The biggest difference between good cotton and organic cotton is in planting and production.

The principle of good cotton production is to cultivate farmers to form correct operational practices on how to rationally use chemical fertilizers and pesticides, reduce damage to crops and soil, effectively use water resources, enhance laborers' awareness of labor protection, and safeguard legitimate labor rights.

The organic cotton planting and production standards are completely different from good cotton. Organic cotton needs to be certified for land and transition from conventional production to organic production. A conversion period is required, usually 3 years. It is not allowed to use genetically modified seeds, and no fertilizers or pesticides are allowed. There is no requirement for the use of water resources.

GOTS Audit Checklist

1. GOTS production manual

2. GOTS system plan

3. GOTS product specification

4. Business license, tax registration certificate, organization institutional code certificate

5. Production flow chart

6. Floor plan of the workshop and storage area (including

Machine arrangement, equipment list): Production line, storage area, etc. identify GOTS

Organic cotton and consistent with the plan

7. Supplier evaluation records: organic cotton raw materials, GOTS approved dyes, etc.

8. Evaluation of dyeing and auxiliaries: The dyeing aids used in GOTS orders must be evaluated by GOTS.

9. Raw material purchase invoices and shipping documents

10. Raw material acceptance inspection record

11. Production risk point (easy to pollute, easy to mix batch

Etc.) Control measures

12. GOTS production records: records of inputs, production, finished products, etc.

13. GOTS Cleaning Record

14. GOTS sales records: orders, delivery notes, invoices, etc.

15. GOTS Production Training Record: GOTS Definition, GOTS Production Requirements

16. GOTS Special Label (Taro)

17. GOTS Total Balance Statistics: Finished Product Statistics: Finished Products - Raw Materials - Stock - Sales – Loss, Raw Material Statistics: Purchasing - Use - Stock

18. GOTS Product Sales Certificate (TC): A total of 12 copies, check the traceability records of all production and sales; total > 12, random check 12 traceability records

19. Social Compliance manual Society

Responsibility Handbook: SA8000/BSCI/WRAP, etc.

20. Appointment of the person in charge of social responsibility

21. Employee Handbook

22. Employee roster: Within 2 weeks before the audit date

23. Child Labor / Juvenile Management: Juvenile Worker List / Registration Certificate / Medical Examination / Juvenile Worker Protection Regulations

24. Personnel Recruitment File: Entry Record / Employee Registration Form / Labor Contract / Training Record / Resignation Record

25. Attendance Record: Random 6 months

26. Salary record: Salary corresponding to 6 months attendance

27. Social security records: work injury records, social security contributions, etc.

28. Occupational Health and Safety Assessment: Evaluation of the factory floor environment (noise, air, dust, etc.)

29. Record of labor insurance supplies: issued according to occupational health assessment report

30. Qualification certificate for dangerous and special positions:

31. Escape indicator

32. Fire drill record: Fire emergency plan, escape, fire drill

33. Health, safety, health, etc. (EHS) training record

34. First aid kit, first aid training: Every 50 people must have 1 person to hold a certificate

35. Trade union records

36. Canteen Health Permit, Worker Health Certificate

37. Environmental Policy

38. Appointment of the person in charge of environmental responsibility

39. Energy saving and emission reduction plan and record

40. Pollution permit

41. Sewage commissioned contract, invoice

42. Sewage monitoring report: COD, BOD, pH, ammonia nitrogen, total copper, color, etc.

43. Sewage treatment operation log: Daily operation record of sewage treatment station / Internal wastewater monitoring report

44. Sewage Discharge Statistics Report, COD Row

Statistics on discharge: monthly discharge of sewage, nearly 12 months; COD content per kilogram of textile emissions

(mg/kg) = 1000X annual average COD emission concentration (mg/l) x annual sewage discharge (m3) / annual textile production (kg)

45. (Hazardous) Waste Disposal Record: Dangerous Waste (Sludge) Treatment Agreement/Receiving Unit Hazardous Waste Treatment Qualification/Dangerous Waste (Sludge) Treatment Statistics

/Dangerous waste (sludge) receiving documents

46. Annual consumption records of water, electricity, coal, steam and chemicals: monthly statistics, nearly 12 months, and conversion of kilograms of textile consumption

Remarks:

1. This audit checklist is for reference, and the specific audit requirements are based on the latest version of the GOTS standard.

