Our vision is for organic textiles to become an essential part of everyday life, improving people's lives and benefiting the environment.

Our mission is to develop, implement, review, protect and promote the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). This standard defines the requirements for the entire supply chain for both environmental and working conditions in textile and clothing production using organically produced raw materials. Organic production is based on agriculture that maintains and restores soil fertility without the use of toxic, permanent pesticides and fertilisers. In addition, organic production is based on appropriate animal husbandry and excludes genetic modification.

We see our task as contributing to sustainable development and actively cooperating with all relevant stakeholders.

When drawing up the GOTS, we lay down strict and binding requirements regarding ecological and social parameters. In doing so, we take into account the need for a standard that is suitable for industry and a range of products. Taking both aspects into account, we define organic textiles as textiles that are processed with the lowest possible impact and minimal use of natural and synthetic chemicals.

GOTS is a dynamic standard: we continuously strive to develop better textile processing methods. As part of this continuous improvement, we work with international stakeholders, including the textile and clothing industry, chemical suppliers, organic farming and environmental organisations, labour rights groups and trade unions. We believe that a voluntary global standard, developed in partnership with the international stakeholder community, will achieve broad global acceptance. In contrast to purely national standards, this will also help to remove barriers to international trade.

The implementation of the GOTS combines the textile industry's desire for a global standard with consumers' desire for transparency. The increasing recognition and acceptance of the GOTS worldwide confirms that these wishes are being fulfilled. Our initial aim was to harmonise several different standards into one coherent label; we have succeeded in doing so. We will continue to work to ensure that this common global standard meets the expectations of all stakeholders.

A standard is only effective to the extent that it is credible. In addition to trust, verification is also crucial to building credibility. We only entrust the review to selected experts and independent certification bodies. The certification bodies carry out regular on-site inspections of all parties involved in the production of GOTS certified textiles to ensure that all environmental and social requirements of the GOTS are met. To further protect the credibility of the GOTS, if there is evidence of misuse of the GOTS label or reference to a GOTS certification, we investigate and impose sanctions.

Our organisation uses a lean structure and aims to minimise administrative costs. The GOTS programme is self-financed. All income is used to achieve our goals.
As a global network, we have representatives who promote the GOTS worldwide. For us, team spirit means more than mutual respect, understanding and trust; it means working together to find solutions.

Respect for people and the environment drives us.

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