What Does GOTS Certification Really Mean? A Look Behind the Label
Many of our organic cotton products carry this note: GOTS-certified. For many people, that's become a familiar phrase — so familiar that hardly anyone asks what actually stands behind it. That's exactly what we want to change today. Because understanding what the label actually verifies lets you make purchasing decisions based on traceable information — not just a green logo.
GOTS is not a marketing term, but a certification standard
GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. It wasn't invented by a fashion brand to boost its image, but developed by a non-profit organization that operates independently of individual manufacturers. That's an important distinction: GOTS isn't a marketing promise, but a set of rules with external controls — from the certified organically grown fiber, through the GOTS-certified processing stages, to the labeled end product.
For a GOTS-certified textile, the organic natural fibers used must come from a recognized, certified organic production. GOTS certification of the textile supply chain then begins at the processing stages. Depending on the product, these include spinning, weaving or knitting, dyeing, making-up, and trading, among others. The corresponding certified facilities are inspected by GOTS-approved certification bodies.
Two tiers worth knowing
Not every GOTS label means the same thing. The standard distinguishes between two tiers:
“Organic” — the product consists of at least 95 percent certified organically grown natural fibers.
“Made with Organic” — here, the share of organic fibers is at least 70 percent; the remainder can consist of other, likewise regulated materials.
Both tiers are legitimate and both meet the respective requirements of the standard — anyone who wants to know exactly how much organic content is in a garment will find the specific wording on the label.
What exactly is controlled?
The ecological criteria are only half the story. Under GOTS certification, two levels are checked at the same time, which are often considered separately in the textile industry:
Ecological criteria: The natural fibers used must come from certified organic production without synthetic pesticides and artificial fertilizers. For the GOTS-certified processing stages, carcinogenic azo dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and chlorine-based bleaching agents are prohibited. Wastewater management and the handling of chemicals at certified facilities are also monitored under the certification — not just whether a material is “organic,” but how it is processed.
Social criteria: The GOTS standard includes requirements for wages. Under GOTS 7.0, wages for regular working hours must reach at least the higher of the legal minimum requirements or industry benchmark rates. Certified companies must also determine the gap to a living wage and develop a plan to reduce it. In addition: no forced labor, no child labor, safe and hygienic working conditions, regulated working hours, and the right to organize in trade unions.
This combination of environmental and social standards is what distinguishes GOTS from plain “organic cotton” claims. Cotton can be organically grown but processed under poor working conditions — closing exactly this gap is what GOTS's social criteria are intended to do.
GOTS vs. OEKO-TEX: What's the difference?
A point that often causes confusion: GOTS and OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 are frequently mentioned in the same breath, but they check different things. OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 tests textile products for harmful substances — regardless of whether the fibers were organically grown or not. GOTS, on the other hand, looks at the entire certified life cycle of the product, from the certified fiber to certified processing, including social conditions.
For general context on OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100: for skin-contact products such as underwear, Product Class II is particularly relevant, while the strictest Class I applies to baby items. GOTS and OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 are independently awarded certifications with different scopes. Whether and which certifications apply to a specific product can be found on the respective product page.
Why this is relevant to your purchasing decision
You don't need to be a textile expert to sense that “sustainable” has become an inflationary buzzword. That's exactly why it's worth looking at standards that are actually audited externally, rather than relying on brands' own claims alone. GOTS is one of the few standards where the GOTS-certified processing stages along the textile supply chain — not just a single production step — are documented and controlled.
That doesn't mean every product without a label is automatically bad. It means: if a GOTS certificate is on the label, independent auditing bodies have, as part of the certification, checked the origin of the fibers, the processing, and the working conditions — not just the brand itself.
Our approach to this
At EVERMIND.ECO, GOTS isn't a label we apply after the fact. For our cotton products, we use organic cotton, preferably GOTS-certified; depending on the product and material, standards such as OCS or GRS are also used. We indicate which materials and certifications actually apply on a per-product basis. For us, transparency in the supply chain isn't optional — it's a core part of how we select our products, especially since “greenwashing” remains widespread in the fashion industry. Choosing a GOTS-certified product isn't a gut decision, but one that can be backed up with facts.
Conclusion
GOTS is more than a green label on a clothing tag. It's an audited standard that combines ecological and social criteria across the certified processing stages — from the certified organically grown fiber to the seam. Anyone who consciously looks for this label on their next purchase is making a decision based on traceable and verifiable criteria.
Learn more about our materials and criteria on our Materials page and under Our Criteria.
