Global Standards has launched the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS), a new textile processing standard covering products made from a wider range of plant, animal, synthetic, man-made cellulosic and recycled fibres.
Developed from decades of experience with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), GRTS provides a certification route for textile products that fall outside GOTS’ organic fibre eligibility criteria. The standard aims to address growing industry demand for environmental, human rights and physical traceability requirements across a broader range of fibres.
GRTS sets requirements covering environmental performance, chemical use, human rights, business conduct, due diligence and traceability. Fibres entering the system must be certified to third-party fibre standards recognised by GRTS and meet specified social, ecological and traceability criteria.
Certification is carried out by accredited independent third-party bodies at each stage of processing and trading. The standard also requires chain-of-custody systems, transaction certificates and volume reconciliation to verify certified fibre content. Products must contain at least 90% fibres certified to GRTS-recognised fibre standards to qualify for certification.
“GRTS is a strategic and exciting step for us. By offering a standard that covers fibres beyond organic and building it on the same system as GOTS, we support the industry’s business case for sustainability and enable more positive impact together,” said Claudia Kersten, Managing Director, Global Standards.
A total of 27 independent certification bodies are accredited to provide GRTS certification. The first certifications include several South Asian companies, including Esstee Exports India, Sulochana Cotton Spinning Mills, Armstrong Spinning Mills, Maral Overseas, Knit Gallery India, Arvind Limited and Daks India Industries.
