GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD
ECOLOGY & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

ANNUAL REPORT

2021

CONTENTS

PREFACE

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HIGHLIGHTS 2021

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DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION
AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

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VERIFICATION

10PROTECTION

12GOTS STORIES14EDUCATION AND PROMOTION

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ORGANISATION AND FINANCIALS

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1 The Schneider Group / 2 Schlossberg / 3 Tara Spinning / 4 YA / 5 Lovjoi /6 Farm to Home / 7 Empresa Têxtil de Peúgas / 8 Lotuscrafts / 9 White Lotus /10 Ewers Strümpfe / 11 La Siesta / 12 Natracare / 13 Bella Cotton /14 Weberei RichterPREFACE

HIGHLIGHTS 2021

Despite the continuing uncertainty of COVID-19, the past year was one of the most successful in
GOTS’ history. Boosted interest in sustainability in the textile industry from companies, consumers,
and other stakeholders led to record growth in 2021. Certification Bodies (CBs) reported a total of
12,338 GOTS certified facilities (+19 percent) in 79 countries (+11 percent). Visits to the GOTS website
jumped 43 percent from the previous year and our following on social media expanded significantly,
gaining 57 percent across all platforms.

12,33818

GOTS

Increase to 12,338 certified facilities up
from 10,388 in 2020, which represents
19% growth even with the continuing
limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three new approved GOTS Certification
Bodies for a total of 18.

GOTS Version 6.0 and the corres­ponding
Implementation Manual were fully
implemented in March 2021.

2021 saw the full implementation of GOTS version 6.0 and the corresponding Implementation Manual.
As the revision to GOTS version 7.0 begins in 2022, we have now set up an improved revision process
to include a public consultation process and extended participation from the entire textile sector. The
approval of three new Certification Bodies (CBs), brought the total number of CBs to 18, nine of whichhave chemical input approval in their scopes. We released the Conditions for the Use of GOTS Signs
outlining the rules for GOTS labelling, with a new section specifically for online retailers.
As a non-profit, self-funded operation GOTS is independent of any economic interests, existing solely forthe public good. GOTS’s funds result predominantly from small fees for participating companies. Becauseof the significant growth in certified facilities in 2020 as well as 2021 we were able to enlarge the GOTS
team substantially and welcomed Representatives as well as colleagues in Standard Development and
Implementation, Quality Assurance, Communication, and IT.
As we look forward to our 20th anniversary in 2022 and beyond, we will continuously improve GOTS asa tool to solve sustainability-related problems for the processing of organic fibres and strive toward our
vision of a future in which organic textiles are a significant part of everyday life, enhancing people’s lives
and the environment.

certified facilities

GOTS Certification Bodies

Version 6.0

713.000
visitors

Training and education from GOTS staff reached thousandsof participants around the world, including businesses,
governmental representatives, certification bodies, andother stakeholders.

97%

+ 43%

75%
2020

Rahul Bhajekar
Managing Director

4

2021

of respondents to GOTS annual survey
realised added value as a result ofcertification.

of respondents to GOTS annual survey
reported an increase in business as aresult of their certification.

Website visits jumped 43% from 2020
to more than 700.000 visitors and over
90.000 downloads.

‘Conditions for the Use of
GOTS Signs (CUGS)’ wasreleased. The document
is an update to the ‘GOTS
Licensing and Labelling
Guide’.

GOTS documents on Scopeand Transaction Certification
policies and templates wererevised.

For the second year,
GOTS and partners Organic
Cotton Accelerator (OCA)
and Textile Exchange (TE)
led an initiative targetinglaboratory testing for
genetically modified cotton.

