New high: 10,388 GOTS certified facilities in 2020, an increase of 34% with more than 3 million workers in 72 countries

In 2020, the number of GOTS certified facilities grew by 34% globally, to a new high of 10,388 from 7,765 in 2019. 16 GOTS Approved Certification Bodies report that over 3 million people in over 72 countries were working in GOTS certified facilities.

Significant increases are seen in all regions. Top 10 countries for certified facilities are India (2,994), Bangladesh (1,584), Turkey (1,107), China (961), Germany (684), Italy (585), Portugal (449), Pakistan (391), USA (167) and Sri Lanka (126).

GOTS approved chemical inputs now number 25,913, an increase of 13% in 2020. This confirms that these inputs are increasingly used as a risk management tool by wet processors to satisfy legal and commercial residue requirements.
 

GOTS version 6.0, to be implemented from 1 March 2021, includes stricter social and environmental criteria. Certified Entities will now have to calculate the gap between wages paid to 'Living Wages' and will be encouraged to work towards closing this gap. Specific references to OECD Due Diligence Guidance and Good Practice Guidance for Social Criteria and Risk Assessment as well as Ethical Business Practises have been explicitly included.

The South Asian Region (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh) keeps growing with a maximum volume share in GOTS certification. Despite the pandemic, the region witnessed an addition of 1,173 facilities, counting 5,116 certified facilities in 2020 (3,943 in 2019). The growth demonstrates the acceptability of GOTS on a regional and global level, despite the challenges faced this year. There is a growing demand for GOTS certified products, and we are positive about the developments in the coming year.

Several Indian brands from the retail sector are in the process of becoming GOTS certified. India remains in the leading position in terms of GOTS certification, from fibre to final product as well approved dyes and chemicals.

Bangladesh witnessed a significant growth of 32%, a total of 1,584 facilities (1,194 in 2019). Pakistan also took a leap forward, with 391 facilities (276 in 2019).

In Sri Lanka, the industry has taken preventive measures to handle the impacts of the pandemic. The industrial uniqueness and togetherness helped the overall growth of the textile industry in the region. An increase of 103%, with 62 new GOTS certified facilities, is proof of the positive business scenario.