When choosing clothes, towels, or other textile products today, we increasingly come across terms such as “organic cotton,” “bio cotton,” “sustainable,” or “eco-friendly.” But the label itself may not tell us as much as we might expect.
One of the most important international standards for organic textiles is GOTS – the Global Organic Textile Standard. It is not simply a label indicating the origin of the cotton. GOTS sets requirements for the entire textile processing chain – from the fibers used through manufacturing and processing to environmental and social conditions.
So how can you tell whether a textile product is genuinely GOTS certified? And what does GOTS actually mean when you find it on a towel?
What is GOTS?
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is an international standard for textile products made from certified organic fibers.
Its purpose is not only to check whether the cotton was grown organically. GOTS also sets requirements for the subsequent stages of textile processing and includes environmental and social criteria.
For textiles, this includes, for example:
• the origin and share of certified organic fibers
• fiber processing and textile manufacturing
• the use of chemicals
• the environmental impact of production
• the use of water and other resources
• working conditions and human rights
• oversight of each link in the supply chain
This comprehensive approach is one of the reasons why GOTS is one of the best-known standards for organic textiles.
What does GOTS mean for a cotton towel?
Imagine a high-quality cotton towel. It is not enough to simply say that it is made from “natural cotton” or “organic cotton.” Products labeled GOTS must meet the standard’s requirements, and their certification must be verifiable.
GOTS distinguishes between different label grades based on the proportion of certified organic fibers.
GOTS Organic
The Organic label is for products whose fiber content consists of at least 95% certified organic fibers.
Made with x % organic materials
The second grade allows products to be labeled Made with x % organic materials. The product must contain at least 70% certified organic fibers.
That is why, when shopping, it is a good idea to look beyond the word “organic” and check the specific GOTS label and certification details.
Isn’t “100% organic cotton” enough?
No.
And this is where one of the most common misconceptions arises.
100% organic cotton is not the same as a GOTS-certified product.
The label “organic cotton” primarily tells you where the fiber comes from. GOTS, by contrast, is a comprehensive standard that also sets requirements for textile processing and manufacturing and includes environmental and social criteria.
So there may be a difference between the claim:
“The towel is made from 100% organic cotton.”
and the claim:
“The towel is GOTS certified.”
These are not simply two different ways of saying the same thing.
How can you identify a genuinely GOTS-certified product?
The GOTS logo is not the only information you should look for.
A valid GOTS label should also include information that allows the certification to be verified. This includes, in particular, the label grade, the certification body, and the identity of the certified entity.
1. GOTS logo
You may find the official GOTS label on the product or its packaging.
2. Certification grade
It should be possible to determine from the label whether the product is, for example, GOTS Organic or Made with x % organic materials.
3. Certification body
The label should also identify the certification body that carried out the certification.
4. Certification number
Another important detail is the identification of the certified entity, for example in the format GOTS-XXXXX.
This information makes it possible to check that the certification is genuine and which products or activities it covers.
Why is GOTS especially important for towels?
We use a towel every day, and it comes into direct contact with our skin.
In making a towel, cotton goes through a series of processes – from fiber processing, spinning, and weaving to dyeing and finishing.
That is why information about the origin of the cotton alone may not give you the full picture of how the product was made.
GOTS covers the entire processing chain for certified organic fibers and also sets requirements for the chemicals used, environmental impacts, and social aspects of production.
So with a towel, it is not just about what it is made of, but also how it was made.
GOTS is about more than ecology
GOTS is often oversimplified as a “certification for organic cotton.” But that is only part of the standard.
GOTS also includes requirements relating to human rights and working conditions. It sets a range of social criteria for entities involved in the processing, manufacturing, packaging, trading, storage, and distribution of certified textiles.
GOTS therefore brings together several areas:
ORGANIC FIBERS → PROCESSING → CHEMICALS → THE ENVIRONMENT → WORKING CONDITIONS
And that is what makes it significant.
How can you verify GOTS certification?
If you come across a product labeled GOTS, you do not have to rely on the logo alone.
GOTS maintains a publicly accessible database of certified entities, where you can verify certification using the identification details.
When shopping, we therefore recommend paying particular attention to:
• the GOTS logo
• the specific certification grade
• the name of the certification body
• the certification number
• whether the certification actually covers the product or process in question
This is much more reliable than marketing labels such as “eco,” “green,” or “sustainable” on their own.
GOTS and Pamukia
At Pamukia, we believe that with textiles, it is important to know not only what they look like and how they feel, but also where they come from and how they are made.
That is why we work with certified textiles and aim to offer bathroom textiles that combine premium quality, a high fabric weight, a pleasant feel against the skin, and a more responsible approach to manufacturing.
Our Essence collection includes high-quality cotton towels and other bathroom textiles. The collection is GOTS certified.
For us, GOTS is not just a marketing logo. Above all, we see it as verifiable information about the origin of textiles and how they are processed.
How to choose a quality towel
GOTS is an important criterion, but it is also worth considering other qualities when choosing a towel.
Fabric weight
A higher fabric weight usually means a denser, more substantial towel. Our Essence collection towels have a fabric weight of 650 g/m², providing a satisfyingly plush feel and high absorbency.
Material
The quality of the cotton used has a significant impact on softness, absorbency, and the overall feel during use.
Craftsmanship
The construction itself also matters, including the quality of the stitching, the edges, and how the fibers are processed.
Certification
If the origin and manufacturing process matter to you, look for trusted certifications such as GOTS.
5 things to remember
- “Organic cotton” and GOTS are not the same thing.
- GOTS covers not only the cotton itself, but also its subsequent processing and manufacturing.
- GOTS Organic requires at least 95% certified organic fibers.
- The Made with x % organic materials label requires at least 70% certified organic fibers.
- Genuine certification can be verified using the details shown on the GOTS label.
Frequently asked questions about GOTS
Is GOTS certification important?
GOTS provides consumers with information that the product and its supply chain meet the requirements set by the international standard for organic textiles. It includes both environmental and social criteria.
Is every product made from organic cotton automatically GOTS certified?
No. The organic cotton label alone does not mean that the entire textile product meets GOTS requirements.
What does GOTS Organic mean?
It is a GOTS label for products containing at least 95% certified organic fibers.
How can I tell whether a product is genuinely GOTS certified?
Check the GOTS label, certification grade, certification body, and identification number of the certified entity. You can then verify the certification in the GOTS database.
Why does GOTS matter for towels?
Because a towel is more than just cotton fiber. Cotton goes through a series of manufacturing processes involving various technologies and chemicals. GOTS sets requirements for these processing stages too and includes environmental and social criteria.
Want GOTS in your bathroom too?
A towel is a small part of everyday life. We use it after a shower or bath, at the sink, and whenever we want to create a spa-like atmosphere at home.
That is why at Pamukia we wanted to create textiles that are not only beautiful, but also make sense in terms of material, quality, and manufacturing process.
Discover the Pamukia Essence collection of premium towels.
650 g/m² | quality cotton | GOTS | designed for everyday use