GOTS Certification

ESG

Global Organic Textile Standard — leading processing standard for organic fibres including ecological and social criteria.

Sources

1. Global Organic Textile Standard — Policy for Issuance of Scope Certificates, v3.0 (6 October 2021) global-standard.org accessed 22 September 2026

GOTS’s own policy sets the ceiling on a scope certificate’s life: “The validity period shall not exceed one year from the date of issue.” One year is therefore a maximum, not a fixed term — a certificate can be issued for less — and continued certification depends on renewal inspection.

The validity figure in the answer above is now sourced to GOTS. The certification bodies named there are this lexicon’s examples, not a list GOTS publishes on the page cited.

Common questions

What is GOTS certification and how do I get it?

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certifies that textiles are made from organic natural fibres and processed without harmful chemicals. Required by EU organic textile buyers. Process: (1) ensure all inputs (fibres, dyes, auxiliaries) meet GOTS standards, (2) apply to a GOTS-authorised certification body (Control Union, Ecocert, Bureau Veritas, TUV SUD), (3) undergo facility inspection and supply chain verification, (4) if approved, receive GOTS certificate valid 1 year. Indian textile mills must source organic cotton with a valid GOTS chain of custody certificate.

Related terms

• Carbon Footprint
• Circular Economy
• CSDDD
• Environmental Social Governance
• Fair Trade Certification
• Life Cycle Assessment

From the AJG lexicon archive (July 2026).