Sustainability
Global Standard Launched the GOTS Due Diligence Handbook: A Transformative Tool on the Journey Toward Responsible Production
By Yvonne Heinen-Foudeh, Senior International Correspondent
The #BehindTheSeams campaign by GOTS has been successfully completed, reaching over 21 million professionals and end consumers worldwide. By systematically shedding light on the production of textiles and other products, the campaign succeeded in promoting awareness of sustainable textiles – setting a strong accent against greenwashing. The next milestone is the Global Standard that manages GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), in partnership with The Hague-based UpRights Foundation, presents the GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Auditors.
The non-profit organization acting out of Stuttgart/Germany with the landmark resource executes critical steps in promoting sustainable practices, human rights, and ethical business conduct across the textile sector and in line with evolving regulatory requirements around the world.
GOTS certified facility: USA (Photos: Global Organic Textile Standard)
The GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Auditors indeed provides a comprehensive framework to guide Certification Bodies and their auditors in assessing compliance with the GOTS 7.0 criteria. Specifically designed to be practical and ensure consistent verification of due diligence, human rights, and social criteria, the Handbook outlines clear, step-by-step methodologies for auditors to conduct thorough and effective audits. Having said that, Global Standard emphasizes the handbook is not intended to replace or override the existing audit protocols and procedures already used by Certification Bodies but instead provides additional insights and tools.
Development of the HandbookAs with other Global Standard resources, the development of the GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Auditors was an inclusive process involving extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. Global Standard's Standard Development Unit conducted in-depth interviews with GOTS auditors to gain insight into the practical challenges and best practices in verifying compliance with human rights, social, and due diligence criteria in different geographical regions. In addition, Global Standard engaged business and human rights experts to address sector-specific issues and complexities. This collaborative approach ensures that the Handbook reflects the operational realities and challenges of GOTS Certified Entities around the world.
Regulatory landscape throughout EU marketsThe Handbook’s release is timely given the evolving global regulatory landscape, which is increasingly demanding stronger corporate accountability in business practices. Recently, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) introduced mandatory due diligence requirements for companies operating within the EU. The introduction of CSDDD significantly elevates standards for corporate transparency and accountability. Other laws, including Germany’s Supply Chain Act, France’s Duty of Vigilance Law, and Norway’s Transparency Act, are placing similar expectations on businesses to manage their human rights and environmental impacts responsibly.GOTS 7.0 requires Certified Entities to respect universally recognized human rights criteria and follow the emerging legal obligations under the CSDDD and other due diligence laws. Find the complete GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Auditors here.
In addition, the new Handbook complements the GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Certified Entities, which was released in 2023 and offers detailed guidance on integrating responsible practices throughout operations and supply chains. Together, these resources are essential elements of the Global Standard Due Diligence Framework and empower GOTS Certified Entities and Certification Bodies to play their part in maintaining the highest standards of human rights and environmental due diligence.
"The GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Auditors is not only a milestone for GOTS, but also a transformative tool for the textile industry on its journey toward responsible production," commented Ruslan Alyamkin, Responsible, Standard Development and Implementation (Social Responsibility) at Global Standard to The Needle’s Eye.
“This Handbook provides our Certification Bodies with the knowledge and guidance they now need to ensure that the highest standards of environmental and human rights due diligence are met and verified. By aligning with international frameworks and the recent legislative developments, we are further strengthening Global Standard’s mission to promote sustainable, transparent, and socially responsible practices
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More than 100 GOTS-certified brands and companies worldwide recently took part in the #BehindTheSeams campaign, which draws attention to environmentally friendly and socially responsible production methods
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In India, the world's largest producer of organic cotton, besides a program for fair work conditions, Global Standard was able to implement the Farm Gin Register and a project with the European Space Agency and the software company Marple. Artificial intelligence and satellite data are used to monitor organic cotton fields, enabling realistic estimates of yields.