he Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), a global processing standard for textiles manufactured using organic fibres, has revealed a substantial uptick in certified facilities within Sri Lanka, underlining a growing awareness of international best practices and sustainable manufacturing principles among Sri Lankan apparel companies.
Sri Lanka’s apparel industry body the Joint Apparel Association (JAAF) has taken note of this positive trend and a South Asian representative of GOTS Ganesh Kasekar revealed a 21% increase in certified facilities compared to the previous year. Presently, 74 factories in Sri Lanka have secured GOTS certification for the period of 2023/2024.
Local apparel giants such as Hirdaramani International Exports, MAS Intimates, and Brandix are among those who have obtained GOTS certification, enabling them to produce sustainable clothing for children, women, men, and infants.
GOTS defines high-level environmental criteria throughout the organic textile supply chain, as well as compliance with social criteria. Obtaining a GOTS certification lets companies participate in the GOTS programme, granting them the privilege to use the GOTS logo on approved goods. The certification is subject to annual renewal, with the introduction of GOTS 7.0 in March 2023, mandating full compliance for all certified entities by March 2024.
“Simply claiming to be sustainable is not enough,” said Kasekar. “GOTS has developed standards that cover the entire production process, based on the use of organic fibres, from textile processing and manufacturing up to licensing and labelling. The certification process is rigorous and requires compliance with all criteria, but ultimately leads to an internationally recognised organic certification.”
Worker welfare is central to all GOTS-certified Sri Lankan companies, who say they are committed to preventing and eradicating any form of human rights violations within their supply chains.
Source : Just Style
