Applied DNA Sciences, Inc has announced that one of their ginning partners, the Woolam Gin in O’Donnell, Texas, was awarded the Global Organic Textile Standard (“GOTS v5.0â€Â) certification, making it the first certified US organic cotton gin utilising Applied DNA’s molecular tagging system, which provides a single platform to tag, test, and track the organic cotton fibers throughout a certified supply chain.
According to the Control Union Certifications, a global certification body, Woolam Gin is 100 percent compliant with all standards and requirements for the GOTS v5.0 audit. Those standards and requirements examine the high level environmental criteria for processing organics, as well as socially responsible manufacturing practices. The GOTS certification coupled with USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) certification for organically grown cotton is the highest possible measurement standard.
According to the 2016 Textile Exchange Organic Cotton report, the global market value of organic cotton is $15.76 billion and continues to grow as more brands and retailers expand their organic cotton collections. In the U.S., organic fiber sales represent about $1.3 billion (2015) which equals more than 37 percent of total organic non-food sales of $3.5 billion. The first molecularly verified organic cotton is expected to debut at retail in spring, 2018, using the "OrganiCott™†cotton fiber brand, providing a means for consumers to know where the organic cotton comes from, and that it follows a certified organic cotton process.
“In an environment where consumers are demanding more information about the origin and authenticity of their products, Applied DNA is proud to partner with Woolam Gin to integrate molecular tagging,†said Dr. James Hayward, president and CEO of Applied DNA. “SigNature T assures that the organic cotton grown and ginned in Texas is not blended with other cottons from different origins or with non-organic cotton, thereby remaining pure throughout the supply chain, all the way to the consumer.â€Â