If you have seen a GOTS label on sheets, baby pajamas or bath towels and wondered what GOTS certified organic textiles means, this guide covers it in plain terms: the two label grades, what the standard covers, and how to check a license number yourself. The details below come from the public pages of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
NonToxicFinder (Solved Labs LLC) may earn commissions on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. This explainer itself contains no affiliate links. We are not affiliated with the Environmental Working Group, and NonToxicFinder is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with GOTS or its certification bodies.
What GOTS Certified Organic Textiles Means
GOTS describes its certification as covering “every step of production, from fibre processing and spinning to wet processing, manufacturing and trading.” In other words, it is a supply-chain standard for textiles, not only a farm standard. Every company in the chain that handles the product has to be certified, and the standard sets requirements for organic fibre content, chemical inputs, environmental management and social criteria. You can read the overview on the GOTS key features page.
Organic vs. Made With Organic: The Two Label Grades
The label grade tells you how much of a finished product’s fibre is certified organic. According to GOTS, there are two main grades:
- “Organic”: at least 95% certified organic fibres.
- “Made with organic”: between 70% and up to 95% of the product’s fibres are certified organic or organic in-conversion.
GOTS also has in-conversion versions of both grades, for fibres from farms that are transitioning to organic certification: “Organic in-conversion” (a minimum of 95% in-conversion fibres) and “Made with organic in-conversion” (a minimum of 70%). The full wording is on the GOTS labelling page.
The practical takeaway: a product labelled “made with organic cotton” under GOTS is a legitimate GOTS grade, but it is a different grade from “organic.” When two products both say GOTS, compare the grade printed on each label.
What the GOTS Standard Covers
On its key features page, GOTS lists the following areas:
- Fibres: organic fibres produced “without synthetic pesticides, herbicides or GMOs.”
- Processing stages: from fibre through to the finished product, with all companies involved meeting the same criteria.
- Environmental criteria: wastewater treatment, resource efficiency, greenhouse gas emission management, chemical input restrictions and sustainable processing requirements.
- Social criteria: safe and hygienic working conditions, a prohibition of child labour and forced labour, no discrimination, harassment or violence, freedom of association and collective bargaining, and decent working time and remuneration.
GOTS describes the standard in terms of fibre, processing and working conditions. It is a statement about how a textile was made, and we make no health or safety claims on its behalf. For a comparison with a certification that works differently, see our GOTS vs. GREENGUARD Gold guide.
What Must Appear on a GOTS Label
According to GOTS, every GOTS product label must show:
- the GOTS logo;
- the applicable label grade (for example, organic or made with organic);
- a reference to the respective certification body; and
- the certification number of the certified entity.
GOTS also notes that labels must be approved by the certification body before use. If a product page only says “organic cotton” and shows none of these elements, that is a marketing description rather than a documented GOTS label. Our GOTS certified baby pajamas guide walks through reading a label on a real product category.
How to Check a GOTS License in the Public Database
GOTS publishes a public database of certified suppliers. Here is a simple way to use it:
- Find the certification number and certification body on the product label or the maker’s product page.
- Open the GOTS certified suppliers database.
- Search for the company. GOTS says you can filter suppliers by location, field of operation and GOTS certified products.
- Check that the company, and the kind of product you are buying, appear in the entry.
Two cautions. First, a listing for a company shows that the company is certified; it does not by itself tell you which specific product you are holding, so look for the label on the product itself. Second, GOTS states that entries are updated by GOTS approved certification bodies, and that those bodies were still updating their data in the new repository. If an entry seems missing, GOTS directs you to contact the certification body named on the label.
Where GOTS Fits in Our Guides
When we feature a GOTS certified product in our buying guides, GOTS is the one certification basis we state for that product. See how that works in practice in our guides to GOTS certified organic sheets, GOTS certified crib sheets and GOTS certified organic bath towels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does GOTS certified mean on a label?
It means the product carries a GOTS label grade and the certification number of a certified entity, under a standard that covers organic fibre content, processing stages and environmental and social criteria across the supply chain.
What is the difference between organic and made with organic?
Under GOTS, “organic” means at least 95% certified organic fibres, and “made with organic” means between 70% and up to 95%.
How do I verify a GOTS license?
Use the label’s certification number and certification body, then search the GOTS public certified suppliers database. If something is missing, contact the certification body listed on the label.
Is NonToxicFinder affiliated with GOTS?
No. NonToxicFinder is operated by Solved Labs LLC and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with GOTS or the Environmental Working Group. We summarize information from GOTS’s own public pages.
NonToxicFinder (Solved Labs LLC) may earn commissions on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. This article contains no affiliate links, but other articles do. We are not affiliated with the Environmental Working Group.
