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.
") Goods in the supply chain between the producer of the fibre and the retail merchant of the final product regardless of whether the goods are physically received or not (e.g. an import, export or wholesale trading entity). Agents who do not become proprietors of the goods and [retailers](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/retailer "A business entity or an online marketplace selling directly and exclusively to an end consumer (DTC operator).
") only selling to the end consumer are not considered [Traders](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/trader "Entity trading with (=buying and selling) GOTS Goods in the supply chain between the producer of the fibre and the retail merchant of the final product regardless of whether the goods are physically received or not (e.g. an import, export or wholesale trading entity).
Agents who do not become proprietors of the goods and retailers only selling to the end consumer are not considered Traders.
An Approved Certification Body or Approved Certifier is a certification body that has been duly accredited by an Accreditation Body. By signing a con tract with Global Standard gGmbH, they are permitted to implement the Global Organic Textile Standard within a designated geographical area and for specific scopes of the Standard. An updated list of Approved Certifiers and their scopes is available on the GOTS Website.
") for GOTS-certified products, verifying their compliance with the [Standard](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/standard "standard glossary text
"). It provides [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.
") process. | | [ Transition Period](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/transition-period) | The time period between the publication of a new version of the [Standard](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/standard "standard glossary text
") and its effective date. | | [ Uncertified retailer](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/uncertified-retailer) | A B2C entity that sells GOTS-certified products to the end consumer, not engaged in repacking/relabelling/printing/cutting/any other processing, and that is is exempted from the certification. | | [ Virtual audit](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/virtual-audit) | A a type of [remote audit](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/remote-audit "An audit conducted partially or entirely off-site, using electronic means to obtain audit evidence remotely and to assess compliance with the relevant Standard criteria. This type of audit may involve the use of technology such as video conferencing, secure file sharing and/or remote access to relevant documentation. Remote audits may include a combination of off-site and on-site activities, with the auditor conducting interviews, reviewing documents and assessing compliance from a remote location.
") that is conducted entirely online, using virtual tools and platforms to assess compliance with the relevant Standard criteria. | | [ 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](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/input "General term for all Substances and Preparations directly applied as textile auxiliary agents, inks, dyes or pigments.
") 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. | | [ Wage Gap](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/wage-gap) | The difference between average Living Wage and Average Wages Paid to [Workers](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/worker "Any individual engaged in work who is not a senior manager or owner.
") in a [Certified Entity](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/certified-entity "Processor, manufacturer, trader or retailer of GOTS Goods certified by an Approved Certifier.
"). | | [ Waste Hierarchy](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/waste-hierarchy) | The [Waste Hierarchy](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/waste-hierarchy "The Waste Hierarchy is the priority order of waste management options established in Article 4 of the EU Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC). It ranks waste prevention and management strategies from the most to the least environmentally preferred, with the aim of reducing overall environmental impact and promoting resource efficiency.
") is the priority order of waste management options established in Article 4 of the EU Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC). It ranks waste prevention and management strategies from the most to the least environmentally preferred, with the aim of reducing overall environmental impact and promoting resource efficiency. | | [ Wholly Owned Subsidiary](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/wholly-owned-subsidiary) | A subsidiary company is considered wholly owned when all of the common stock is owned by another company, the parent company. With a [wholly owned subsidiary](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/wholly-owned-subsidiary "A subsidiary company is considered wholly owned when all of the common stock is owned by another company, the parent company. With a wholly owned subsidiary, the company's stock is not traded publicly. It remains an independent legal body, a corporation with its own organized framework and administration. Its day-to-day operations are likely directed entirely by the parent company, however.
"), the company's stock is not traded publicly. It remains an independent legal body, a corporation with its own organized framework and administration. Its day-to-day operations are likely directed entirely by the parent company, however. | | [ Worker](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/worker) | Any individual engaged in work who is not a senior manager or owner. | | [ Young Worker](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/young-worker) | A Worker who is older than the minimum age but less than 18 years old. |