What is GOTS certified?

What does GOTS require?

GOTS certification has two grades: "Organic" grade: Minimum 95% of fiber content must be certified organic. The GOTS logo states "organic." "Made with organic materials" grade: Minimum 70% of fiber content must be certified organic. The GOTS logo states "made with organic materials." Beyond fiber content, GOTS covers the entire production chain: Processing: Prohibits most synthetic dyes and finishing chemicals. All processing inputs are reviewed against an approved substances list. Wastewater treatment is required. Labeling: Strict rules prevent misleading claims. Blended products must declare the percentage of organic content. Social standards: GOTS requires compliance with ILO (International Labour Organization) core conventions at every facility in the supply chain — covering fair wages, safe working conditions, prohibition of child labor, and the right to collective bargaining. Chain of custody: Every facility in the supply chain — fiber producer, spinner, dyer, finisher, manufacturer — must hold its own GOTS certificate. A brand cannot claim GOTS certification if any supplier in the chain is not certified.

Why does GOTS cover processing, not just fiber?

A garment made from organic cotton fiber can still involve highly toxic chemicals at the dyeing and finishing stage. Conventional textile dyeing is one of the largest sources of industrial water pollution globally — the dyes and finishing agents used include compounds that are harmful to workers and waterways. By requiring that the entire chain meets the standard — not just the farm — GOTS ensures that "organic" on the label means something about the product a consumer actually wears, not just about how the raw material was grown.

How is GOTS different from OCS?

OCS (Organic Content Standard) verifies only that a product contains the claimed percentage of organic fiber. It does not cover processing, dyeing, finishing, or labor standards. A product with OCS certification could be made from organic cotton but processed with toxic dyes and finished with chemical treatments — and OCS would not flag this. GOTS covers everything OCS does plus the full production chain. For the most meaningful assurance that a product is genuinely organic from field to finished garment, GOTS is the appropriate certification.

Is GOTS better than "natural" or "eco" labels?

"Natural," "eco," "green," "sustainable," and similar terms on textile labels are not regulated. Any brand can use them for any product without verification. They carry no specific meaning and no third-party audit. GOTS is a specific, defined standard with independent certification and public verification. The difference is significant: a "natural" label tells you nothing verifiable; a GOTS label tells you that an accredited certification body inspected the supply chain and found it met the standard.

How can I verify GOTS certification?

The GOTS public database is available at global-standard.org. Search for a company name or certificate number to verify whether current certification exists. Certification expires and must be renewed annually — so a brand may have been certified in a prior year and not currently hold the certificate. Verifying in the public database is the most reliable approach. Screenshots of certificates shared by brands on their own websites can be outdated or doctored — the database is authoritative.

Which fibers can be GOTS certified?

GOTS applies to any natural fiber that can be grown to organic certification standards. This includes: Cotton — the most common GOTS-certified fiber Wool Silk Linen (flax) Hemp Alpaca Synthetic fibers (polyester, nylon, acrylic) cannot be GOTS certified because they are not grown — they are derived from petroleum. Lyocell (Tencel) from LENZING holds separate OEKO-TEX certifications.

Every brand in The Plain Thread directory uses natural fibers. Browse brands with GOTS and other organic certifications.