Claudia Kersten
Managing Director

GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021 • PREFACEHIGHLIGHTS • GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

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DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION,
AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
In developing GOTS, we set strict –and binding – requirements regarding
ecological and social parameters. In
doing so, we take into consideration
the need for a standard that is practicalfor industrial production and appropriate
for a wide range of products. GOTS
produces a fully revised version of thestandard every three years, continuously
updating and improving the criteria
to reflect the best practices available.
This is a collaborative effort, inwhich we invite input and commentsfrom inter­national stakeholders andexperts, including the textile andapparel industry, chemical suppliers,
organic farming and environmentalorganisations, workers’ rights groups,
and labour unions.
Full implementation of the GOTS
version 6.0 took effect in March 2021.
Immediately thereafter, GOTS started
preparing for the next revision cycle
which will commence in April 2022.
To sustain the continuous evolution of
the standard, GOTS will implement an

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updated Standard Revision Procedure in
2022 and make it even more inclusive toall stakeholders.
GOTS is implemented around the world
at a consistently strong pace as thestandard reconciles the textile industry’s
need for one global standard with
consumers’ desire for transparency. We
ended the year with a record numberof 12,338 GOTS certified facilities,
an increase of 19 percent from the
10,383 facilities documented in 2021.
The rise in certifications is worldwide.
Among the countries with the largest
increase in 2021 were Turkey (+61percent to 1,799), Italy (+53 percent to894), Germany (+19 percent to 817),
Portugal (+35 percent to 608), France(+22 percent to 122), Denmark (+14percent to 115), Switzerland (+15percent to 61), Belgium (+55 percent
to 59), Sweden (+34 percent to 51) and
Vietnam (+264 percent to 51).
The GOTS quality assurance system
includes 3rd party on-site inspections

GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021 • DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

and certification of the entire textile
supply chain (processing and trade).
Operators from post-harvest handlingthrough garment making, as wellas wholesalers (including exporters
and importers), undergo a rigorous
annual inspection and must hold valid
certification for their final products tobe labelled as GOTS certified.
Regarding GOTS Standard Development
and Quality Assurance, we worked
on several improvements throughout
the year. A significant resource,“Conditions for the Use of GOTS Signs(CUGS)” version 3.1 was released in
October. This document addresses
the correct use of the GOTS label andlogo, to ensure correct and consistent
application, including on products,
in online shops and catalogues, andadvertisements and other publications.
Other notable releases included Versions
3.0 of our Scope and Transaction
Certificates policies and templates.
After a lengthy process that included
consultations with GOTS CBs andharmonisation with Textile Exchange,these updated versions shall be fully
implemented by CBs by July 1, 2022.
The new versions contain several
changes to the documents incorporating
important information for traceability
and transparency of GOTS goods.
Another significant development was

the continuation of the global ISO IWA
32:2019 proficiency test initiative. Oneof the mandatory requirements of GOTS
is the qualitative genetic modification(GM) testing of all cotton entering theGOTS supply chain. We joined forces
with the Organic Cotton Accelerator(OCA) and Textile Exchange for a second

time to continue the initiative undertechnical support from Wageningen
Food Safety Research. The aim is toprovide the sector with an up-to-date
overview of global laboratories thatscreen for the potential presence ofgenetically modified (GM) cotton along
the organic cotton value chain.

Distribution of GOTS
certified entities in 2021
S&C AMERICA (37)
AFRICA (101)EUROPE (3,281)

N. AMERICA (182)
REST OF ASIA (857)

BANGLADESH (1,526)
CHINA (1,577)

12,338
GOTS certified
facilities

INDIA (3,000)

TURKEY (1,777)

DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE • GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

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NEW AND UPDATEDRESOURCESGOTS released the following documents in
2021, many of which are available for downloadon the website.
Conditions for the Use of GOTS Signs, ver 3.1,
October 2021
Implementation Guidance for Registration ofTraders, April 2021
Materials, Processes and Products Classification,ver 1.0, May 2021
Invoicing Procedure – GOTS Approved
Certification Bodies for GOTS Fees, ver 1.0,
July 2021
Policy for the Issuance of Scope Certificatesver 3.0, October 2021
Policy for the Issuance of Transaction
Certificates ver 3.0, October 2021
GOTS Geographic Classification ver 1.0,
October 2021
Updated Guidelines for GOTS Virtual Audit
Product Stewardship – Free Webinar for
Certification Bodies
Global ISO IWA 32:2019 Proficiency Test
Initiative
DOWNLOAD NOWSCAN ME

