The Global Organic Textile Standard

Organic cotton –sometimes also called green or sustainable cotton –is grown, produced, and processed with a low impact on the environment and involves all companies along the textile production chain. From the farm to the marketer, all products and processes must be environmentally friendly. The demand for organic cotton is steadily growing, and as a result, the certification of appropriate products is highly important.

The most well-established standard for organic cotton is the Global Organic Textile Standard(GOTS). The aim of GOTS is to define the necessary requirements to ensure the 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. This standard for organic textiles covers the production, processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, exportation, importation, and distribution of all-natural fibers.

Services Offered in the Field of Organic Textiles

ISX offers consultation and training for the following activities within the textile chain: The production of natural fibers such as cotton, flax, wool, silk, etc. in accordance with organic standards like Regulation EEC 2092/91, NOP or private organic standards like Naturland, Demeter, IFOAM, etc. all primary processing stages within the whole textile chain such as spinning, knitting/weaving, dying, finishing and manufacturing of ready-to-wear garments in accordance with the processing guidelines of the International Association Natural Textile Industry (IVN), global organic standards and other defined criteria of textile associations and specific companies. Producers, mail-order companies, and retailers, who label textiles themselves and bring them to market, such as IVN's brand 'Naturtextil'.  

Available organic textile label schemes:

  Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): ISX offers consultation and inspection according to this new and unique tool that shall enable textile manufacturers exporting their organic fabrics and garments with one certificate accepted in all major world markets. The Global Organic Textile Standard is a co-operation work between reputed standard organizations: So far the International Association Natural Textile Industry (IVN), Soil Association, Organic Trade Association (OTA), and Japan Organic Cotton Association (JOCA) have already decided to adopt the GOTS from 1st October 2006 onwards.
Textile guidelines of the International Association Natural Textile Industry (IVN). Fiber standard of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), USA: Certified textiles may be labeled as '100% organic', 'organic' or 'made with organic'. Textile standard of the Soil Association (SA), England: ISX is competent to perform consultation for a Soil association certification.

ISX also offers independent monitoring and expertise on

A specific company's quality guidelines social standards and criteria for fair trade, e.g. based on core requirements of the ILO (International Labor Organization); possible of course in combination with the inspection and certification systems mentioned above documentation of origin for goods from inspected companies contacts to authorities and textile associations development and provisioning of textile guidelines Textile Training course on management, quality, environment, and technology.