GOTS Press Release - China +++ Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Tops 5000 Facilities in 2017

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Tops 5000 Facilities in 2017 

Number of GOTS certified facilities increase 8,2% to 5,024 in 2017 +++ More than 1.74 million workers reported +++ 

Felicia Shi
++86 13811138531

For Immediate Release    
Tianjin China (8th March 2018)
                                                                                       

The number of facilities certified to GOTS shows an increase of 8,2%, from 4,642 facilities in 2016 to 5,024 facilities in 2017. GOTS certified facilities are located in 62 countries around the world with continuous growth in both production as well as consuming regions.

GOTS certification covers the processing of certified organic fibres along the entire supply chain from field to finished product.

Countries or regions with the largest increase in GOTS certification in 2017 are (in rank order): Bangladesh (+40%), North America (+39%), Portugal (+39%), Europe (+29%).
The top ten countries in terms of total number of certified facilities are: India (1658), Bangladesh (534), Germany (480), Turkey (445), Italy (307), China (292), Pakistan (194), Portugal (180), USA (99) and South Korea (69).

 "The growing number of GOTS certifications shows that GOTS is taken as a solution for managing risks, reputation and market differentiation. We are very pleased with the development in North America. It will have the same pull effect as also seen in Europe by creating increasing capacities in the producing countries” said GOTS Director Claudia Kersten at the GOTS Annual Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina.

 In 2017 the 19 GOTS accredited independent Certification Bodies reported more than 1,74 million people working in GOTS certified facilities. 

 The number of chemicals on the GOTS Positive List also shows an increase of 14% to more than 17,900 from 720 manufacturers. The GOTS Positive List contains tradenames of approved chemicals that must be used by all textile processors for their GOTS certified production.

 GOTS in Greater China Area

In 2017, China continued the steady increase in terms of the total number of certified facilities at 292 (269, 2016). The demands from both the sourcing and retailing sides are increasing. For example, with more international brands and retailers are embedding GOTS into their management system, BESTSELLER held a seminar on sustainability with a special focus on GOTS to educate their suppliers in China for further souring strategy. Some emerging Chinese brands who have become GOTS certified have shown good market performance and more are engaging in the concept.

 We continued our strategic cooperation with Messe Frankfurt, had busy booth and was one of the panellist for the seminar on organic textiles co-held by Messe Frankfurt and ECOCERT SA-China during Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics 2017 Autumn Edition. Moreover, we supported the brands who intend to go organic, and processors and manufacturers who would like to be GOTS-certified through various lectures, trainings and content development. Particularly, with the rising consciousness of environmental issues, the demands of consumer education for brands on organic textiles have been increasing. Responding to this trend, we have successfully run the webcasting to consumers or supported the awareness building activities run by brands. Felicia Shi, GOTS Representative in Greater China, says " With the Chinese consumers focus more on personal health and environmental issues, and the rising sense of sustainability from brands in China, China has become the emerging retail market for organic textiles. We look forward to further cooperation with Chinese partners to bring this trend mainstreamed."

ABOUT GOTS: 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 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), highly 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 (U.S.), 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. GOTS is a non-profit organisation. For more information on the Global Organic Textile Standard, please see www.global-standard.org.

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GOTS
Global Organic Textile Standard