GOTS certified products at bleed

bleed is a GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified company. GOTS is a standard for the manufacture of organically produced natural fibres and contains both high environmental requirements as well as extensive social criteria. So not only the brand itself but also numerous products are certified. A product can only be certified when the entire production chain, from cultivation to the finished product, is certified. That includes the material extraction, spinning, sizing, weaving or knitting, all pre-treatment and wet processing steps, dying, printing, any equipment or additional fibres, trims and accessories.

What is GOTS?

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognised as the worldwide leading standard for the manufacture of organically produced natural fibres. It defines environmental requirements to a high level throughout the textile production chain and also calls for compliance with social criteria.

What criteria are covered by the GOTS certificate?

Fibre use

Only products with minimal fibre impurity may be GOTS certified. For organic cotton or wool (which we don't use), a maximum of 5-30% synthetical material, such as elastane or TENCEL®, may be mixed in otherwise the product cannot be certified.

Use of chemicals

Chemicals which could be harmful to the health or the environment, such as aromatic solvents, chlorinated benzenes, formaldehyde, genertically modified organisms, pesticides, heavy metals, perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), azodyes and pigments, softeners and many more are forbidden.

Social criteria

In the GOTS standard there are important social criteria that must be complied with. These include the following points:

• Employment is voluntary
• Employees have freedom of association and the right to negotiate
• No child labour
• No discrimination
• Safe and hygienic working conditions
• Fair payment
• Regulated working times
• No precarious employment
• Humane treatment
• Socially responsible management
• Ethical business practice

Storage, packaging and transport

Organic textiles must be stored and transported so that contamination with forbidden substances or a mix up or substitution with conventional products or components is avoided. All paper and cardboard used as packaging for GOTS products must be produced from recycled post-consumer waste or be certified according to a programme for sustainable forest management. Transport must be documented.

Wastewater treatment

The wastewater from all wet finishing production sites must be cleaned in a functional internal or external treatment plant before it is released into the environment.

Testing for harmful substances

Products and all constituent substances must be regularly tested by independent laboratories. Regular checks to make sure that standards are maintained, on-site inspections and the certification of processing facilities, manufacturers and distributors will be carried out by independent, specially accredited testing institutes according to the GOTS monitoring framework. This guarantees complete security for GOTS certified textiles.