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GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021 • DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCEDEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE • GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

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VERIFICATION
A standard is only as effective as it iscredible. In addition to trust, verificationis crucial for building credibility. For thatreason, we entrust verification only to
selected professional and independentcertification bodies (CBs). These CBs
are integral to the certification process
as they are the ones who verify thatall GOTS environmental and social
requirements are met by regularly
auditing all parties involved in the
manufacturing of GOTS-certified textiles
through comprehensive annual on-site
inspections. Significantly, in 2021,

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three new CBs (CTV, IDFL, andIntertek) received approval for a totalof 18. Nine of those 18 have chemical
input approval within their scopes.
An additional nine organizations are
currently seeking approval to become
GOTS CBs. This large number ofapplications highlights the enormousinterest in GOTS certification worldwide.
One of the prerequisites of being a
GOTS Approved CB is to be accredited
to ISO 17065. In addition, CBs undergo
stringent annual assessment by
independent Accreditation Bodies (ABs).

CBs must retain full accreditation towork for GOTS.
To continuously improve the certification
and audit process and the competenceof the CBs, GOTS sends an ongoing
annual survey to facilities that areundergoing new certification as well as
those which are being renewed. The
number of participants in 2021 nearly
doubled that of 2020 (from 245 to 458).
Despite this, the survey findings arenearly identical to those obtained in
2020.

62%

76%

of participants in the survey were
new certifications.

claimed the reason for GOTS certification
was due to sustainability principles.

97%

75%

said that GOTS certification provided
added value for their business.

reported increasing their business after
GOTS certification.

GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021 • VERIFICATIONVERIFICATION • GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

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PROTECTION
In order to sustain the high credibilityof GOTS and GOTS certified products
we are continuously educating our
stakeholders and improving procedures
such as the Label Release Form.
Registrations of GOTS as Certification
Mark or Trademark in many countries
around the globe enable us to impose
sanctions whenever there is evidenceof misleading use of the GOTS label orreference to GOTS certification. With thehelp of our public complaint procedure

everyone can help us do this. As GOTS
experiences rapid growth, it becomesincreasingly vital to ensure that a GOTS
certification represents the highest
standards in the industry. In 2021 GOTS
responded to 196 complaints regarding
trademark violations via our improved
online complaint form. Most submissions
were from Germany and France(each 28 percent) with the remainder
distributed across Europe and North
America. The complaints resulted inlegal action against six companies, andan additional 38 warning letters. An
increase in demand for this oversight inNorth America resulted in the hiring ofa Protection Officer for that region. In a
partnership established in 2020, GOTS
provided support for Amazon following
the implementation of GOTS products
into Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly
Program (CPFP), and the subsequent
requirements for businesses that sell
GOTS products.

Top 8 countries by complaint
form submissions

GB (6)GERMANY (55)

DENMARK (7)SPAIN (8)SLOVAKIA (12)CANADA (12)FRANCE (54)

USA (25)

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GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021 • PROTECTIONPROTECTION • GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

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GOTS STORIESMANTIS WORLD, TANZANIA“Founded in 2000, Mantis World is a B2B business supplying
blank garments to decorators, brands, and companies to berebranded and resold. Our collection of high-quality, retailready clothing covers babies, children, men, and women.
Back in 2005, we were the first in the printwear industry to
introduce organic cotton to our range, and since 2019 havefully eliminated conventional cotton from our production. As of2022, we are embracing GOTS-certified in-conversion cotton
across our range. Our “Made in Africa” collection is produced
at Sunflag Tanzania, a textile factory in Arusha, built by our
founder’s grandfather, which was the first GOTS-certified
integrated textile mill in Sub-Saharan Africa. Working with local

