Week, GOTS and others in the historic Bristol Cathedral for an event featuring artists, makers and organisations working towards a better fashion future. Through an inspiring evening of exhibited pieces, catwalk performance, stalls and live music the aim is to encourage attendees to reframe their relationship with clothing.
  
  → Learn more about the event here.
  
  
• 8-11 November | Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  GOTS will host a booth and Muktar Dodo, Representative in Africa, will participate in a panel discussion titled “Designing for a Greener Future: Fashion Designers’ Role in Mitigating Environmental and Chemical Impacts”.
  
  → Learn more about the event here.

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