5,760 certified facilities, increase of 14.6%, with more than 2 million workers reported in 2018
In 2018, the number of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified facilities showed an increase of 14.6% from 5,024 to 5,760. Certified facilities are now located in 64 countries around the globe. GOTS certification covers the processing of certified organic fibres along the entire supply chain, from the field to the finished product.
The progress is seen in both production and consuming regions. Countries and regions with the largest growth in percentage in 2018 in GOTS certification are: Bangladesh (+29%), North America (+25%), Pakistan (+23%) and South Korea (+23%). In terms of numbers, the highest increase is reported from India (+315), followed by Bangladesh (+155) and Europe (+98).
The top 10 countries in terms of the total number of certified facilities are: India (1973), Bangladesh (689), Turkey (519), Germany (500), Italy (340), China (301), Pakistan (238), Portugal (215), USA (127), and South Korea (85).
The 18 approved certification bodies reported more than 2.02 million people working in GOTS certified facilities.
“The increasing number of certified facilities aligns with the common desire to solve sustainability-related problems. It confirms that GOTS is seen as part of the solution. Company leaders take GOTS as a risk management tool and as market opportunity. Consumers value the verifiable certification from field to finished product,” said GOTS Managing Director Claudia Kersten at the GOTS annual meeting in Izmir, Turkey.
The number of chemicals in the GOTS positive list shows an increase of 13% to 20,231 from 778 suppliers. The list contains trade names of approved chemicals that must be used by all textile processors for processing of GOTS goods.
“Bangladesh continued its second position and registered a growth of 29 per cent in terms of GOTS certified facilities. We shall be organizing GOTS Bangladesh Seminar 2019 on September 8 in Dhaka and look forward to hosting all local stakeholders there”, said Mr. Sumit Gupta, GOTS Representative in India & Bangladesh.
“Besides a thriving export market, India has an emerging domestic market for organic textiles. Several new brands have started offering GOTS goods in the domestic sector during 2018 and two major brands are planning to do so this year”, he added.