SHINFUJI, JAPAN“In 1993, we started planning, manufacturing, and sellingorganic cotton products which had not been well-known inJapan before. Since then, amid increasing demand for global
environmental protection, organic cotton products havebecome part of our lives. Unfortunately, counterfeit organic
raw materials exist on the market. Once organic cotton ismixed with ordinary cotton, it is impossible to analyse the ratioof organic cotton of the products afterward. To prevent suchproblems, we attained GOTS certification for our head officecotton farm groups, the collection showcases the very best oforganic African cotton and manufacturing. We’ve been working
with GOTS since 2008, and the peace of mind it gives us andour customers is vital – especially having certification fromthe top to the bottom of our supply chain, covering both socialand environmental factors. We are happy to point customers
towards printers and decorators who are also certified by
GOTS, ensuring they can take full advantage of the benefits ofcertification with garments ready to order from stock and nominimum order quantity.”
Prama Bhardwaj, Founder & CEO

FINE COTTON FACTORY, CANADA
and main factory in 2009. We are sure that organic products
can support organic farmers and protect the environment. We
keep a close check on the whole process - from raw cotton
to final products, and deliver reliable organic products to ourcustomers. We hope our products contribute to conserving the
global environment and ecosystem.”Toru Fujisawa, President Director“Fine Cotton Factory has been GOTS certified since 2015. All GOTS fabrics
are knitted and processed in one of our two manufacturing facilities locatedin Toronto, Canada. We embrace the parallels between GOTS and our own
standards for humanity, transparency, and environmentalism. We prioritisecreating a legacy that will benefit future generations, and we want to do
as much as we possibly can to leave them a healthy planet. Fine Cotton
Factory is a first-to-market provider of unique solutions for brands, andwe stand out from other bedding and apparel brands at the highest level.
This year we will expand our bedding category by introducing our luxury
Made in North America Top of Bed knitted products and our Made in Canada
GOTS certified dyed apparel fabrics to further complement our existing andgrowing product offerings as a proud GOTS partner.”
Biren Patel, President

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GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021 • GOTS STORIESGOTS STORIES • GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

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LOVJOI, GERMANYYICHANG BIORIGINALORGANICS LTD., CHINA“LOVJOI unites the love for nature and the joy of fashion.
We have made sustainable, fair, and vegan clothing since2014. It’s our constant effort to ask ourselves daily: How
can we make our fashion even more sustainable, useeven better materials and innovative technologies to saveresources – and create a safe working environment for our
team? While keeping our ambitions in terms of style andfashion high, of course...

“With great passion to promote organic textile products
in China’s local market since 2015, Yichang Bioriginal
Organics Ltd. released the first organic sanitary napkins
certified under both GOTS and the China National OrganicStandard in December 2018. The products have improved
each year and the latest version is highly recognisedamong China’s organic consumers. As the first and only
brand to offer organic sanitary products in China, we take
GOTS criteria as the most important guideline to fulfil
quality control at each manufacturing stage. Meanwhile,
we have been sharing our learning tips on organic textile
production with our customers via many online and offline
channels. This makes them understand GOTS better andmore deeply. Our target is to approach 1 million local
female customers within 5 years and make organic textile
a well-known consumption choice among them.”

We use organic and toxin-free textiles, mostly fromnatural origins like organic cotton or TENCEL which ismade from wood or other recycled sources.
For us, applying for the GOTS certification was a logicalconclusion and a statement of transparency: We havematching values and ambitions. Our supply chain is green– so why not show it with pride to customers?”
Verena Benz, CEO

