Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
The Global Organic Textile Standard is awarded to textiles made from certified organic natural fibers. It sets strict ecological, toxicological, and social requirements along the entire manufacturing chain. From the field to the final product, every link in the value chain is inspected.
Critical inspection and control: Following scandals in 2022, the requirements were further tightened to ensure that "it’s GOTS on the inside if it says GOTS on the outside."
Pricing background: The very closely-knit controls result in high costs, which is reflected in the prices of GOTS-certified products. For our sustainability-conscious customers, we have therefore developed an alternative and offer terry towels made from certified organic cotton with our Bio-Line series.
Fairtrade Cotton
Fairtrade starts with cotton cultivation and aims to improve the living and working conditions of predominantly smallholder farms through fair prices. These farms commit to organic farming methods and must comply with the specified environmental and social standards.
Traceability: All production steps should be traceable.
Mass balance (Mengenausgleich): Since a strict separation of cotton qualities is not always possible, the standard allows for "mass balance." However, the quantity of goods traded with the Fairtrade logo must not exceed the volume actually procured. An arrow to the right of the Fairtrade logo indicates this case.
Cotton made in Africa (CmiA)
Cotton made in Africa focuses on cotton cultivation as well as the ginning of the raw fiber in sub-Saharan Africa. The goal is environmentally friendly production and the improvement of working and living conditions.
Social and economic criteria: Facilities must comply with certain standards that are regularly audited.
License financing and label variants: The program is financed through licensing fees. CmiA distinguishes between "Organic," "Inside" (minimum content 5%), and the "mass balance system." In the latter, cotton from various sources may be mixed as long as the total quantity remains identical.