2. The OCS/OE audit document only needs to be prepared for the production part and does not involve social responsibility and environmental responsibility requirements.

There are three basic conditions for GOTS certification: the requirements that organic fibers must meet, the requirements that must be met in the process, and the need to establish a complete quality control system.

GOTS Certification - Organic Fibers must meet the following requirements:

1. Containing at least 95%, 70% organic fibers, respectively.

2. Obtain certification of recognized international or national standards (EU standards, NOP standards, etc.).

3. Limit the use of fiber during the conversion period.

4. The certification body needs to be accredited according to ISO65 or by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements.

GOTS Certification - The process must meet the following requirements:

1. It is forbidden to use inputs such as toxic heavy metals, formaldehyde and genetically modified substances.

2. Strictly restrict the use of packaging materials. If PVC, nickel or chromium is not allowed, plastics cannot be used for decals or inlays.

3. Ensure separation of organic and conventional textiles throughout the processing.

4. All chemical inputs must be evaluated (eg fuels, auxiliaries and process chemicals) and must meet basic requirements for toxicity and biodegradability.

5. All generated sewage must be disposed of by a dedicated wastewater treatment unit.

6. The welfare of all production personnel should meet the requirements of the social minimum standards (according to the requirements of the International Labour Organization).

......

GOTS certification - need to establish a complete quality control system:

1. On-site audit:

1) Certification of the entire production chain;

2) The operator must conduct an on-site inspection once a year from receipt of the goods to the production of garments (including exporters and importers).

3) The certification body needs to comply with the requirements of ISO65, including the scope of textile certification and approval, and is approved by the IWG.

2. Residue detection:

1) The value of the residue remaining in the standard.

2) According to the risk assessment of pollutants, the operator needs to carry out residue detection.

3) Sampling by an auditor/inspector and testing by an ISO accredited laboratory.

Global Organic Textile Standards - GOTS is an internationally recognized standard for organic textiles. From the launch in 2006 to today, it has proved feasibility and practicality. It is supported by the growth in organic fiber consumption and the demand for uniform processing standards in the retail industry and the industry.

GOTS certification is the organic process of ensuring that textiles are harvested from raw materials, processed raw materials, and finally to the final packaging of products, in order to provide end users with credible assurance and reliable products.

Note: Not less than 70% of the fibers (excluding excipients) required for GOTS certification must be sourced from certified organic materials or from “conversion”.

Finally, the global organic textile standard GOTS certification applies to textile, clothing, accessories processing and other industries.

OCS certification - organic content standard certification:

Organic Content Standard Certification - OCS Certification It can be applied to all non-food products containing 5%-100% organic raw materials. This standard can be used to confirm the amount of organic raw materials in the final product. It can be used to trace the process from the source of the raw material to the final product, and the process is certified by a trusted third party organization. The standard will adhere to transparency and consistency in the process of completely and independently assessing the organic content of the product.

Certification target: Non-food products produced using approved organic raw materials.

Certification scope: OCS product production management

Product requirements: Contains more than 5% of raw materials that meet recognized organic standards.

GOTS Certification - Global Organic Textile Standard Certification:

Global Organic Textile Certification Standard Certification – The main definition of GOTS certification is to ensure the organic state of textiles, including the harvesting of raw materials, the production of environmental and social responsibility, and the identification to ensure consumer information about the product.

This standard has provisions for the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, import, export and distribution of organic textiles. Final products may include, but are not limited to, fiber products, yarns, fabrics, clothing, and home textiles. This standard only focuses on mandatory requirements.

Certification target: textiles made from organic natural fibers

Certification scope: GOTs product production management, environmental protection, social responsibility

Product requirements: Contains 70% organic natural fiber, does not allow blending, up to 10% synthetic or recycled fiber (sports products can contain up to 25% of synthetic or regenerated fibers), without genetically modified fibers.

There are three main differences between OCS certification and GOTS certification:

1. OCS is only the production management of products, and GOTS does include three aspects; product production management, environmental protection, and social responsibility.

2. The two certification objects are different: OCS certification is the use of non-food products produced with approved organic raw materials. GOTS is limited to textiles made from organic natural fibers.

