What's the Deal With GOTS: The Global Organic Textile Standard

“What’s the deal with GOTS?” you may well ask? Here’s a brief overview from a company that I simply love: MetaWear. They've explained it so simply & beautifully that I’m hesitant to reinvent the wheel (or in this case rewrite it!): 

According to their website, The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological & social criteria, backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. A textile product must be made of 95% organic materials to carry the GOTS organic label. Key environmental criteria for suppliers to be certified include:

• A textile product carrying the GOTS label grade ‘organic’ must contain a minimum of 95% certified organic fibres whereas a product with the label grade ‘made with organic’ must contain a minimum of 70% certified organic fibres
• Discharge printing methods using aromatic solvents & plastisol printing methods using phthalates & PVC are prohibited
• All operators must have an environmental policy including target goals & procedures to minimise waste & discharges
• Raw materials, intermediates, final textile products as well as accessories must meet stringent limits regarding unwanted residues

Furthermore, “Minimum social criteria based on the key norms of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) must be met by all processors & manufacturers.” Some of the key social criteria include:

• Employment is freely chosen
• Working conditions are safe & hygienic
• Child labour must not be used
• Living wages

So you see why Urbano Village thinks GOTS is the ‘bees knees’? Their standards are extremely high & focus goes beyond Planet Loving to include People Loving. I love a well-rounded focus!

Shop GOTS Products

For further information on GOTS head to their website.

By Kylie Banks & MetaWear