Twenty years after its inception, GOTS has recorded new all-time high figures with 18 GOTS approved certification bodies reporting a total of 12,338 certified facilities (+19 percent) in 79 countries (+11 percent). GOTS was developed to define globally-recognised requirements that ensure the organic status of textiles, from field to finished product.
Among the countries with the largest increase in GOTS certified facilities in 2021 are Turkey (+61 percent to 1.799), Italy (+53 percent to 894), Germany (+19 percent to 817), Portugal (+35 percent to 608), France (+22 percent to 122), Denmark (+14 percent to 115), Switzerland (+15 percent to 61), Belgium (+55 percent to 59), Sweden (+34 percent to 51) and Vietnam (+264 percent to 51), GOTS said.
“What seemed utopian to many in 2002 has become a reality in the past 20 years. We have created an organic textile standard, certified by approved certification bodies, which is accepted in all major markets. GOTS is a standard that gives consumers the power to choose truly organic products sourced from sustainable supply chains,” said Claudia Kersten, Managing Director at GOTS. “Despite ongoing difficulties and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, decision-makers continue to pursue their sustainability goals and value GOTS as a tool to accomplish them.”
The results of the annual GOTS Survey among certified entities underline this. Out of 1.114 respondents (+39 percent), 63 percent indicated a permanent shift in their sustainability strategy with a focus on the environment and health of their workers and staff.
“As much as we are pleased with the development so far, we don’t intend to rest on our laurels,” added Rahul Bhajekar, Managing Director at GOTS. “In March 2022 we begin revision for GOTS version 7.0 involving all stakeholders including associations, organisations, companies, and individuals to further advance the progressive, innovative, stringent yet practical standard of GOTS.”