Shu Zhang, Founder

EKOTEN TEKSTIL SANAYIVE TICARET A.S, TURKEY

DE LE CUONA,UNITED KINGDOM“Ekoten is a knitted fabric manufacturer with uniquedesigns established in Izmir, Turkey in 1994. We area trusted partner of global brands and offer signaturedesigns for fashion, activewear and workwear productgroups. We build all our strategies on the sustainability
perspective and apply circular economy models fromdesign to the end of product life. Implementation ofthese strategies is impossible without traceability andtransparency. In this direction, we have been effectively
managing our processes with GOTS certified ecological
growth and environmentally friendly cotton since 2005.
We are pleased to increase the number of GOTS-certified
products in our collections each year and we are eager to
set more ambitious sustainability goals with our partners.”“De Le Cuona is a globally renowned purveyor of thefinest textiles for interiors. It is known for exquisite
natural fabrics responsibly crafted from the world’s
best fibres that exude beauty, quality, and a masteryof craftsmanship. The natural world has always
been at the heart of everything founder Bernie deLe Cuona does. The soul of the company lies in theunique tactility of its textiles coupled with a deep
commitment to sustainability. In 2020, de Le Cuona
became the first fabric house to launch 100 percent
organic linen certified to GOTS . Since then, the businesshas launched further collections of GOTS certified
fabrics and bedlinen, and remains fully committed
to advocating for organic textiles through its workwith GOTS and OTB (the Organic Trade Board). It was
important to me to create the ultimate sustainablefabric. Because of the rigorous criteria for social andenvironmental standards across the full production
process from farming to finishing, GOTS was the perfectchoice.”Ishak Aydın Öztürk, General Manager

CTA APPARELS PVT LTD, INDIA“CTA Apparels was founded in 1993 and is one of the major
manufacturers of European brands including H&M, CECIL,
Street-one, Kappahl, M&S, and more. Commitment towardsustainability has been at the core of our business activities
right from day one at CTA Apparels. GOTS has been a guiding
force and strong advocate for attaining sustainability norms.
The social, environmental, and ethical business parameters
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GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021 • GOTS STORIES

Bernie de Le Cuona, Founder
have helped us to elevate our business policies. The additionof new sustainable products, strengthening internal policies
over chemical purchases, and social and environmental
policies have all been possible – thanks to GOTS. CTA is eyeing
to launch its own range of GOTS-certified products.”
Harish Havaldar, Sr. Manager-Testing & Sustainability
GOTS STORIES • GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

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OUR VISION IS THATORGANIC TEXTILES WILLBECOME A SIGNIFICANT
PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE,
ENHANCING PEOPLE’SLIVES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

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GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

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EDUCATION AND PROMOTIONInterest in GOTS as a solution for
ecological and social problems in the
textile supply chain reached a newhigh in 2021, with greater awarenessof sustainable textiles leading tosubstantial increases in engagement
across a range of measurable
interactions, from growth in inquiries
within the industry to more media
exposure to a rise in website visits.
Overall, 2021 was a year of significant
growth and expanded connection for
GOTS, and we anticipate building onthat momentum for continued progressin 2022.
Media attention significantly raised
GOTS’s profile in 2021 with an averageof 900 references to GOTS per week inglobal media sources, which represents
growth of 127 percent from last year. In
addition, traffic to our website grew

43 percent, and downloads increasedby 29 percent.
GOTS grew its social media presence
exponentially through increased
efforts to connect with our audience aswell as more mentions from certified
brands and partners than previously.
Additionally, GOTS generated
information through internal collateralpieces, including four newsletters and
11 press releases in 2021.
To further promote sustainability inthe textile industry, GOTS continued
to collaborate with internationalorganisations. As a signatory to theUnited Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Fashion
Charter, GOTS participated in working
groups throughout the year withthe ultimate goal of net-zero carbon

emissions in the fashion industry
by 2050. GOTS is part of the United
Nations Economic Commission ofEurope (UNECE) Group of Experts,
which contributed to the Sustainable
Textile and Leather Traceability andTransparency Initiative. We are also
actively involved in the Partnershipfor Sustainable Textiles and worked
closely with Deutsche Gesellschaft
für Internationale Zusammenarbeit(GIZ) to raise awareness of ‘organic inconversion’.
“Organic in conversion’ describes
the process of transition from‘conventional’ to organic agriculture.
This process usually requires 3 years.
GOTS encourages the use of organic
fibres in conversion.”

The GOTS Shop-Finder, an online database of retailers who offer GOTS
certified goods, received an upgrade in 2021 and is now available forretailers and consumers around the globe. Shop-owners simply registeron the GOTS website to get listed. Visitors and those searching for local
vendors of GOTS Goods in their respective region are able to find theclosest shopping options for GOTS certified textiles.

