The number of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified facilities has increased 14.6 per cent globally. Certified facilities are now located in 64 countries around the globe. The progress is seen in both production and consuming regions. Worldwide awareness of and demand for organic garments is increasing with time. GOTS certification covers the processing of certified organic fibers along the entire supply chain from field to finished product. The increasing number of certified facilities aligns with the common desire to solve sustainability related problems. GOTS is seen as part of the solution. Company leaders use GOTS as a risk management tool and as a market opportunity. Consumers value the verifiable certification from field to finished product.
GOTS is the stringent voluntary global standard for the entire post-harvest processing (including spinning, knitting, weaving, dyeing and manufacturing) of apparel and home textiles made with certified organic fiber (such as organic cotton and organic wool), and includes both environmental and social criteria. Key provisions include a ban on the use of genetically modified organisms, hazardous chemicals such as azo dyes and formaldehyde, and child labor, while requiring strong social compliance management systems and strict waste water treatment practices.
India has an emerging domestic market for organic textiles. Several new brands have started offering GOTS goods in the domestic sector.