What is GOTS Certification and Why It Matters for Your Brand?

You see GOTS certification as the main standard for sustainability in textiles. The Global Organic Textile Standard states that GOTS certified meaning encompasses a thorough examination of the entire lifecycle of a textile. It requires at least 70% certified organic fibres and adherence to strict regulations concerning environmental impact and worker rights. Today, consumers are increasingly concerned about purchasing sustainable and ethical fashion, with younger generations particularly seeking clothing that is beneficial for the planet.
The production under the Global Organic Textile Standard has seen significant growth, with organic cotton output increasing by 31% in 2018/19, and further growth is anticipated in the near future.
Petelulu assists your brand in aligning with these demands, enabling you to achieve the highest sustainability standards.
Key Takeaways
Contents
GOTS certification means textiles have at least 70% organic fibres. It also follows strict rules for the environment and workers. Choosing GOTS certification helps your brand earn trust from people. These people care about sustainability and fair production. The certification process checks every step very carefully. It makes sure things are safe for nature and for workers. GOTS certification lets you sell in new places. Many shops want this label for green products. Working with experts like Petelulu makes getting certified easier. They help brands reach high standards quickly.
GOTS Certified Meaning

What Does GOTS Certified Mean?
You might ask what “gots certified meaning” is. If you see this label, it means the product follows the highest rules from the Global Organic Textile Standard. This certification checks every part of making textiles, from picking the raw materials to putting labels on the finished item. You can trust the fabric has lots of organic fibres. The maker must follow strict rules to protect nature and treat workers fairly.
To help you know the gots certified meaning, look at the table below:
Component/Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
GOTS Certified Organic | Textiles made from at least 95% organically produced natural fibres. |
GOTS Certified Made with Organic | At least 70% of the fibres must come from controlled organic agriculture. |
Natural Fibre Requirement | A product must consist of at least 90% natural fibres, with a maximum of 10% synthetic fibres. |
Chemical Processing Restrictions | Bleaching allowed only with oxygen; chlorination of wool is prohibited. |
Dyeing and Printing Substances | Only substances approved by certification bodies that are harmless to health and the environment. |
Functional Properties | Finishing processes for natural textiles must be mechanical, thermal, or physical. |
You can see that gots certified meaning is more than just using organic cotton. Every step, like spinning and dyeing, must follow rules that keep people and the planet safe. Products with this label are safe for children and gentle for sensitive skin.
Why GOTS Certification Matters
It is important to know why gots certification matters for your brand. The gots certified meaning shows your customers you care about more than looks or cost. You support good practices and fair production. This certification helps your brand stand out, especially in childrenswear, where parents want safe and responsible products.
The gots certified meaning makes sure your products meet tough rules. For example, textiles need at least 70% certified organic natural fibres for the “made with organic” label and 95% for the “organic” label. All chemicals must be safe for nature and people. You need a plan to manage waste water for wet processing. Accessories must follow eco-friendly rules.
Here is a table with the main certification types and their rules:
Certification Type | Minimum Organic Fibre Content | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|
GOTS Certified Organic | 95% | Must meet high environmental and social criteria. |
GOTS Certified Made with Organic | 70% | Must comply with environmental and social welfare criteria. |
Note: If you pick gots certification, you promise to use good practices. You help protect workers, lower pollution, and keep products safe. You also earn trust from customers who want brands that share their values.
You can see that gots certified meaning is not just a label. It is a promise to do things well and care about the future. By following the global organic textile standard, you help lead the way in good practices and make your brand a leader in ethical fashion.
GOTS Criteria

Environmental Standards
To get GOTS certification, you must follow strict rules for the environment. These rules cover every step, from growing organic cotton to making the finished product. GOTS makes sure that organic textiles are good for nature and for the people who make them. You cannot use dangerous chemicals. Only safe and approved substances are allowed. This helps keep water, soil, and air clean.
Here is a summary of the main environmental requirements:
Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
Chemical Processes | Bleaching can only use oxygen. Wool cannot be treated with chlorine. |
Harmful Substances | Toxic heavy metals, formaldehyde, aromatic solvents, and some halogen compounds are not allowed at any stage. |
Organic Fiber Content | Products must have at least 90% natural fibres. Up to 10% synthetic fibres are allowed in some cases. |
Chemical Inputs | Only GOTS Approved Chemical Inputs that are safe and low impact can be used. These must follow the Manufacturing Restricted Substance List (MRSL). |
GOTS is different from normal textile standards. It does not allow harmful chemicals and supports organic farming. Organic cotton grows without fake pesticides or fertilisers. This helps protect local plants, animals, and people. By picking organic cotton, you help stop pollution and make the planet healthier.
