Are you looking for GOTS certified organic cotton manufacturers in China? Then read on: in this article, you will find out what GOTS certification is and how you can find GOTS-certified providers on the web.
In addition, I also explain how you can verify a GOTS certificate and why you should not assume that all Chinese cotton fabric suppliers are certified.
In fact, only a few are.
What is organic cotton?
By definition, organic cotton is grown using environmentally friendly methods. For example, organic cotton is defined as such only if it meets the following criteria:
1. No use of toxins
2. No use of persistent pesticides (POPs)
3. No use of chemical fertilizers
4. No use of GMO seeds
In the textile industry, organic cotton is the exception, not the rule. In addition, the decrease in the use of persistent pesticides (POPs) and chemical fertilizers reduces yields and, as a result, results in higher prices.
Therefore, you should expect to pay more for organic cotton, compared to non-organic cotton
What is GOTS certification?
GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard and is defined as follows:
1. Only fabrics that contain at least about 70% organic fibers can obtain GOTS certification
2. All chemicals, such as dyes and aggregates, must meet certain environmental and toxicological criteria
3. The use of an efficient wastewater treatment plant is mandatory for any wet treatment unit involved, and all machinery must comply with social criteria
A supplier can be GOTS certified, if it passes the factory inspection performed by a qualified third party. There are few inspection companies, and which have offices in China, that are “GOTS accredited”:
- CERES GmbH
- Control Union Certifications b.v.
- Ecocert Greenlife
Can all clothing and fabric suppliers supply GOTS certified organic cotton?
No. Most fabric manufacturers cannot supply GOTS certified fabrics. In addition, only the fabric supplier can be GOTS certified.
To understand why, you first need to know how the textile industry works.
There are several categories of providers:
at. Clothing Manufacturers (Exporter)
This is the factory that produces clothing. They cut fabrics, sew them, label them, print them and package them. This is the only supplier that importers need to contact.
But they do not weave fabrics, nor do they produce plastic buttons. Each individual component is purchased from a subcontractor.
Essentially, they manage the procurement process and assemble the product.
It becomes a problem when you import GOTS certified fabrics from China. If you do not have direct access to the GOTS-certified fabric supplier, you cannot be sure that they are actually purchasing from a GOTS-certified fabric supplier.
b. Fabric suppliers (subcontractor)
Usually, the fabric supplier only does one thing: they produce the rolls of fabric, which they ship to local and foreign clothing manufacturers.
As far as GOTS certification is concerned, things change.
This certification is based on factory inspections and is issued “per company”. Therefore, you need to make sure that the fabrics are purchased from a GOTS-certified supplier.
You only have one way to be sure.
You must be the one to select the fabric supplier, rather than allowing the fabric manufacturer to do it for you.
Remember that GOTS certification is still relatively rare. You need to recruit a certified supplier specifically to find another one. Don’t assume that every other fabric supplier has the GOTS certificate lying around somewhere.
c. Component suppliers (subcontractor)
In addition to fabrics, clothing manufacturers also purchase buttons, zippers, Velcro, etc., from specialized component suppliers. This category of providers is not affected by the GOTS regulation.
How do I find a GOTS certified organic cotton supplier?
A GOTS certified provider can produce the relevant verifiable certificates, issued by one of the accredited companies.
But don’t take GOTS certification literally. Take a closer look at the following:
at. Factory: Does the supplier you are contacting have GOTS certification? Many clothing factories have GOTS certification from some casual fabric suppliers.
Keep in mind that most clothing factories work with multiple fabric suppliers, and GOTS certification is only useful if you know who the fabric is from.
This is why I strongly recommend that you recruit a GOTS certified fabric supplier.
b. Issuing company: Does the issuing company appear on the list of accredited GOTS certification companies? Otherwise, the certificate is invalid. In addition, the issuing company must be able to verify that the document is authentic.
c. Validity: When was the document issued? Is it still valid? After a certain date, GOTS certificates expire.
d. Version: Is GOTS certificate in the current version? Currently, GOTS 5.0 is the most recent version.
and. Product Categories: Does the product category match your clothing?
How can I make sure that fabrics are actually GOTS certified?
You need to work directly with the source. It is the only way to be sure. Therefore, you must recruit GOTS-certified organic cotton fabric suppliers. You can also have them recommend a clothing manufacturer, otherwise you can look for one yourself. Personally, I recommend that you adopt the second solution.
How do I know that cotton is actually organic?
Small businesses do not have the resources to monitor the production process. Therefore, GOTS certification was created as a standardized protocol regarding updated criteria, annual inspections, and certifications. All this can only be managed by accredited bodies. It is not, of course, a bulletproof system, but it is the best you can aspire to.
Can I pay a supplier to get GOTS certified?
GOTS certification is still relatively rare in China, as well as in all other fabric producing countries. It is not the supplier of cotton fabrics who can suddenly decide that they want to obtain GOTS certification. And anyway, unless it actually meets the strict criteria of the GOTS, it cannot pass inspection, no matter how much money it invests in it.
What is the difference between REACH and GOTS certification?
REACH regulates substances and restricts the use of lead, cadmium and other chemical elements found in all consumer goods, including cotton fabrics.
However, REACH does not say anything about how the product is made, it also covers persistent pesticides (POPs), while it does not cover GMO seeds or fertilizers.
Therefore, a non-organic product (such as a metal or plastic) can be REACH compliant, as long as it passes laboratory tests. For the record, I assume that all GOTS-certified organic cotton fabrics are REACH compliant.
Is GOTS certification mandatory when importing organic fabrics?
No, GOTS certification is managed by an independent organization, moreover it is not a regulation, nor a mandatory standard, unlike the REACH regulation in the European Union. You are not required to import GOTS-certified fabrics. From a business perspective, the advantage of GOTS certification lies in the perceived quality and brand value in providing authentic organic fabric.
What is the difference between GOTS certification and OEKO Tex Standard 100?
The OEKO Tex Standard 100 is an independent (non-governmental) testing system for textiles. It regulates, for example, the substances and heavy metals present in fabrics used in children’s and adult clothing and, even, in furniture. For its part, GOTS certification only deals with the production phase of the fabrics, rather than the final product.
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