Released in March 2020, the new GOTS version 6.0 is to set stricter ecological and social criteria while maintaining relevance of the Global Organic Textile Standard. GOTS defines worldwide recognized requirements that ensure third party certified organic status of textiles with full traceability from field to finished product. With this aim in mind, key requirements such as certified organic fiber content, the general ban on toxic and harmful chemicals, conventional cotton and virgin polyester as well as the social compliance management have been maintained, while several other criteria became stricter.

The new version withdraws the relaxation for the additional regenerated and virgin synthetic fiber content for socks, leggings and sportswear. Additionally, product quality standards for colorfastness and dimensional stability are now mandatory. Specific new requirements for tampons and food contact textiles have been included.

Regarding GOTS social criteria, GOTS included more dynamic elements: Certified entities will now have to calculate the gap of actually paid wages to ‘living wages’ (according to recognized calculation methods). Furthermore, they will be encouraged to work towards closing this gap. Specific references to OECD Due Diligence Guidance and Good Practice Guidance for Social Criteria and Risk Assessment as well as Ethical Business Practices have been explicitly included.