With deep satisfaction and pride Gabel Group announces the recognition of GOTS, the most important certification for sustainable production of textile products made with natural fibers from organic agriculture.


THE GLOBAL TEXTILE STANDARDS (GOTS)

With Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), reference is made to an independent certification system for the entire textile production chain. The use of natural biological fibers, their traceability along the production chain and the adoption of eco-sustainable processes has led to the formalization of the international GOTS standard.
GOTS allows the production and promotion of textile products that respect the environment and the fundamental social rights of workers.

WHAT DOES GOTS CERTIFY?

The Global Organic Textile Standard was developed by leading international organizations in organic agriculture in order to guarantee the consumer that organic textile products are obtained in compliance with stringent environmental and social criteria applied at all levels of production, from the collection in the field of natural fibers to the subsequent manufacturing phases, up to the labeling of the finished product. GOTS has obtained a vast international recognition by allowing those who produce and sell organic textile products to have an accepted and recognized certification available in all the main markets. All textile products can be certified according to GOTS.
Only products containing at least 70% of natural fibers from organic agriculture (for example: wool or cotton) can obtain GOTS certification. But this is not enough. GOTS indeed provides rigorous standards throughout the production chain: it prohibits the use of harmful chemicals, provides restrictive rules on wastewater treatment and requires objectives and procedures to reduce the consumption of water and energy. The social criteria of the international labor organization must be respected: safe working conditions, absence of discrimination and prohibition of child labor.

CRITERIA FOR CERTIFICATION

ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA

• Ban on the use of toxic heavy metals, formaldehyde, aromatic solvents, functional nano particles, OMG and other enzymes;
• Ban on the use of chlorine-based bleaching agents;
• Ban on using azo dyes;
• Natural materials must be separated from conventional fiber products throughout the production process;
• All operators must comply with an environmental protection policy with specific objectives and procedures aimed at minimizing consumption and discharges;
• The waste water from all wet processing units must be treated through a functional water treatment plant.

TOXIC PRODUCTS

Raw materials, semi-finished products and final textile products must not contain any type of toxic or harmful substances.

MINIMUM SOCIAL COMMITMENT CRITERIA

 All producers and those who take part in the processing phases must meet the minimum social requirements, as established in the fundamental rules of the International Labor Organization:

• The work is chosen freely;
• Safe and hygienic working conditions;
• No exploitation of child labor;
• Wages adequate to guarantee decent living conditions;
• Not excessive working hours;
• No discrimination;
• Regular forms of employment;
• No hostile or inhuman treatment.

CERTIFICATION'S PROCEDURE

Companies with GOTS certification are checked annually, as well as being subjected to surprise checks. The company that requires certification of its products (raw materials, semi-finished products, finished products) is required to comply with the requirements and fulfilments contemplated in the above standards and to submit a specific application for certification and related documents, including the control inherent in the production processes adopted by the production unit. Inspectors as third-party and independent certification bodies along the entire textile supply chain. Each step of the processing, production and sale must be certified independently.

GOTS AND GABEL GROUP

Gabel Group for over 20 years has been carrying out its battle to safeguard our ecosystem, using renewable energy for all its plants, offices and shops.
After a long evaluation process, our company has received this great recognition.
GOTS certification is only the latest in order of time: a long development path, which only WE can boast in the entire panorama of home textiles.