Stuttgart, Germany – The following statement was issued today by Global Standard, the non-profit that owns and operates the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS):
“Global Standard applauds today’s announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to include the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) in its Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing. With this inclusion, GOTS-certified products will now receive clear preference in public tenders.
The EPA’s recommendations direct federal agencies to maximize the procurement of sustainable textile goods and prioritize products that hold a recommended label, including GOTS. Federal purchasers, who collectively manage over $730 billion annually, now have stronger tools to purchase more climate-friendly, environmentally and socially responsible products.
As a leader in the organic textile industry, GOTS is a dynamic standard with constant progress towards the development of better textile processing methods. GOTS provides rules and tools for fostering responsible business practices and sets strict environmental and social criteria for the entire textile value chain, backed up by independent certification. These criteria include bans of toxic chemicals, wastewater treatment restrictions, energy targets and the protection of human, employment and social rights. Choosing GOTS-labelled goods means choosing a commitment to sustainability and human rights.
We ask legislators and policymakers around the world to continue including sustainability in textile procurement.”
9 December 2024