# Key features of GOTS
Full value chain certification GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) requires certification of all processing stages, from certified organic fibre processing to the finished product. Every company involved must comply with the same criteria.
This ensures integrity across the entire supply chain and prevents partial or misleading claims.
Organic fibre requirements GOTS-certified products must contain a minimum of 70% certified organic fibres.
GOTS offers two label grades:
- Organic: at least 95% certified organic fibres.
- Made with Organic Materials: at least 70% certified organic fibres.
Organic fibres entering the GOTS value chain must be certified organic to one of the IFOAM Family of Standards. This means that these fibres are produced according to recognised organic agriculture standards, without synthetic pesticides, herbicides or GMOs.
This ensures a reliable and verifiable organic raw material basis.
Environmental criteria GOTS established strict environmental and chemical criteria across every stage of textile processing, including:
- Wastewater Treatment
- Resource Efficiency
- GHG Emission Management
- Chemical Input Restrictions
- Sustainable Processing Requirements
- Product Safety and Durability
Together, these criteria reduce environmental impact and uphold responsible production practices throughout the certified value chain.
Human rights including social criteria GOTS includes comprehensive human rights including social criteria aligned with internationally recognised norms and frameworks:
These criteria cover:
- Safe and hygienic working conditions
- Prohibition of child labour and forced labour
- No discrimination, harassment and violence
- Freedom of association and collective bargaining
- Decent working time, remuneration and responsible employment practices
These criteria help safeguard workers’ rights and support more responsible practices across certified textile supply chains.
Independent third-party certification Certification is conducted by accredited Certification Bodies through regular on-site audits. These audits verify compliance with all GOTS criteria across the supply chain and include the review of relevant operational and production records. This generates verified information that can support transparency and reporting needs while providing objective, credible, and internationally recognised verification.
Due diligence and compliance framework GOTS integrates a structured, risk-based due diligence approach aligned with international guidance and evolving regulatory expectations.
This supports companies in:
- identifying and assessing actual and potential risks taking appropriate prevention and mitigation measures
- preparing for better compliance with regulatory requirements.
This enables Certified Entities to respond to evolving environmental and human rights due diligence legislation.
Traceability and transaction certification GOTS ensures full traceability through documented and verified product flows. Transaction Certificates confirm that materials and products move through certified supply chains. This enables transparency and verification at every stage.
A consistent programme across global supply chains All GOTS-certified entities operate within the same programme, using harmonised criteria, verification processes, and traceability mechanisms. This enables companies to apply one consistent system across suppliers, regions and markets.
The result:
Reduced complexity, increased transparency and reliable certification.
## Helpful links
- [How to get certified](https://global-standards.org/index.php?Itemid=1381)
- [Access all FAQs](https://global-standards.org/index.php?Itemid=1395)
- [Contact a Global Standards Representative in your region](https://global-standards.org/index.php?Itemid=1359)
- [How do I correctly label a GOTS-certified product?](https://global-standards.org/index.php?Itemid=1396)
- [Access the Standard document](https://global-standards.org/index.php?Itemid=1388)
- [What are the benefits of GOTS](https://global-standards.org/index.php?Itemid=1376)
## FAQs
Which fibres are allowed under GOTS? GOTS applies to a wide range of certified organic natural fibres. These include vegetable fibres such as cotton, hemp, linen/flax and jute, and animal fibres such as sheep wool, cashmere, mohair, alpaca and silk. In addition, the standard permits the use of specific additional fibres that can be blended with organic fibres. The standard covers the entire textile processing and manufacturing supply chain, from fibre processing to finished product.
Do all suppliers in the supply chain need to be GOTS-certified? Yes. To sell a product as GOTS-certified, each company involved in the processing of the product must be certified by an approved independent Certification Body. This creates one consistent and traceable system from fibre processing to finished product.
How does GOTS verify product integrity and traceability? A combination of tried-and-tested integrity measures and cutting-edge technologies ensures the transparency, credibility and trust of GOTS certified products. GOTS combines independent certification, annual on-site audits, transaction verification, publicly disclosed enforcement measures and strict chain-of-custody requirements to ensure integrity and traceability throughout the entire supply chain.
Unlike systems based on mass balance approaches, GOTS uses physical segregation and volume reconciliation mechanisms designed to maintain product integrity across all processing and trading stages, further strengthened through collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) on satellite-based cotton monitoring technology. More information is available [here.](https://global-standards.org/index.php?Itemid=1356)
Is GOTS recognised internationally? Yes. GOTS is globally recognised and widely used across international textile supply chains and major markets. Its credibility is reinforced by recognition and reference from governments, public institutions and international organisations, including the European Union, the OECD, the United Nations and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), GOTS is also referenced in public procurement frameworks and sustainability guidance used by brands, retailers and manufacturers worldwide.