GOTS has tougher rules than most other standards. By following these rules, you show you care about the planet and doing the right thing.
Social Responsibility
GOTS certification also means you must treat workers well and keep them safe. The standard covers many important rules for how workers should be treated in textile factories.
Principle | Description |
|---|---|
Employment is freely chosen | No one can be forced to work or kept as a slave. |
Freedom of association | Workers can join groups or unions if they want, without being punished. |
No child labour | Companies must check workers’ ages. If a child is found working, the company must help them go to school. |
No discrimination | No one can be treated unfairly for any reason. |
Safe working conditions | Workplaces must be clean and safe for everyone. |
Fair remuneration | Workers must be paid at least the legal minimum wage or more. |
Reasonable working hours | People should not work more than 48 hours a week and must get breaks. |
No precarious employment | Jobs must be stable and not risky or uncertain. |
Prohibition of inhumane treatment | Workers must not be treated badly or cruelly. |
You make sure everyone gets fair pay and works in safe places when making organic cotton clothes. GOTS does not allow child labour or forced labour. Workers are protected from unfair treatment and abuse. By choosing organic textiles and following GOTS, you help workers and their families have better lives.
GOTS Certification Process
Steps to Certification
You need to follow a set process to get gots certification for your brand. The process checks each part of how you make your products. First, you must use organic fibres. Your products should have at least 90% natural fibres. You cannot use dangerous chemicals or unsafe ways to make things. Only approved substances can be used for dyeing and printing. Your factory must follow strict social rules. This means you cannot have child labour or unsafe places to work.
Here is a table that shows the main steps in the certification process:
Step | Requirement |
|---|---|
1 | Use of organic fibres (at least 90% natural fibres) |
2 | Restriction on chemical processes (no chlorination of wool) |
3 | Use of approved substances for dyeing and printing |
4 | Prohibition of harmful substances (no toxic heavy metals) |
5 | Compliance with social criteria (no child labour) |
You must follow all the rules at every step. The gots certification process helps you show you care about quality and doing the right thing.
Documentation and Traceability
You need good paperwork to finish the certification process. You must keep records for each batch of fabric and every step of making your products. These records prove you follow all the rules. Inspectors will look at your paperwork during checks. You must track your materials from the farm to the final product. This traceability helps your customers trust you.
Tip: Keep your records tidy and always up to date. Good paperwork makes the certification process quicker and easier.
You show your customers that you care about being open and responsible. The gots certification process gives your brand a clear way to meet global standards and earn trust from customers.
Brand Benefits with Petelulu
Credibility and Trust
You want your brand to be noticed by customers. If you pick Petelulu as your partner, people trust your brand more. Petelulu has made childrenswear for over 17 years. The company has GOTS, OEKO, and BSCI certifications. These show you care about quality and the planet.
GOTS certification is like a badge for your clothes. Parents and shops trust this label. It means your clothes follow strict rules. Mark Bloom, who started Komodo, said GOTS helped his brand grow in Europe and the US. Chan from Little Green Radicals said the GOTS label proves they care about doing things right. You can use this trust to make customers like your brand more.
Showing the GOTS label tells people you are honest and have high standards. This trust can help turn new buyers into loyal fans.
Sustainability and Compliance
Making your brand greener can be hard. Petelulu helps you with this by guiding you through GOTS certification. They offer OEM and ODM services, small order sizes, strong quality checks, and find organic materials from around the world.
GOTS certification makes sure your products meet top rules for organic textiles. The table below shows how this helps you with both being green and following rules:
Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
Organic Materials | Makes sure products use organic materials. |
Environmental Responsibility | Sets rules for making products in a way that is good for nature. |
Social Responsibility | Includes fair work rules and no child labour. |
Safety | Makes sure no dangerous chemicals are used, so products are safe. |
GOTS certification checks every part of how you make your products. It looks at fibres, chemicals, and how workers are treated. The global organic textile standard is known everywhere, so you know your brand follows tough rules in any country.
Petelulu’s partners have seen real changes. Chan and Bloom said GOTS checks help brands get better at being green each year. You can use these checks to keep improving.
GOTS is the top standard for organic fibres and makes sure you follow eco and social rules.
It gives independent checks for the whole supply chain.
It is accepted in big markets, so you can sell certified products easily.
Market Access and Growth
You want your brand to get bigger and find new buyers. GOTS certification helps you reach markets that want green and fair products. Many shops and websites now ask for this certification before selling your products. Working with Petelulu lets you enter these markets.