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GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021 • EDUCATION AND PROMOTIONREGISTER YOUR SHOPSCAN MEEDUCATION AND PROMOTION • GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

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CONFERENCES AND
TRADE SHOWSGOTS staff gave talks, hosted information booths
at and attended dozens of conferences and tradeshows this year, including:
BioFach China
Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week
Canadian Organic Conference
Colombiatex
Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI)
Copenhagen Fashion Week
Cotton Conclave – Cotton Guru
IISD Textile Sustainability Event
INDO American Chamber of Commerce (IACC)
Innatex
International Apparel Federation
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics (Springand Autumn Editions)

TRAINING AND EDUCATION
GOTS Staff took part in numerous webinars thisyear, offering education, access, and training tohundreds of companies and individuals about GOTS
requirements, organic and sustainable textiles, andthe social requirements of the certification programme. Partners, recipients, and topics included:
Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI)ESMOD Japan
Fair Fashion Coach Training
Fashion Frontier Program
Fashion Good Lab
The Fashion Network
Fashion Revolution Xinjiang
Global Fashion
GOTS Roundtables
GOTS World Café
INDO American Chamber of Commerce (IACC)
London College of Fashion

La Materia Show

Little Life Lab

Munich Fabric Start

Mindful Fashion NZ Certifications and Standards

NeonytMaxTex Seminar

Organic Lifestyle Expo

Organic in Conversion and GOTS Supply Chains

Premiere Vision

Organic Trade Association (OTA)

Sustainable Apparel and Textile Conference

Product Stewardship of Chemical inputs for
GOTS version 6.0

Textile Exchange Africa Organic Cotton Round
Table Summit
Textile Exchange Conference

Royal Danish Academy
Textile Exchange

Texworld NYC
WEAR Conference

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GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021 • EDUCATION AND PROMOTIONEDUCATION AND PROMOTION • GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

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GOTS Regional Representatives had their busiest year to date in 2021, responding
to hundreds of inquiries, offering numerous educational opportunities, providing
ongoing support, and collaborating with industry stakeholders. Retailers andmanufacturers requested information about GOTS daily, while companies going
through the certification process sought advice and clarification about the process
and requirements. Besides these one-on-one consultations, GOTS Representatives
took part in many valuable informational and educational sessions with brands,
manufacturers, and other interested groups. The majority of these took placevirtually, as industry conferences and events were impacted due to COVID-19 again
this year, including what would have been the inaugural GOTS Conference in Africa.
A round-up of highlights from the Representatives follows.

NORTH AMERICAIn North America, GOTS Representative Lori Wyman reports getting more inquiries
from retailers in 2021 than in previous years. She held virtual meetings with nearly
50 individual companies, advising and consulting on initial GOTS certification.
She presented remotely at several conferences, trade shows, and industry meetings,
including the Colombiatex Show in Colombia, the Canadian Organic Conferencein Guelph, Ontario, and the American Apparel & Footwear Association Annual
Meeting. Lori presented to U.S. Customs & Border Patrol officials about GOTS
Traceability systems and gave a GOTS presentation to the Safer States Network.
She was interviewed by several consumer and trade publications, notably Better
Homes & Gardens Magazine, Consumer Reports, Wired Magazine, Bloomberg News,and California Apparel News. Lori gave educational talks and presentations to the
Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA), the Sustainability Class at the Universityof Colorado, Seneca College School of Design in Toronto, and the Fashion Instituteof Technology (FIT) in New York City.
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GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021 • EDUCATION AND PROMOTIONTURKEYThe GOTS Representative in Turkey, Elif Yarasik, advised retailers and others in theindustry about GOTS, providing in-depth consulting for initial inquiries, guidance forcompanies already along the certification process and assistance to Certification
Organisations. Elif gave a presentation about organic cotton to the Trade Ministryin Turkey and had meetings with the Organisation of National Cotton Council (UPK).
She also investigated complaints and advised companies regarding the policies andregulations of certification and implementation of new criteria in GOTS 6.0.

