Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

The International Working Group on Global Organic Textile Standard was formed as an initiative of leading standard organisations in 2002 with the goal of unifying the various existing standards. The aim of the GOTS is to define requirements to Ensure the organic status of textiles, from harvesting the raw materials, to environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing, through to labelling, in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer. It covers the production, processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, exportation, importation and distribution of all natural fibres. The final products may include, but are not limited to fibre products, yarns, fabrics and clothes. The standards focus on compulsory criteria only. Certification bodies need to be approved by the International Working Group on Global Organic Textile Standard in order to be entitled to perform inspection and certification services according to the GOTS quality assurance system.
www.global-standard.org


ISO 14001

The international environmental management standard ISO 14001 lays down worldwide recognised requirements according to an environmental management system. It can apply to both manufacturing and service-providing companies. The ISO 14001 places a focus on a continual improvement process as a means of achieving the respectively defined objectives with regards to the environmental performance of an organisation (company, service provider, authority, etc.). The continual improvement process is based on the method Plan-Do-Check-Act, PDCA. This involves the company in question specifying a corporate environmental policy, environmental objectives and an environmental programme. In order to be able to achieve the desired environmental performance, the organisation initially establishes an environmental management system based on its environmental policy (i.e. its target regarding environmental protection) and puts it into practise. Continual improvement is attained by regularly monitoring the set targets and the environmental management system. The norm expressly emphasises that no absolute requirements are laid down for the environmental performance. It does however require the organisation to comply with the obligations that it has laid down for itself in its environmental policy. There is no uniform logo for the ISO 14001 certification, often the certified companies usually integrate claims such as ?certified according to ISO 14001? into their company logos/slogans.
www.iso.eu