Successful Connections at the GOTS Bangladesh Seminar 2019 

‚Connecting for Success‘ was the theme of the second GOTS seminar held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 8^th September 2019. More than 330 participants from six countries attended and joined in fruitful discussions on sustainability and organic textiles. The event showed once again, that GOTS successfully serves as a sustainable solution for its stakeholders. 

More impressions are available on our LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

The seminar report, presentations, and photos are available here. 
 

Progress GOTS 6.0 Revision Process  

The second phase of the GOTS 6.0 revision process is complete. The Standards Committee deliberated on the over 270 submitted comments with advice from external experts. The second revision draft was presented for comments at the beginning of October and will be open for consultation until 8^th November. Thereafter a final draft will be completed for formal approval. GOTS Version 6.0 is scheduled to be released in spring 2020.

For more information on the revision process and the timetable click here.

The GOTS-Shop Finder is Live!

You can now look for retail shops selling GOTS products in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in our GOTS-Shop Finder. We are planning to include shops in other countries soon.

If you sell GOTS-certified products and would like to be included in our GOTS-Shop finder, please contact Moritz Born.

GOTS Position on Aniline Published

GOTS is a dynamic standard and continues to respond to new challenges. After a discussion around the residue limits of Aniline, a colour component coming from the synthetic dye indigo, GOTS published a paper presenting GOTS information on Aniline. GOTS prohibits the use of free Aniline yet recognises residue limits adequate to ensure safety of consumers and in line with our larger philosophy of sustainability.

Read GOTS information on Aniline here.

GOTS at the Origin Africa Fair and Conference - Save the Date!

Africa is gaining more recognition as a sourcing continent for textile goods. The annual Origin Africa Conference, held from 28 - 30^th October in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has established itself as the largest African Trade Fair for the cotton, textile and apparel industries. Over 200 exhibitors will attend. Herbert Ladwig, GOTS Policy and Legal Advisor, will present GOTS to an All African cotton and textile audience to increase GOTS visibility and foster relationships on the African continent.

More information on the event is available here. 

GOTS Roundtable in Germany - Save the Date!

On 3^rd December, Franziska Dormann GOTS Representative in Germany, Austria and Switzerland will host the GOTS Roundtable in Frankfurt. The workshop "Advertise and Communicate with GOTS" is aimed at GOTS-certified companies as well as retailers and brands selling GOTS products within the German-speaking countries.

For registration click here, for further questions please contact Franziska Dormann.

GOTS Roundtable in the UK - Save the Date!  

Participants of the GOTS UK Roundtable hosted by Christopher Stopes, GOTS Representative in the UK, will have the chance to hear all about GOTS, the requirements and how it works, on 4^th December in London.
Further, guest Speaker Simon Ferrigno, Writer and Consultant on cotton and sustainability at EcoTextile News, will give an overview of the sustainable and organic cotton scene.

Anyone interested in participation please email Christopher Stopes.  
 

New in the GOTS Team: Mark Sebastian, Project Manager Central Database System

We are excited to welcome Mark Sebastian as GOTS Project Manager for a Central Database System we are currently co-developing with Textile Exchange. Mark is a Business IT Expert with long-time experience in software development and testing. The Database will allow real-time traceability of GOTS goods by including Scope and Transaction Certificate Data of all operators.

Call for Application: GOTS Approved Consultants 

GOTS has formulated a policy covering approval of formal consultancy services imparted to prospective or existing GOTS Certified Entities or operators, Chemical Suppliers, Brands and Retailers at their request.  Approvals will be granted to individuals only upon evaluation of a formal application to the GOTS Management through a specific application.  GOTS Approved Consultants will be listed on the GOTS website and will have limited leave to use the trademarked GOTS logo.

The Policy and Application Form are available for download here.

Soil Association Released Report on Cotton and Water

The report "Thirsty for fashion? How organic cotton delivers in a water-stressed world" released by Soil Association draws on research from around the world. The report sets out the stark differences between organic and non-organic cotton in the field and factory, including water, pesticide and chemical use and its effects. 

The report is available for download here.

Meet GOTS

8 November 2019, Zurich, Switzerland: At the MaxTex-Seminar on High-Level Textile Labels and Standards, GOTS Representative Franziska Dormann, will give a presentation on the GOTS standard, its guidelines, and implementation.  The seminar will be in German only. For more information please contact Franziska Dormann.

14 - 15 November 2019, Mumbai, India: The ChromaTexChem forum for textile dyes and chemicals features suppliers of colourants and chemicals for the textile industry. GOTS will be present with a booth at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai. For more information please contact Sumit Gupta.

18 - 19 November 2019, Ottawa, Canada: Organic Summit 2019, hosted by the Canada Organic Trade Association, welcomes visitors to learn about Canada´s organic sector. GOTS Representative Lori Wyman will lead a GOTS-break-out session on Parliament Hill. For more information please contact Lori Wyman.

21 November 2019, Frankfurt, Germany: At the MaxTex-Seminar on High-Level Textile Labels and Standards, GOTS Representative Franziska Dormann, will give a presentation on the GOTS standard, its guidelines, and implementation.  The seminar will be in German only. For more information please contact Franziska Dormann.

3 December 2019, Frankfurt, Germany: The GOTS Roundtable for GOTS-certified companies as well as retailers and brands within the German-speaking countries is taking place. For registration click here, for more information please contact Franziska Dormann. 

4 December 2019, London, UK: The GOTS Roundtable bringing together multiple industry stakeholders and GOTS certified businesses to discuss sustainability trends and to inform about GOTS. For more information and participation please contact Christopher Stopes.

7 - 9 January 2020, Duesseldorf, Germany: GOTS at the Promo Tex, the international Trade Show for promotion, sports, and workwear. GOTS Representative Franziska Dormann will present “GOTS Business Case for Sustainability”. For more information please contact Franziska Dormann.

14 - 16 January 2020, Berlin, Germany: Meet GOTS at the Neonyt, the International Hub for Fashion and Sustainability. For more information please contact Franziska Dormann.

18 - 20 January 2020, Wallau, Germany:  Meet GOTS at the Innatex, the only natural textiles fair in the world to feature not only fashion but also other 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 February 2020, London, UK: The Pure London UK´s leading fashion trade show will feature a GOTS booth. GOTS Representative Christopher Stopes, will be present at the show and join the Panel at the new Sustainability Area at Pure. For more information please contact Christopher Stopes.