The legal entity operating the Global Organic Textile Standard programme; it conducts all activities of the licensing system and is proprietor of the registered trademarks (GOTS Signs). Its founders are: International Association Natural Textile Industry, Japan Organic Cotton Association, Organic Trade Association, Soil Association.
") is pleased to announce the release of **Draft 2 of the Global Responsible Textile [Standard](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/standard "standard glossary text
") (GRTS)** for its **second public consultation**. The consultation will be open from **1 April 2026 to 30 April 2026**, inviting stakeholders across the textile and apparel value chain to provide [input](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/input "General term for all Substances and Preparations directly applied as textile auxiliary agents, inks, dyes or pigments.
") and contribute to the further development of this new [Standard](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/standard "standard glossary text
"). This second consultation builds on feedback received during the first public consultation phase and reflects revisions aimed at strengthening the Standard’s clarity, applicability and impact. GRTS is designed to establish a robust, globally applicable framework for responsible practices in the textile sector, addressing environmental performance, social compliance, chemical management, [traceability](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/traceability "The ability to trace the origin of an object back to its source.
In a GOTS context, the ability to trace a GOTS Good as it moves through its supply chain.
In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
") Systems**, ensuring a transparent, inclusive and evidence-based approach. This includes multiple rounds of stakeholder consultation, including this second public consultation, as well as documented decision-making and balanced stakeholder representation. **Background on the Standard** GRTS aims to extend the same principles of health, ecology, fairness and care to a broader range of fibres. While [GOTS](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/gots "The worldwide leading voluntary sustainability standard for the post-harvest textile value chain for certified organic fibres, covering environmental criteria, human rights, social criteria and business conduct.
") remains the global benchmark for [organic](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/organic "'Organic' is a regulated term used to distinguish systems of managed production and products derived therefrom that adhere to principles of health, ecology, fairness and care, and which are certified compliant to an organic standard's regulations by an Approved Certification Body.
GOTS defines organic textiles as being made with fibres from organic agriculture systems that are certified to one of the IFOAM Family of Standards, and that are processed in socially and ecologically responsible ways, in alignment with organic principles.
Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination. (Source: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
") including Social Criteria**: Strict prohibition of child labour, forced labour and discrimination; mandatory safe working conditions and fair treatment of [workers](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/worker "Any individual engaged in work who is not a senior manager or owner.
"). - **Environmental Protection**: Mandatory use of environmentally sound processes and materials with rigorous restrictions on chemical inputs. - **Due diligence**: Systematic implementation of [responsible business conduct](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/responsible-business-conduct "A comprehensive approach to business operations that aligns with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector. It encompasses a range of practices and policies that businesses should adopt to ensure they contribute positively to sustainable development, respect human rights, protect the environment and uphold ethical standards throughout their operations and supply chains.
"), including risk assessment and mitigation procedures - **Traceability**: Transparent tracking and [volume reconciliation](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/volume-reconciliation "Calculation process by which it is ascertained that output volumes of a product’s certified materials are compatible with their corresponding input volumes. Input volume and output volume of the certified material used for a product are compatible if their ratio falls within a given percentage range, which reflects estimated production losses specific to the production process of the particular product, and if the input volume can be demonstrated to have been available on stock.
") throughout the value chain. - **Third-Party certification**: Independent assurance by GOTS-approved certification bodies. - **Comprehensive scope**: Certification from raw material sourcing to the finished textile product. - **No GMO-origin fibres**: All fibres used under GRTS must originate from independently verified, non-[GMO](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/gmo "Organisms whose genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. (Source: EUR-Lex, Access to European Union law: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/glossary/genetically-modified-organisms-gmo.html)
") sources and are certified to meet stringent environmental and social standards. To uphold this standard of integrity, GRTS requires all fibre inputs to be registered in the Global Fibre Registry (GFR), a traceability tool developed by Global Standard to track and verify the origins of all fibres entering the GRTS and GOTS systems. For further information, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [ Share this page ](#fs-toggle=share)