GOTS certification is known as the best for organic textiles. It shows your products use organic fibres and are made in a good way. This makes people who care about the planet want to buy from you. You can use this to sell more and grow your brand.
A study in Australia showed a brand got a 38% conversion rate from walk-in customers in six weeks after adding a GOTS certified product. This shows how strong the GOTS label is for sales.
Petelulu helps you grow by offering flexible ways to make products. You can start with small orders and make more as your brand gets bigger. Their global sourcing and quality checks help you keep high standards as you expand.
If you choose Petelulu, you get a partner who knows about being green, following rules, and reaching new markets. You can focus on your brand while Petelulu takes care of certification and making your products.
GOTS vs Other Certifications
GOTS Certification vs OEKO-TEX
You might wonder how GOTS is different from OEKO-TEX. Both are important in the textile world, but they do not focus on the same things. GOTS looks at the whole process, from growing organic cotton to making clothes. OEKO-TEX checks if there are any harmful substances in textiles to make sure they are safe for people.
Here is a table that shows the main differences:
Criteria | GOTS Certification | OEKO-TEX Certification |
|---|---|---|
Focus | Organic textiles with a minimum of 70% organic fibres | Safety of textiles for human health |
Environmental Criteria | Strict requirements for chemicals, water, and energy use | Focus on harmful chemicals in production |
Social Criteria | Fair labour practices, no child labour | Not specifically focused on social criteria |
Certification Scope | Entire production chain | Specific to raw, semi-finished, and finished products |
Traceability | Requires traceability of organic fibres | N/A |
Global Recognition | Leading certification for organic textiles | Recognised for safety in textiles |
GOTS is the top standard for organic textiles. It has strong rules for the environment and workers. These rules cover every step of making textiles. OEKO-TEX checks for harmful substances in textiles. It makes sure the products are safe for people to use.
You may also hear about BSCI. This certification cares about how workers are treated in factories. But BSCI does not check for organic content or the environment like GOTS does.
Unique Value for Childrenswear Brands
GOTS certification gives special benefits if you make childrenswear. You want your products to be safe and trusted by parents. GOTS checks every step, from the farm to the finished clothes. This means you can promise your products are truly organic and made the right way.
Description | |
|---|---|
Comprehensive Supply Chain Coverage | Ensures organic integrity from harvesting to trading. |
Credible Assurance | Provides assurance of organic origin and responsible processing. |
Independent Verification | Involves third-party certification for credibility. |
Health and Safety Standards | Enforces strict criteria for employee rights and safety. |
Cost-Effectiveness | Offers sustainability measures for resource management. |
Low-Impact Chemical Inputs | Only allows non-hazardous substances in processing. |
When you choose GOTS, people trust your brand more. This certification shows you care about the planet and fair work. It helps you sell in new places, as many shops and parents look for the GOTS label when buying childrenswear.
GOTS is proof that your brand follows tough rules for nature and workers. You can use this to build trust and grow your business, just like other brands have done with petelulu’s help.
You help your business grow for a long time by choosing GOTS certification. This standard makes sure your textiles use organic fibres and follow fair rules. You help nature, workers, and your brand’s good name. Petelulu helps you with every step, so following the rules is easy. GOTS protects you from fake green claims and helps customers trust you. Look at how GOTS makes your brand stronger:
Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
Organic Fibre | |
Safe Processing | No bad chemicals, safe for people |
Worker Welfare | Workers are treated fairly in every part of making |
Pick GOTS certification if you want real sustainability and trust from buyers that lasts.
FAQ
What does GOTS stand for?
GOTS means Global Organic Textile Standard. This label is on textiles that follow strict organic and fair rules. It checks every step, from raw materials to finished products.
How does GOTS certification help my childrenswear brand?
Parents and shops trust your brand more. GOTS certification proves your products are safe and organic. It also shows they are made fairly. This helps your brand stand out.
Is GOTS certification recognised worldwide?
Yes, GOTS is known in big markets like Europe and North America. It is also recognised in Oceania. Many shops and buyers look for this label when picking eco-friendly textiles.
What is the difference between GOTS and OEKO-TEX?
GOTS checks for organic content and how products affect nature.
It also looks at how workers are treated.
OEKO-TEX checks for harmful chemicals in textiles.
You need GOTS to prove your products are organic. You use OEKO-TEX to show chemical safety.
How can Petelulu support my GOTS certification journey?
Petelulu gives you expert help. The team helps you find materials and keep good records. They make sure you follow all the rules. You get their experience in making green childrenswear.