Green claims now carry legal weight, so the certificate has to match the fibre. The two we are asked about most — GOTS and GRS — cover different things and a mix-up is an audit finding, not a footnote.
GOTS is for organic
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) governs organic natural fibres — cotton above all — across the whole chain from farm to finished garment, including the processing and the permitted chemical list.
- Use it when the claim is "organic cotton" or "organic wool".
- It covers both the fibre and how it is processed, dyed and finished.
- The chain-of-custody file travels with the order.
GRS is for recycled
GRS (Global Recycled Standard) governs recycled content — recycled polyester from post-consumer bottles, recycled cotton from cutting waste, and so on.
- Use it when the claim is "made from recycled" anything.
- It sets the minimum recycled content and tracks it through the supply chain.
- Blended products need the dominant claim to determine the standard.
A garment that is organic cotton with a recycled polyester trim may need both, and the labels must say so accurately. The certificate that does not match the claim is worse than no certificate, because it is a documented misstatement.
How we handle it
We source through audited mills and supply the chain-of-custody file with the bulk order, not after. The standard on the label matches the standard on the file, and the fibre in the garment matches both.