14.6% increase in GOTS-certified facilities

The top 10 countries in terms of total number of certified facilities are: India, Bangladesh, Turkey, Germany, Italy, China, Pakistan, Portugal, USA, and South Korea.

In 2018, the number of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified facilities showed an increase of 14.6 per cent from 5,024 to 5,760 facilities. Certified facilities are now located in
64 countries around the globe. GOTS certification
covers the processing of certified organic fibres along
the entire supply chain from field to finished product.

The progress is seen in both production and consuming regions. Countries and regions with
the largest growth in percentage in 2018 in GOTS certification are: Bangladesh (+29 per cent), North America (+25 per cent), Pakistan (+23 per cent) and South Korea (+23 per cent). In terms of total numbers, the highest increase is reported from India (+315), followed by Bangladesh (+155) and Europe (+98).

The top 10 countries in terms of total number of certified facilities are: India (1973), Bangladesh (689), Turkey (519), Germany (500), Italy (340), China (301), Pakistan (238), Portugal (215), USA (127), and South
Korea (85). The 18 GOTS Approved Certification Bodies reported more than 2.02 million people working in GOTS-certified facilities.

“The increasing number of certified facilities aligns with the common desire to solve sustainability related problems. It confirms that GOTS is seen as part of the solution. Company leaders use GOTS as risk management tool and as market opportunity. Consumers value the verifiable certification from field to finished product.” said GOTS Managing Director Claudia Kersten at the
GOTS Annual Meeting in Izmir, Turkey.

The number of chemicals in the Positive List shows
an increase of 13 per cent to 20,231 from 778 suppliers. The GOTS Positive List contains tradenames of approved chemicals that must be used by all textile processors
for processing of GOTS goods.

“Bangladesh continued its second position and registered a growth of 29 percent in terms of GOTS certified facilities. We shall be organising GOTS Bangladesh Seminar 2019 on September 8 in Dhaka
and look forward to hosting all local stakeholders
there”, said Sumit Gupta, GOTS Representative in
India and Bangladesh.

“Besides a thriving export market, India has
an emerging domestic market for organic textiles.
Several new brands have started offering GOTS goods
in domestic sector during year 2018 and two major brands are planning to do so this year”, continues Gupta.

GOTS is the stringent voluntary global standard for the entire post-harvest processing (including spinning, knitting, weaving, dyeing and manufacturing) of apparel and home textiles made with certified organic fibre
(such as organic cotton and organic wool), and includes both environmental and social criteria. Key provisions include a ban on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), hazardous chemicals (such as azo
dyes and formaldehyde), and child labour, while
requiring strong social compliance management systems and strict waste water treatment practices.

GOTS was developed by leading international standard setters – Organic Trade Association (US),
Japan Organic Cotton Association, International Association Natural Textile Industry (Germany), and
Soil Association (UK) to define globally recognised requirements that ensure the organic status of textiles, from field to finished product. GOTS is a non-profit organisation which is self-financed.