The number of facilities certified to GOTS shows an increase of 8,2%, from 4,642 facilities in 2016 to 5,024 facilities in 2017. GOTS certified facilities are located in 62 countries around the world with continuous growth in both production as well as consuming regions.
Countries or regions with the largest increase in GOTS certification in 2017 are (in rank order): Bangladesh (+40%), North America (+39%), Portugal (+39%), Europe (+29%).
The top ten countries in terms of total number of certified facilities are: India (1658), Bangladesh (534), Germany (480), Turkey (445), Italy (307), China (292), Pakistan (194), Portugal (180), USA (99) and South Korea (69).
“The growing number of GOTS certifications shows that GOTS is taken as a solution for managing risks, reputation and market differentiation. We are very pleased with the development in North America. It will have the same pull effect as also seen in Europe by creating increasing capacities in the producing countries” said GOTS Director Claudia Kersten at the GOTS Annual Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina.
Referring to the GOTS Roundtable in Charleston last week, GOTS Representative in North America – Lori Wyman said, “It is very gratifying to see the North American marketplace for GOTS-certification starting to catch up with our European colleagues! Consumers here are demanding third-party verification on organic claims, and we can provide that assurance to them.”
GOTS certification covers the processing of certified organic fibres along the entire supply chain from field to finished product.
More information is available from the GOTS website. For Certification Bodies information is also available from the IOAS GOTS page.