AFRICA
GOTS expanded its global reach in 2021 with the appointment of Muktar Dodo,
the first GOTS Representative in Africa. A quickly growing sourcing destination for
major markets, Africa is an increasingly important area of focus for GOTS. Basedin Nigeria, Muktar consulted with retailers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders,and handled general inquiries from interested parties. Although the planned first
GOTS Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in December had to be postponed due to
Covid-19 related travel restrictions, Muktar was able to attend several conferences
and trade shows. Highlights include the Textile Exchange Africa Conference where
he was a speaker at the Organic Cotton Round Table Summit, and Africa Sourcing
and Fashion Week where he hosted a booth and gave a presentation about GOTS.
An interview with Fashion Africa Now and collaboration with Fashion Revolution
Nigeria gave Muktar and GOTS additional exposure. Several in-person and virtual
meetings with governmental bodies, associations, and organisations established vitalgroundwork for dynamic engagement and future collaborations throughout Africa.
EDUCATION AND PROMOTION • GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

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UK

JAPAN
In Japan, GOTS Representative Fiona Matsumoto offered one-on-one meetings toindustry and manufacturing managers and fielded inquiries about GOTS policies,
requirements, and labelling for retailers, traders, manufacturers, and processors.
Fiona hosted several webinars, including a talk about GOTS certification for theFashion Good Lab and one on the supply chain with Mindful Fashion NZ. Media
opportunities included interviews for videos, print, and online content in Japan andbeyond. Of note were an episode with the “Sustainable Fashion Channel” on YouTube
and interviews with Senken Newspaper, a textile industry publication. Social media
collaborations were fruitful, providing opportunities to share information aboutsustainable lifestyles with a wider audience. Fiona also delivered in-person andvirtual presentations to a variety of classrooms in Japan, including ESMOD Japan, theFashion Frontier Program and Little Life Lab. Fiona also hosted a booth at the Organic
Lifestyle Expo with JOCA.

Christopher Stopes is the GOTS Representative in the UK, where interest incertification has grown steadily. Christopher provided initial information andconsulting to dozens of brands and advised several in the process of becoming
certified. He participated in 11 web-based conferences, which included topics suchas green­washing and the use of forced labour in the textile industry. A partnershipwith the Organic Trade Board (OTB) resulted in two GOTS Roundtables focusing onconnections between organic food and organic textiles. Christopher participatedin post-graduate research on sustainable fashion with students from the London
College of Fashion, Manchester Metropolitan University, and the Edinburgh Business
School.

GERMANY/AUSTRIA/SWITZERLAND
The GOTS Representative in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland from January to
May was Franziska Dormann, with Juliane Ziegler taking over the position in May.
Conferences and trade shows in the first half of the year were largely cancelled, butboth Franziska and Juliane were able to participate in several events. Both hosted
booths and gave presentations on several occasions. Some highlights were theInternational Apparel Federation, Copenhagen Fashion Week, and a virtual panel
for Neonyt. Franziska participated in a series of workshops as part of a projectfocused on gender-based violence and harassment in Sustainable Textile industries.
Both provided educational opportunities for students and industry stakeholders bysupporting thesis research and delivering lectures and presentations about GOTS
and sustainability in the fashion industry.

SOUTH ASIA
The GOTS Representative in South Asia, Ganesh Kasekar, held numerous individual
meetings with retailers, manufacturers and other stakeholders about GOTS and thecertification process. Individual consultancies for companies working to achieve or
maintain certification remained a primary focus, with an estimated 300 facilities
from all points along the supply chain benefitting from these services. Requests
for assistance came from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Ganesh
attended and participated in several events, conferences, and trade shows, including
Fashionvista and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). One
collaboration, with artisan and exporter Sonica Sarna, resulted in a live Instagram
interview attended by over 40 industry representatives. In response to the increasing
demand for information on Organic in Conversion, Ganesh organised a roundtable
talk, which was attended by leading manufacturers and brands.
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GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021 • EDUCATION AND PROMOTION

APAC

Felicia Shi is the GOTS Representative in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, covering
Greater China, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and more.
Throughout 2021, Felicia provided numerous training and technical support tobrands and retailers, including in-depth sessions for several companies. Felicia
presented on organic textiles at BIOFACH China 2021 and she hosted a booth anddelivered presentations at both the Spring and Autumn sessions of Intertextile
Shanghai Apparel Fabrics 2021. Felicia consulted with Certification Bodies andCertified Entities, answered general inquiries, provided clarity on policies andregulations, and investigated complaints.

