GOTS
100% organic cotton by GOTS Sustainable Textile methods certified and inspected by Control Union. The aim of the standard is to define requirements to ensure organic status of textiles from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing up to labelling in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer.

Control Union Certifications (part of the Control Union World Group), formerly Skal International, is an independent, internationally operating organization that carries out inspections and issues certificates for sustainable production methods.Control Union (CU) promotes the proper designation of products that have been cultivated according to sustainable production methods by means of supervising, testing, inspection, assessing and certifying them. To co-ordinate its operations as closely as possible with the local situation, CU has offices worldwide. It is the policy of Control Union Certifications to delegate inspection and certification activities to local CU offices with a view to reducing the costs and to improve the service.

The GOTS symbol:
The GOTS quality symbol is an international quality symbol for sustainable textile products. It is used when raw materials originate from organic cultivation and are processed using the GOTS sustainable textile production methods.
The aim of the standard is to define requirements to ensure organic status of textiles from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing up to labelling in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer.
You can recognize a GOTS-certified product, inspected and certified by CU, by the GOTS symbol.
When the GOTS symbol is attached to a product, you are certain that:
• The product’s fibres come from inspected, organic farming in compliance with Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91 for organic production methods or from NOP (USA) certified cotton.
• In addition, the product complies with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
• The textile products comply with the GOTS certification system
• A product only receives the EKO ST quality symbol when it satisfies both the Regulation and GOTS. EKO Sustainable Textile is a certification mark. It is neither a cultivation mark nor a trademark. GOTS certified products are identified as “GOTS certified”
• The product does not contain materials from GMO technology
• The production and processing has taken place under circumstances that do not adversely affect the environment
• The processing aids are in accordance with CU’s sustainable Textile Standards:
• 100% certified organic cotton as input
• Besides clear handling requirements of certified products there are also requirements for dyes and processing aids
• This program also have a social paragraph
• Its scope is from ginned cotton to finished garments

Furthermore the GOTS standard contains requirements for:
• The production from fibre to finished product
• The processing (prohibited/restricted inputs of substances in all production stages)
• Environmental management
• Storage, packaging and transport
• Technical quality parameters (using ISO standards/criteria)
• Social criteria
• Employment is freely chosen
• Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected
• Working conditions are safe and hygienic
• Child labour shall not be used
• Living wages are paid
• Working hours are not excessive
• No discrimination
• Regular employment is provided
• No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed

EU ECO Label
The official EU mark for Greener Products. The purpose of Eco-labelling is to minimize impacts on the environment and our health from products. Within the production of textiles there is a particular focus on the processes, there are strict environmental requirements for products throughout their lifecycle, all the way from raw material, production and use to its eventual disposal (cradle-to-grave approach). By following the Flower, you can wear clothes that treat the environment gently. Simply said, Eco-Labelled clothing is better by nature.

 The purpose of Eco-labelling is to minimize impacts on the environment and our health from products and services. Within the production of textiles there is a particular focus on the processes, there are strict environmental requirements for products throughout their lifecycle covering the whole production chain and its eventual disposal (cradle-to-grave approach).

The main course of cotton textile pollution is the production process with bleaching, dyeing and printing. Clothing sporting the Flower of the Eco-label is better for the environment as well as the wearer. The EU Eco-label distinguishes products that meet high standards of both performances and environmental quality.

Environmental advantages:
• Factories must limit their use of water and reduce water and air pollution
• Detergents and fabric softeners used in production must be 85% biodegradable
• Printing pastes cannot contain certain hazardous substances
• Dyes must be natural or otherwise friendly to the environment
• The use of fabric treatments that can harm underwater animals or plant life is limited
• Colour-stripping agents must meet ecological standards
• Manufacturers are asked to provide detailed information on energy saved during spinning, knitting, weaving and other processes.

Energy savings:
• Energy savings at the factory are passed on to the consumer

Better for your health:
• Strict limits are placed on fabric treatments that have health risks
• The use of dyes that can be carcinogenic, mutagenic or harmful to unborn babies is prohibited
• Clothes made of cotton must be cleansed of all pesticide and weed-killer residues
• The common process of using hazardous heavy metals in the dyeing process of cotton is forbidden.

Furthermore:
• Hold their shape and colour and are made to last

So by following the Flower you can wear clothes that treat the environment gently throughout their entire life cycle, from the gathering of raw materials right through to disposal. Simply said, Eco-labelled clothing is better by nature.

