General term for all Substances and Preparations directly applied as textile auxiliary agents, inks, dyes or pigments.
") for new products or production processes. Energy recovery is not considered [recycling](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/recycling "Activities through which materials are collected and treated in order to generate recovered resources that can be used as inputs for new products or production processes. Energy recovery is not considered recycling.
Recycling activities may include the collection, transport, sorting, cleaning, and reprocessing of materials. Reuse of products is not considered recycling.
Using a product again for the same purpose for which it was originally designed after its initial use. Reuse may occur by the original user or by subsequent users over time and may require only limited actions, such as cleaning, to enable continued use.
") of products is not considered recycling. | | [ Remote audit](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/remote-audit) | An [audit](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/audit "A systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the Standard's requirements (including environmental and social criteria) are fulfilled by a Certified Entity or applicant for the status of Certified Entity. Audits are conducted by Approved Certification Bodies (see 'Approved Certification Body').
") conducted partially or entirely off-[site](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/site "An individual establishment where chemical Inputs are formulated (see Formulator) and produced. It is included in a Letter of Approval and audited by a Scope 4 Approved Certifier.
"), using electronic means to obtain audit evidence remotely and to assess compliance with the relevant [Standard](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/standard "standard glossary text
") 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](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.
") 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. | | [ Repair](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/repair) | Bringing a product back to a state in which it can perform its originally intended function. Restoration may involve repairing the product or renewing or replacing components that have become worn, damaged, or degraded through use. | | [ Repurposing](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/repurposing) | Modifying a product so they can be used for a purpose different from the one originally intended, without significant changes to their physical, chemical, or mechanical characteristics. | | [ 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](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)
"), protect the environment and uphold ethical [standards](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/standard "standard glossary text
") throughout their operations and supply chains. | | [ Retailer](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/retailer) | A business entity or an online marketplace selling directly and exclusively to an end consumer (DTC operator). | | [ Retailer's Declaration for Use of GOTS Signs](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/retailers-declaration-for-use-of-gots-signs) | Declaration document required to be submitted to [Global Standard gGmbH](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/global-standard "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.
") by [uncertified retailers](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.
") who wish to use the [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.
") Signs for off-product usage. | | [ Reuse](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/reuse) | Using a product again for the same purpose for which it was originally designed after its initial use. Reuse may occur by the original user or by subsequent users over time and may require only limited actions, such as cleaning, to enable continued use. | | [ Scope Certificate](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/scope-certificate) | A document issued to a [Certified Entity](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/certified-entity "Processor, manufacturer, trader or retailer of GOTS Goods certified by an Approved Certifier.
") by an [Approved Certification Body](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/approved-certification-body "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.
") which verifies the entity is in conformity with the requirements of the Standard and includes a summary of the processes and products that are permitted under the certification. It also lists the various facilities that are covered under this certification. | | [ SDGs](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/sdgs) | 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.
") ([SDGs](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/sdgs "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.
")), 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. | | [ Secondary Packaging](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/secondary-packaging) | Materials used exclusively for shipping, transport, or storage (e.g., cartons, plastic films). | | [ Site](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/site) | An individual establishment where chemical Inputs are formulated (see [Formulator](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/formulator "An organisation involved in manufacturing, producing or creating a mixture of chemical Substances blended together (Formulation) to be used for textile processing.
")) and produced. It is included in a [Letter of Approval](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/letter-of-approval "Official document issued by a GOTS-approved Certification Body listing the approved chemical inputs or accessories for the use in GOTS Goods.
") and audited by a Scope 4 [Approved Certifier](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/approved-certifier "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.
"). | | [ SMP](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/smp) | Synthetic Microplastic Polymers. Polymers that are solid and which fulfil both of the following conditions: (a) are contained in particles and constitute at least 1 % by weight of those particles; or build a continuous surface [coating](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/coating "One- or two-sided application of coating compounds or foam films to fabric by means of coating machines, rotary screen printing or by means of spray, hot melt and transfer coating methods.
") on particles; (b) at least 1 % by weight of the particles referred to in point (a) fulfil either of the following conditions: (i) all dimensions of the particles are equal to or less than 5 mm; (ii) the length of the particles is equal to or less than 15 mm and their length to diameter ratio is greater than 3. Following synthetic polymer microparticles, as [substances](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/substances "Chemical elements and their compounds as they occur in the natural state or as produced by industry.
") on their own or in mixtures are exempted from the definition: (a) synthetic polymer microparticles which are contained by technical means so that releases to the environment are prevented when used in accordance with the instructions for use during the intended end use; (b) synthetic polymer microparticles the physical properties of which are permanently modified during intended end use in such a way that the polymer no longer falls within the scope of this entry; (c) synthetic polymer microparticles which are permanently incorporated into a solid matrix during intended end use. Source: REACH restriction of synthetic polymer microparticles |