Global Standard Glossary

An individual establishment or site where processing, manufacturing, trading or retailing of GOTS Goods is done. It is operated by a Certified Entity and inspected by an Approved Certifier.

Any textile articles that are intended to come into prolonged contact with, or are already in contact with, or can reasonably be expected to be brought into contact with or to transfer their constituents to food or water intended for human consumption under normal or foreseeable conditions of use.

A Formulation is the finished chemical product sold or distributed ready for use.

An organisation involved in manufacturing, producing or creating a mixture of chemical Substances blended together (Formulation) to be used for textile processing.

Organisms whose genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. (Source: EUR-Lex, Access to European Union law: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/glossary/genetically-modified-organisms-gmo.html)

The legal entity operating the Global Organic Textile Standard programme; it conducts all activities of the licensing system and is proprietor of the registered trademarks (GOTS Signs). Its founders are: International Association Natural Textile Industry, Japan Organic Cotton Association, Organic Trade Association, Soil Association.

Mission-driven, non-profit legal entity, operating voluntary sustainability standards. Mission: to ensure the highest level of social and environmental impact in textile value chains through voluntary sustainability standards and related activities.

Organisms whose genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. (Source: EUR-Lex, Access to European Union law: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/glossary/genetically-modified-organisms-gmo.html)

The worldwide leading voluntary sustainability standard for the post-harvest textile value chain for certified organic fibres, covering environmental criteria, human rights, social criteria and business conduct.

Chemical inputs (e.g. colourants, textile auxiliaries) and accessories (e.g. buttons, lace) approved under GOTS through the issuance of GOTS Letters of Approval are collectively known as GOTS Additives.
While chemical inputs are approved by GOTS Scope 4 certifiers, accessories are approved by GOTS Scope 1 certifiers. 

Accessories (e.g. buttons, lace) approved under GOTS through the issuance of GOTS Letters of Approval by a GOTS Scope 1 certifier.

Chemical inputs (colourants, textile auxiliaries) approved under GOTS through the issuance of GOTS Letters of Approval by a GOTS Scope 4 certifier.  

Textile goods (finished or intermediate) produced in compliance with GOTS (and properly labelled, as applicable) by a Certified Entity and certified by an Approved Certifier.

The garment icon, embedded into the circle element.

The garment icon, embedded into the circle element and surrounded by the letters 'Global Organic Textile Standard GOTS', displayed only with the allowed colours.