Organic Fiber and Textile Handling Certification

Oregon Tilth is pleased to bring our tradition of experience, expertise, and integrity to the fiber and textile community and industry. Oregon Tilth now certifies to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), a standard developed by the International Working Group, www.global-standard.org.

Fiber Program Overview

The OTCO fiber program certifies to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which is dedicated specifically for Fiber & Textile Handling and production. GOTS is a project of the International Working Group, who developed these consensus-based standards over many years of discussion and deliberation. The aim of the standard is to define requirements to ensure organic status of textiles, from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing up to labeling in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer. The standards work to expand the potential organic supply chain and further developing global organic fiber and textile infrastructure.

Each phase of organic fiber and textile production will require certification, in a system similar to the current organic food and feed organic certification process under the National Organic Program (NOP). The process of textile manufacturing goes through many diverse phases, often in different facilities, before it reaches its terminal industrial or consumer product. Consequently, all phases of production require evaluation by an organic certifier for trace ability and compliance with organic standards.

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the new tool for an international common understanding of environmental friendly production systems and social accountability in the organic textile sector.

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Resources and Publications

Organic Fiber & Textile Links and Resources

OTCO Organic Fiber & Textile Handling Certification Application
You can download any application directly from our website. For organic fiber & textile certification, download the Class OFT application.

Untangling Organic Textile Certification
A very informative article from the September / October edition of our newsletter, In Good Tilth, this article highlights the pros and cons of GOTS, and provides a summary of requirements for certification.

Organic Exchange
The Organic Exchange brings together brands and retailers with their business partners and key stakeholders to learn more about the social and environmental benefits of organic agriculture, and to develop new business models and tools that support greater use of organic inputs such as organic cotton.