3. Different raw material requirements: OCS contains more than 5% of raw materials that meet the recognized organic standards, while GOTS requires more stringent requirements. It requires 70% organic natural fibers, no blending, and up to 10% synthetic or recycled fiber. (Sports products can contain up to 25% of synthetic or regenerated fibers) without the use of genetically modified fibers.

GOTS, Global Organic Textile Standard, it has been certified as a global organic textile standard. The standard has been published for more than 10 years and is composed of relevant organizations from Japan, the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The original organic materials organizations in these countries are of a high standard in the world. They spent four years negotiating to form a unified international standard to make the trading of international organic materials easier in the future.

There are four characteristics of the GOTS certification standard:

The first one requires the use of organic fibers, including natural fibers such as cotton and linen, which can be used as organic fibers.

Second, third party testing. Third-party testing is also done by an independent certification body.

The third includes standards for both environmental and social responsibility. Generally speaking, some of the standards we are referring to now cover only environmental standards, such as water pollution, and some additives. In addition, we also include social responsibility here. Whether these workers working in the factory are treated fairly, their working hours, etc., are also concerned about some of their rights.

The fourth covers the entire supply chain. We talk about the entire processing supply chain, starting from cotton, from the processing of cotton fiber, to the yarn stage, to the most contaminated printing and dyeing links in the entire textile chain. Finally, in the manufacturing, warehousing and logistics sectors, even retailers and traders who sell products are subject to rigorous review.

The Global Organic Textile Standard Certification is referred to as the GOTS certification, which gives you an overview of the 10 characteristics:

1. The production cost of 1 kg of organic cotton is about two to three times higher than that of ordinary cotton.

2. India and Turkey are the world's largest producers of organic cotton; the United States is the world's largest consumer of organic cotton.

3. Differentiate one of the organic cotton standards: whether the product has an organic certification mark.

4. China is a global cotton producer and consumer, but China's organic cotton production accounts for about 0.01% of total cotton production. The products are mainly used for export.

5. Insecticides and fertilizers are prohibited during the cultivation of organic cotton.

6. The seeds of organic cotton must not be genetically modified.

7. Organic cotton can be dyed with plant dyes to make the final colorful organic clothing, textiles and other products.

8. Domestically reliable organic cotton producers include: Mecilla, Esquel, etc., of which the Xinjiang Construction Corps effectively produces organic cotton.

9. Colored cotton is not equal to organic cotton.

10. organic cotton It can only represent the raw materials of clothing is organic, all links from harvesting, warehousing, ginning, spinning, weaving, dyeing, finishing, tailoring, sewing, etc. are non-polluting, pollution-free; final product It is also pollution-free and pollution-free.

The purpose of GOTS certification is to ensure the standardization of organic textiles from raw materials to processing and final product packaging in order to ultimately provide consumers with a reliable product. An important measure to achieve the harmonization and transparency of textile labels.

The global organic textile certification standard referred to as GOTS certification is the result of the harmonious development of senior standards certification bodies and high technology.

The purpose of the GOTS certification standard is to ensure the standardization of organic textiles from harvesting raw materials, through environmentally friendly and CSR-compliant production, and to final product packaging labeling to ensure a reliable product for the ultimate consumer. This new line of unique certification standards requires textile manufacturers to regulate the production of their organic textiles and garments with globally recognized standards, an important measure for the harmonization and transparency of textile labels.

This organic textile certification standard covers the entire process of planting, processing, packaging, labeling, exporting, importing, and distributing all natural fibers. Final products include, but are not limited to, fibers, fiber products, yarns, and apparel.

The main factors of global organic textile GOTS certification standards

First, these fibers are natural and grow organically based on the European standard EEC-2092/91 and the US organically grown USDA/NOP.

Second, consider the complete production process. In order to maximize environmental benefits, this means that each process must comply with the appropriate standards, which are described in the GOTS Organic Textile Certification Standards, which cover every step of spinning, weaving, washing, and so on.

Two labeling systems indicate the two levels of “organic” and “organic manufacturing”. All inputs must meet the following basic requirements in terms of toxicity and biodegradability: no toxic heavy metals, no formaldehyde, and non-GMO products. Environmental and social standards (based on the main ILO standards) that must be met in the manufacturing sector must be met. Moreover, it must be agreed with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements to pass the dual system test: on-site inspection and pesticide residue detection.

The International Organic Textiles Certification Working Group has been adhering to the belief that only high quality standards can improve the social and environmental conditions in textile manufacturing.

