Traceability

• Scope Certificates provide information about the scope of a company's GOTS certification. This includes the products that are covered by the certification, the production sites in which the products are made and the value chain partners that are involved in the production process. These certificates help ensure that the entire value chain for a GOTS-certified product is known and that all relevant parties are committed to GOTS' sustainability and ethical production standards.

• Transaction Certificates, on the other hand, are used to track the movement of products through the value chain. They provide a record of all the transactions that occur between the companies involved in the production and sale of GOTS-certified products, including information about the type and quantity of the product, the name and address of the buyer and seller and the date of the transaction. A Transaction Certificate includes all the information from the previous Certificate as well as the new transaction details and is issued after the material has already changed hands. The Certification Body can therefore reconcile volumes and check the mass balances indicated by the Certified Entities. The Transaction Certificate will only be issued after making sure the Entity has enough input material to produce the output described on the Certificate. This creates a transparent trail of the product's journey through the value chain, which can be used to verify its organic status and ensure that it meets GOTS' strict criteria for sustainability and ethical production.

Before Scope Certificates are issued or renewed, an on-site audit takes place. These are conducted by independent Certification Bodies to ensure compliance with GOTS requirements. By providing a clear and transparent record of the value chain for GOTS-certified products, these Certificates help ensure traceability and accountability throughout the entire production process.

GOTS has been ranked best in the test “Traceability of Clothing with Textile Seals” conducted by the German consumer product testing organisation Stiftung Warentest. “We looked at 5 seals for sustainable clothing […] the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) convinced us the most”, writes Stiftung Warentest. GOTS is the only one among the tested certifications to offer complete transparency and traceability, while complying with strict social and ecological criteria at all stages of production – from fibre production to finished textile.

Why traceability is vital:

• Consumer Safety: Traceability ensures that textile products are truly free from hazardous chemicals and substances that could harm consumers. By tracing the value chain, manufacturers can identify any potentially dangerous components and remove them from the production process.

• Environmental Sustainability: Traceability helps to ensure that the textile products are made from sustainable materials and produced in an environmentally friendly way. By tracing the value chain, manufacturers can monitor the use of natural resources and the impact of the production process on the environment.

• Ethical Labour Practises: GOTS-Certified Entities pledge to treat workers fairly and to pay them a living wage. Traceability means that manufacturers and brands are aware of the actions of their suppliers and can rest assured that their textile products are produced ethically and fairly throughout their value chain.

• Regulatory Compliance: Traceability is often required by regulatory bodies to ensure that textile products meet specific standards and regulations. By tracing the value chain, manufacturers can provide evidence of compliance with these regulations. Manufacturers and suppliers can use traceability to ensure that their products meet regulatory standards and ethical requirements.Examples for such requirements could be (Supply Chain) Due Diligence, ESG monitoring and also national supply chain laws and regulations, such as Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) of the European Union Parliament. The legislation will require companies located or operating in the EU to implement stringent due diligence throughout their supply chain by implementing practices to prevent and mitigate human rights violations and negative environmental impacts from their operations.

• Independent Certification: GOTS requires that all companies involved in the production and supply of textile products be certified by independent third-party Certification Bodies. These Bodies ensure that the products meet the necessary standards and that the value chain is transparent and traceable.

• GOTS also requires that all Third-Party Certification Bodies be accredited by a recognised Accreditation Body. The GOTS website provides a list of authorised Certification Bodies along with their qualifications and expertise. These Bodies conduct on-site inspections and document reviews to verify that all aspects of the value chain meet GOTS requirements. The certification process involves several steps, including a pre-evaluation of the production process, an on-site inspection and a review of the certification report. Find out more about the certification process, including the timeline for certification. By requiring these strict criteria and working with authorised Third-Party Certification Bodies, GOTS ensures that textile products meet the highest standards for sustainability, safety, and ethical production.

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is an all-inclusive, comprehensive standard which which sets strict environmental, human-rights and social criteria throughout the entire value chain. Find out about all GOTS key features:

Compliance support+
All Processing Stages
Due Diligence
Human-Rights and Social Criteria
Environmental Criteria
Traceability
Third-Party Certification
Organic Fibres