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TECHNICAL UPDATE - FAIR TRADE

  Fair Trade for the Textile Sector A business model finding much preference world over is Fair Trade. Together with organic, eco-friendly, sustainable, Reach certification, GOTS…..are important in the world of trade. Fair Trade which in its simplest sense means the trade is fair to the producer groups.  One of the first areas where Fair Trade has been implemented was in the procurement of food products especially coffee, cocoa. Fairtrade marks a host of products many covering food, beauty essentials but for the textile industry, Fair Trade cottons is what is relevant. Fair Trade cotton products covers the entire spectrum of home furnishings, men’s wear, women’s wear, chidren’s clothes, toys…..With cotton being emphasized the world over, for the textile sector, using Fair Trade cotton in production of garments or being certified as Fair Trade producer of it is beneficial to garner greater business.   The concept of Fair Trade The earlier era where NGOs and Co-operativ...
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TECHNICAL UPDATE - INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR ORGANIC TEXTILES - GOTS

  The International Standard - GOTS


The first global standard for certification of organic textiles which is well known and equally popular is GOTS – the acronym for Global Organic Textile Standards. The focus of the standard is to have a global recognized requirement to ensure organic status of textiles. It covers the process from harvesting of raw materials to the labeling to reach the end consumer. The harvesting has to be done using environmentally and socially responsible means as also the manufacturing. Such a certification ensures that textile processors and manufacturers will be able to export their organic fabrics, apparel, garments and textiles under one certification across the globe. The certification will be accepted in all the major markets. And it will stand for ethical manufacturing and the end product is organically certified.  The standard is applicable to textiles made from using at least 70% certified organic natural fibres. It covers processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, trading and distribution of such textiles. It covers yarns, fibres, home furnishing and clothes. 

The standard lays down guidelines for fibre production. Grade “Organic” means the product uses 95% of certified organic fibres while “made with organic” it must contain a minimum of 70% of certified organic fibres. There are criteria for manufacture, how the fibres from conventional and organic must be separated. Then there are requirements set out for dyeing, emission, pollution norms and social criteria meeting ILO standards amongst others. The quality assurance system and above all the entire textile supply chain is to be certified.

The process of certification is quite rigorous irrespective of whichever standards are adhered to. The testing and certification requires the manufacturer to meet all the set norms. The icing on the cake is greater product acceptance and price realization.

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