Global Standards expands certification to wider range of fibres

Global Standards, the non-profit organisation behind the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), has launched the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS), covering textiles made from a wider range of plant-based, animal, synthetic, regenerated cellulosic and recycled fibres.

GRTS sets requirements covering environmental practices, chemical use, human rights, business conduct, due diligence and traceability across textile processing, manufacturing and trading. Certification is required at each relevant stage of the supply chain.

Compliance will be verified through annual on-site audits, transaction certificates and volume checks to track the movement and quantity of certified materials.

Products certified under GRTS must contain at least 90% fibre content from materials covered by standards recognised by the programme. Certified materials must remain separate from conventional materials throughout the supply chain, while certification cannot be based solely on bookkeeping or mass-balance records.

“By offering a standard that covers fibres beyond organic and building it on the same system as GOTS, we support the industry’s business case for sustainability,” said Claudia Kersten, managing director of Global Standards.