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") has led in environmental and social criteria through its Global [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.
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") ([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.
")). Because of our dedication to advancing [sustainability](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/sustainability "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.”
") and pioneering approach to improve the organic textile world, we are excited to announce that Global Standard is in the developmental stages of a groundbreaking additional standard. The new standard does not imply a departure from GOTS as the leading organic standard, but it will empower the industry to apply the GOTS framework, which has been successful for 20 years, to other sustainable fibres. This extension will further enhance people’s lives and the environment, as stated in the organisation' Vision. GOTS sets a high bar for the organic textile industry by covering a wide range of environmental, social and ethical criteria, significantly exceeding what is required by national or international legislation – thus providing certified entities with the rules and tools to stay within regulations. With an additional standard, Global Standard heralds its ongoing strategic evolution process, also triggered by tightening legislation, to provide compliance support for a wider range of sustainable fibres. **Seamless Integration with GOTS Principles** As we shape this new sustainability standard, it will be designed to work in synergy with the existing GOTS standard and share the core principles that have made GOTS a hallmark of responsible and trustworthy processing in the textile industry. These principles include: - [Human rights](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/human-rights "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: Upholding fair labour practices and social responsibility, including prohibition of child labour, discrimination (including gender-based), harassment and violence. - Ecological criteria: Prioritising environmentally friendly processes and materials. - Due diligence: Implementation of standard criteria through due diligence. - [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.
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.
") of materials throughout the entire value chain. - Third-party certification: Validating compliance through independent certification bodies. - Comprehensive: Covering all processing stages. **Building upon Existing Tools** The new standard will leverage the powerful tools already established by Global Standard for GOTS. This includes the Global Fibre Registry as well as the Global Trace-Base for tracing the value chains of each product, including impact evaluation. Furthermore, the standard will adopt for a broader range of sustainable fibres all criteria that already assist companies in demonstrating their adherence to supply chain regulations and beyond. **What Next?** Once the respective committees in Global Standard have agreed on the first draft, the standard shall – as per [ISEAL requirements](https://www.isealalliance.org/defining-credible-practice/iseal-code-good-practice) – undergo a public consultation procedure. We trust that the process will advance in the same agile manner that the industry has grown to expect from GOTS and its criteria. Global Standard remains committed to driving positive change in the textile industry, addressing the evolving needs of the market and promoting sustainability at every level of the value chain to contribute to the empowerment of the industry to meet the [sustainable development goals](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/sustainable-development-goals "The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030, all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
"). Find more information on how GOTS already contributes to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals [here](https://gots.vorschau.website/images/news/archiv/resource-library/documents/GOTS-flyers/Why_GOTS_SDG_flyer_web_2020.pdf). *Claudia Kersten and Rahul Bhajekar are the managing directors of Global Standard.* [ Share this page ](#fs-toggle=share)