The GOTS certification standard is a globally recognized certification standard and many companies have passed inspections and certifications by approved GOTS certification bodies. Partnerships with large textile processing and manufacturing groups such as Wal-Mart are a very important factor in attracting more certified customers. Regarding product quality certification, GOTS provides a continuous quality control and certification system from the harvest site to the final shelf.

The GOTS certification is in addition to the verification of the quantity of the entire processing of organic products; the separation and discrimination of conventional fiber products, in addition to the verification of related chemicals according to the chemical material safety data sheet. 

Corporate social responsibility and employee rights are also within the scope of certification audits. All processing companies are required to meet minimum social responsibility standards based on the International Labor Organization (ILO) basic standards. All practitioners in organic products from fiber processing to garment manufacturing should be respected. This promotes positive social effects and social justice.

The social responsibility requirements related to GOTS certification specifically include:

1. A formal employment contract must be signed with the employee.

2. Do not allow harsh and inhumane treatment of employees.

3. Enterprises should take measures to minimize the risk factors in the work environment. Prevent accidents and health injuries to provide employees with a safe and hygienic environment.

4. Child labor is not allowed. Underage workers under the age of 18 are not allowed to work at night or engage in hazardous work.

5. Employees are free to choose their work, and forced labor or labor is strictly prohibited.

6. Employees have the freedom to choose to join the union and the right to collective bargaining.

7. Employees must work no more than 48 hours per week. They should have at least one day of vacation per week; extra allowance is required for overtime.

8. There must be no discrimination based on race, class, nationality, religion, age disability, gender, marital status, union membersip or political position in terms of employment, remuneration, training opportunities, promotion, dismissal or retirement.

9. Pay the normal (overtime) wages of employees according to relevant national regulations, and must be higher than the local minimum wage.

GOTS Organic Cotton Certification allows textile manufacturers to export organic textiles and apparel to the world's major markets that accept this standard. The goal of the Global Organic Textiles Standard is to ensure that textile fabrics' organic fabrics and garments are certified and recognized in all major world markets, an important step towards a consistent and transparent textile logo.

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is an internationally recognized standard for organic textiles. Since its launch in 2006, GOTS has proven its practical viability and is supported by the growth in organic fiber consumption and the demand for uniform processing standards in the industry and the retail industry.

At present, the International Working Group on Organic Textiles (GOTS) has announced that the 4.0 version of the Globally Recognized Standard for Qualified Organic Natural Fiber Processing and Textiles has been officially promulgated. The new version retains the core terms of GOTS, such as: qualified organic fiber content of not less than 70%, and the ban on the use of GMO (transgenic), nanotechnology and carcinogens.

The new 4.0 revised the standard for conventionally added fiber materials. Modifications include up to 30% of recycled synthetic fiber components, provided that the fibers are environmentally friendly and certified. GOTS currently believes that it is no longer reasonable to focus solely on the amount of additional fiber in natural fibers. Other modifications include the ban on the use of pure polyester and Angora rabbit fur. New standards have been adopted for specific product categories, such as textile personal care products or mattresses.

Steps for global organic textile standards GOTS audit certification:

1. Application: Fill in and submit the application form provided by the organization, including the certification location and other information.

2. Agreement: After confirming the application form, the certification body will sign an agreement with the customer and provide a quotation.

III. Audit: After signing the agreement and paying the certification fee, the certification begins to evaluate the GOTS file (for example: material flow chart for each location, including risk point, GOTS system plan (institution sent checklist), program manual). At the same time, the auditor began preparing for an on-site audit.

IV. Review and conclusion: On-site audit is completed, we need to ensure that all corrective actions are resolved. After that, the institution issues a certificate.

V. Time: General basic certification takes 5-10 working weeks, which can be completed ahead of schedule according to your company's preparation.

In addition to the GOTS certification standards, Shanghai Supernet will provide professional consulting services in the industry. This will save you a lot of time and cost.

It is reported that in 2012, more than 3,000 brands in 62 countries around the world have been certified by GOTS, and the number of brands certified in 2013 reached 3,085. The top five countries with certifications are India, Turkey, Germany, China, and Korea. There are currently 17 certification organizations, all of which are available for inspection at GOTS.

GOTS certification is a supply chain retrospective certification. For example, the trading company is a unit; all suppliers of downstream suppliers are required to be certified.