What is GOTS certification? The standard behind our organic cotton, explained simply

If you read "GOTS-certified" on a clothing label, you might rightly ask: What exactly does that mean, and is it more than just another green label? In short: GOTS is one of the strictest and most widely used standards for organic textiles worldwide – and it means significantly more than "somehow eco-friendly."

GOTS – The Abbreviation

GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard and is considered the world's leading standard for the processing of textiles made from organically produced natural fibers (global-standard.org). Unlike many labels that only cover one production step, GOTS checks the entire chain – from the cultivation of cotton to the finished garment.

How much organic content is really needed?

Here it gets specific: To be allowed to carry the label "Made with organic," a textile product must contain at least 70% certified organic fibers. For the higher "Organic" level, at least 95% certified organic fibers are required (greenya.de). This is a measurable, verifiable threshold – not a vague advertising promise.

What GOTS requires for the environment

GOTS prohibits all chemicals classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic (global-standard.org). Since March 2026, version 8.0 of the standard has also been in effect, with stricter requirements for air emissions, waste management, and microfiber control – GOTS is thus continuously evolving instead of simply retaining previously set criteria.

What GOTS requires for people

An often underestimated part of GOTS is its social standards: Every operation along the textile supply chain must be certified according to strict human rights and social criteria for a product to ultimately bear the GOTS label. This includes, among other things, the prohibition of child and forced labor, as well as gender equality along the entire value chain (greenya.de).

GOTS compared to other seals

GOTS is not the only relevant textile seal, but it is one of the most comprehensive. For comparison: Fairtrade cotton primarily guarantees a fair minimum price for cotton farmers, the Fair Wear Foundation focuses on working conditions in garment manufacturing, and the German state "Grüner Knopf" (Green Button) requires corporate due diligence. GOTS covers environmental and social criteria together across the entire chain – from fiber to finished shirt. An overview of further criteria for sustainable clothing can be found in our article Sustainable T-shirts: How do you really recognize them?

Why we at Georg Werner rely on GOTS

Both our sports jerseys and our T-shirts are made from GOTS-certified organic cotton – grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, fair trade, and resource-efficiently processed. For us, this was not a marketing decision, but the logical consequence of our print-on-demand approach: If we only produce what is actually ordered, then the material itself should also do as little harm as possible.

If you want to know how this specifically flows into our production, take a look at our collection – or read more on our page about sustainability.