GOTS Version 3.0 of organic fiber processing standard released

03 Mar '11

4 min read

The top twenty countries based on the number of GOTS-certified facilities are (in order of ranking): India, Turkey, China, Pakistan, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Bangladesh, France, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Peru, USA, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Portugal, Greece, and Belgium. Countries in which facilities were certified to GOTS for the first time in 2010 included Finland, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Macedonia, Sweden, and Uganda.

The database has already received more than 120,000 search requests. It includes almost 400 dyeing facilities, more than 200 spinning, knitting, and weaving units, and approximately 140 printing and manufacturing facilities. While more than 700 companies are listed with an export business, currently about 50 import operations hold GOTS certificates as well. Thirteen independent certification organizations around the world are qualified to certify operations to the standard (one more than in 2009).

The GOTS IWG is made up of the Organic Trade Association (U.S.), Japan Organic Cotton Association, International Association Natural Textile Industry (Germany), and the Soil Association (UK). In late 2010, the IWG appointed regional representatives worldwide to drive an increase in the awareness of and certification to GOTS. The representatives so far are: Yoshiko Ikoma (Japan), Claudia Kersten (Austria, Germany, Switzerland), Sandra Marquardt (U.S./Canada), Christopher Stopes (Great Britain), and Elisabeth Tosti (Scandinavia).

“With the launch of our online database of GOTS-certified facilities, the appointment of regional representatives, and the development of the GOTS film, 2010 was a big year,” said Herbert Ladwig, Coordinator of the GOTS International Working Group. “With the launch of Version 3.0 and the work of our new regional representatives, we expect substantial increased interest in GOTS in 2011,” he noted.

Global retail sales of organic cotton apparel and home textile products reached an estimated $4.3 billion in 2009, according to Textile Exchange.

Global Organic Textile Standard

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