What Does GOTS Certified Actually Mean?

What does GOTS certified mean? GOTS is the Global Organic Textile Standard. It sets requirements for organic textiles and their processing, including environmental and social criteria. When you see it on a product, the useful question is which product it covers and whether there's a license number you can look up.

What does GOTS cover?

The standard addresses certified organic fiber content and textile processing. Its "organic" label grade requires at least 95% certified organic fibers; "made with organic" requires at least 70%. It also restricts processing inputs and includes environmental and social requirements. See the official GOTS overview for the current requirements.

What is GOTS certified organic cotton?

Cotton that was grown to a recognized organic farming standard and then spun, woven, dyed and finished under GOTS rules, with the chain of custody audited at each step. The certificate belongs to a specific operation and lists specific products. "Organic cotton" on its own is a claim about how the fiber was farmed. A GOTS claim is about the finished product and the whole textile chain behind it, and it should come with a license number you can look up.

Where does GOTS apply at MAREA?

To the cotton. The shell around every MAREA pillow and our zip off pillow cover are made from the same organic cotton sateen, and both are GOTS certified. Certified by Oregon Tilth, license GOTS-10229. On the cover we use the exact statement: this product has been manufactured in accordance with GOTS. You can search that number in the GOTS certified suppliers database to see the certifier and the certified products.

And the kapok inside?

The pillow is 100% wild harvested kapok inside a GOTS certified organic cotton sateen shell. The kapok is gathered from the seed pods of standing ceiba trees in Indonesia rather than grown as a farmed crop, and we call it wild harvested because that's exactly what it is. The GOTS certification covers the cotton sateen around the fill. Here's what wild harvested means.

What about sheets and duvet inserts?

Our coming soon organic cotton sateen sheets and organic cotton duvet insert use the same GOTS certified organic cotton sateen, under the same license. Check the material and care details for the product you're choosing. I wrote about what actually changes with organic cotton sheets and why the duvet is filled with cotton if you want the longer version.

How do I check any brand's claim?

• Ask for the certificate holder and license number.
• Check the certificate's validity and listed products.
• Ask which product the certificate covers.
• Look the number up in the GOTS database yourself.

A brand that's proud of its certification will put the number right on the page, the way we do on our pillow and cover pages.

Which layer am I buying?

The MAREA pillow includes the filled shell in GOTS certified organic cotton sateen. The zippered washable outer cover is sold separately and is cut from the same GOTS certified fabric. Our guide to pillow layers explains how the shell, cover and pillowcase differ.

Anthony
Founder, MAREA Sleep

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