Fairtrade
The Fairtrade Certification Mark is you independent guarantee that the cotton in this product has been certified in accordance with international Fairtrade Standards. The purchase of this product made with Fairtrade Certified Cotton enables the improvement of working and living conditions of Cotton Producers in developing countries and encourages environmental protection.

 Fairtrade cotton has met the international Fairtrade standard for production of seed cotton and is therefore eligible to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark. The Mark is an independent product certification label which means that cotton farmers are receiving a stable Fairtrade price and Fairtrade premium, receiving pre-financing where requested and benefiting from longer-term, more direct trading relationships.

The Fairtrade minimum price is set at the farm gate level and is based on actual costs of sustainable production. If the local market price is higher than this minimum price, then the market price applies. An additional payment of a Fairtrade premium is set aside for farmers’ organisations to spend on social and environmental projects or to strengthen their businesses. This ensures that communities have the power and resources to invest in long-term improvements. Elected farmer committees decide democratically how these premiums are spent.

Why Fairtrade?
Cotton farmers are in a very vulnerable position at the bottom of supply chains and as such are particularly susceptible to exploitation and injustice in the trading system. They have been severely affected by the fluctuations in world cotton prices that are often below the production cost.

The price decline is in part due to increasing competition from synthetic fibres such as nylon and polyester that have increased their share of fibre production. But the main influences are the trade-distorting subsidies of rich nations, particularly the US, EU and China.

Domestic support in these countries directly correlates with the depression in prices, damaging a number of developing countries that rely on cotton exports for vital foreign exchange earnings that could be allocated to a range of needs including health and education programmes.

Cotton is also a crucial cash crop for farmers, often providing the only source of income to meet essential needs such as food, medicines, schoolbooks and tools. It is estimated that as many as 100 million rural households worldwide are involved in cotton production.

Studies have indicated that there is a close correlation between cotton prices and poverty. In Benin for example, it has been estimated that a 40% decrease in farm gate cotton prices leads to a 21% drop in farmers’ income and a 6-7% increase in rural poverty.

Fairtrade certification of cotton is intended to redress this injustice and focus on improving the position of cotton smallholders.

2. Forced and Compulsory Labor
No use or support for forced or compulsory labor; no required 'deposits' - financial or otherwise; no withholding salary, benefits, property or documents to force personnel to continue work; personnel right to leave premises after workday; personnel free to terminate their employment; and no use nor support for human trafficking.

3. Health and Safety
Provide a safe and healthy workplace; prevent potential occupational accidents; appoint senior manager to ensure OSH; instruction on OSH for all personnel; system to detect, avoid, respond to risks; record all accidents; provide personal protection equipment and medical attention in event of work-related injury; remove, reduce risks to new and expectant mothers; hygiene- toilet, potable water, sanitary food storage; decent dormitories- clean, safe, meet basic needs; and worker right to remove from imminent danger.

4. Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining
Respect the right to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively. All personnel are free to: organize trade unions of their choice; and bargain collectively with their employer. A company shall: respect right to organize unions & bargain collectively; not interfere in workers’ organizations or collective bargaining; inform personnel of these rights & freedom from retaliation; where law restricts rights, allow workers freely elect representatives; ensure no discrimination against personnel engaged in worker organizations; and ensure representatives access to workers at the workplace.

5. Discrimination
No discrimination based on race, national or social origin, caste, birth, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, political opinions and age. No discrimination in hiring, remuneration, access to training, promotion, termination, and retirement. No interference with exercise of personnel tenets or practices; prohibition of threatening, abusive, exploitative, coercive behaviour at workplace or company facilities; no pregnancy or virginity tests under any circumstances.

6. Disciplinary Practices
Treat all personnel with dignity and respect; zero tolerance of corporal punishment, mental or physical abuse of personnel; no harsh or inhumane treatment.

7. Working Hours
Compliance with laws & industry standards; normal workweek, not including overtime, shall not exceed 48 hours; 1 day off following every 6 consecutive work days, with some exceptions; overtime is voluntary, not regular, not more than 12 hours per week; required overtime only if negotiated in CBA.

8. Remuneration
Respect right of personnel to living wage; all workers paid at least legal minimum wage; wages sufficient to meet basic needs & provide discretionary income; deductions not for disciplinary purposes, with some exceptions; wages and benefits clearly communicated to workers; paid in convenient manner – cash or check form; overtime paid at premium rate; prohibited use of labor-only contracting, short-term contracts, false apprenticeship schemes to avoid legal obligations to personnel.

9. Management Systems
Facilities seeking to gain and maintain certification must go beyond simple compliance to integrate the standard into their management systems and practices.