EDUCATION AND PROMOTION • GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

27

OUR MISSION IS
THE DEVELOPMENT,
IMPLEMENTATION,
VERIFICATION,PROTECTION AND
PROMOTION OF THE
GLOBAL ORGANICTEXTILE STANDARD (GOTS)
28

GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

29

ORGANISATION AND FINANCIALS
GOTS is an independent, non-profit organisation which maintains a flat structure
and aims to minimise administrative costs. The GOTS programme is self-financed,
predominantly from small fees by participating companies. in 2021, these amounted
to around 3.6 million euros. All income generated is used to reach our objectives.

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

Claudia Kersten
Managing Director

Jacqueline Schneider
Executive AssistantHerbert Ladwig
Policy and Legal Advisor

Muktar Dodo
Representative in AfricaFranziska Dormann
Representative to Global Brands

Ganesh Kasekar
Representative in South Asia

Fiona Matsumoto
Representative in Japan

Christopher Stopes
Representative in UK andto the EU

Lori Wyman
Representative inNorth America

Elif Yaraşik
Representative in Turkey

Juliane Ziegler
Representative in Germany/
Austria/Switzerland

Rahul Bhajekar
Managing Director

REPRESENTATIVES

Use of Funds in 2021
5,7%
GENERALADMININSTRATION

40,9%
STANDARD ANDQUALITY ASSURANCESYSTEM

20,8%
SYSTEMPROTECTION

32,6%
EDUCATION
AND PROMOTION

In 2021 GOTS staff climbed to 21,
spread around the globe with specificexpertise in their respective fields. Three
new staff joined GOTS in the past year.
The first Representative in Africa, Muktar
Dodo, is based in Nigeria. Bükra Kalayci
is filling the newly created position
Responsible Standard Development
and Implementation (Ecology) andRuslan Alyamkin is focusing on Social
Responsibility. Other appointments
in 2021 include Travis Wells as GOTS
Protection Officer in North America andHolger Stripf as Head of Marketing.
30

Existing staff also developed into newroles. Prachi Gupta is now Responsible,
Quality Assurance and Impact, taking
on the task to engage with GOTS ACBs
regarding quality assurance procedures,such as CB Webinars and Training, GMO
data collection, and CB complaints,
along with impact related procedures,such as quality surveys with CBs andCertified Entities. Felicia Shi increased
her reach as GOTS Representative in the
Asia Pacific region to include a broaderarea, and former GOTS Communication
Executive Juliane Ziegler took over

GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021 • ORGANISATION AND FINANCIALS

as Representative for the Germany,
Austria, Switzerland region, while
Franziska Dormann moved on from therole to represent Gobal Brands.

Felicia Shi
Representative in APAC

DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

Prachi Gupta
Responsible Quality
Assurance and Impact

Bükra Kalaycı
Responsible, Standard Development
and Implementation (Ecology)

Mark Sebastian
Project Manager Central Database System

Holger Stripf
Head of Marketing

Ruslan Alyamkin
Responsible, Standard
Development and Implemen­tation (Social Responsibility)

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTSMEET THE GOTS TEAMSCAN ME

Lina Pfeifer
Organic Production

Travis Wells
Protection Officer North America

Otto Kersten
Protection Officer

ORGANISATION AND FINANCIALS • GOTS ANNUAL REPORT 2021

31

IMPRINT
Global Standard gemeinnützige GmbH
Rotebühlstr. 102
70178 Stuttgart
Germany
Photography: Jan Eric Euler, Nicolas Martin-Beaumont,
Noel Laas, Kai Stoeckel, Sonja Herpich (p. 21)
Global Standard gemeinnützige GmbH
Layout and design: Anna Bernhardt© Global Standard gemeinnützige GmbH 2022

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