What Does GOTS And GOLS-Certified Mean For Brands?

In a world with a growing emphasis on sustainable, eco-friendly goods, GOTS and GOLS certifications are the gold standard when it comes to textile and material processing. GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard, while GOLS stands for Global Organic Latex Standard. Organic, Fairtrade, ethical, and sustainable all have variable meanings and definitions, so it can be confusing to figure out what different companies mean when they use these words. Luckily, GOTS and GOLS have a clearly defined criteria and a transparent process from seed to product.

Let's find out what a GOTS or GOLS certification really means and why it's the gold standard when it comes to sustainable brands

What Makes GOTS Or GOLS Different From Greenwashing?

Shopping for sustainable, good-for-the-planet goods has become easier and more accessible in recent years. However, reading through certification labels can feel like trying to decipher alphabet soup. “Sustainable,” “green,” “organic,” or “Fairtrade” - a shopper can quickly become overwhelmed!

All of those certifications have different meanings. And the truth is, some “certifications” are not certifications at all – they’re just descriptions provided directly from the company that makes the product. This subtle marketing practice is known as “greenwashing”, and it can make it difficult to figure out which products are really best for the planet, the people who make them and your home

If you want to know how sustainable a product really is, keep an eye out for independently verified certifications that are consistent across different companies. This is why GOTS or GOLS is not greenwashing: it’s a global standard with clearly defined terms. GOTS applies specifically to textiles, while GOLS applies to organic rubber materials, but the qualities that make them trustworthy certifications are ones that you can look for across the board.

Since 2006, GOTS has led over 60 countries in creating international standards for textile production. While some of the facets of the GOTS standard may exist on their own, such as organic cotton certification or Fairtrade, when combined they create a product that is truly healthy for the global environment in a multitude of ways.

While GOLS is a set of stringent requirements and quality controls for products made of natural rubber. These controls set minimum criteria for how much organic material can be in a product labeled organic. They also regulate how many toxic chemicals, polymer fillers, and harmful emissions can be present in the organic material.

This means that when you see a GOTS or GOLS certification on a product, you can stop stressing over sustainability and rest easy knowing you’ve got a sustainable option.

What is a GOTS Certification?

A GOTS certification has measurable standards that each product must meet before a brand can put the GOTS seal on their product. For starters, GOTS-certified products must contain at least 70% certified organic fibers in order to say “made with organic fibers.'' GOTS-certified organic products (like our Cotton Napper) contain 95% organic material.

GOTS products must also meet strict ecological and social standards. These standards include using only approved dyes and using no environmentally hazardous substances. GOTS products must also meet technical quality parameters for colorfastness and shrinkage, meaning you can trust the quality of the product you’re buying.

GOTS certification also ensures the workers making GOTS-certified products are treated with respect and dignity. Occupational and employee benefit standards include the following:

• Workers are free to leave or stay at a job
• Workers can engage in collective bargaining or unionizing
• No migrant workers are employed to make any GOTS-certified products
• No underage workers are used to make any GOTS-certified products
• Workers are paid a fair, living wage based on their country of employment 

GOTS-accredited bodies, which are third-party groups, examine every step in the production and processing of products. This includes the first step in the textile process, which involves taking fibers and turning them into yarn or fabric.

Still Wondering Why You Should Buy GOTS-Certified?

There are plenty of reasons to look for the GOTS seal when shopping. Perhaps the biggest reason is that people value what the GOTS seal means on a product. The Global Organic Textile Standards seal gives a clear distinction among other products, especially for those who understand the importance of sustainability, fair trade, and organic farming practices.

Purchasing GOTS-certified goods makes you feel good because you've chosen a company that's doing good. Knowing your Bearaby Knitted Weighted Blanket is GOTS-certified makes you feel like you've taken a weight off the shoulders of the world while putting a stress-relieving weight on your lap

GOTS certification lets you know:

• Workers were paid fair wages
• Laborers worked in safe conditions
• Organic farming practices are used
• Water and energy are used efficiently 

What is a GOLS Certification?

With the increasing demand for natural materials, natural rubber and latex products have become popular. To help shoppers identify organically-grown latex products, the Control Union created the GOLS certification program. This international testing and certification program developed the first global standard for natural latex, rubber foam, and other products made with natural rubber foam. GOLS-certified organic products (like our Huggets, Cuddler and Cuddling) contain 95% organic material.

Products eligible for the GOLS certification program include:

• Natural latex foam mattresses
• Natural rubber pillows
• Pet beds made from natural rubber foam 

One of the main reasons to use natural rubber products is to reduce the exposure people have to harmful chemicals. Several synthetic products contain potentially toxic chemicals that can harm the environment and human health. It is common for some chemicals to break down at room temperature, emitting gases such as formaldehyde and phthalates. Inhaling these pollutants may cause nausea, breathlessness, wheezing, coughing, or irritation of the skin.

The GOLS standard addresses criteria for natural rubber and any other agricultural ingredients from certified organic plantations that are processed as GOLS-certified manufacturing units. The GOLS standard features permissible limits for harmful substances, emission test requirements and polymer and filler percentages.

What Bearaby products are GOLS-certified?

Our range of sensory pillows with a variety of versatile ergonomic and soothing benefits are all GOLS-certified and made from our proprietary plant-based Melofoam™. Our responsive, GOLS-certified Melofoam™ is hand-crafted from sap tapped directly from rubber trees, collected in coconuts, and gently steamed to form a squashy, bouncy foam. The foam is then encased in 100% organic cotton or 100% Belgian Flax linen for the covers of our sensory pillows such as the Body Pillow

All our sensory pillows like Knot Pillow are free of synthetics, plastics, and pesticides, and made in a zero-waste process, making them fully biodegradable and compostable.

We only use organic (GOTS/BCI), Fairtrade International and OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified materials alongside GOLS in our sensory pillows like the Cuddling, because we’re dedicated to creating products that benefit the people who make them as well as those who use them.

How to identify GOTS and GOLS-certified products

If you want to make more sustainable choices in the future, you may be wondering how to identify GOTS or GOLS-certified products. It's quite simple.

GOTS has an officially-trademarked logo and you'll find it on brands that share their sustainable pride. You can spot the logo easily; just look for the green circle with a white shirt in the middle. The words "Global Organic Textile Standard" encircle the white shirt and green sphere.

You can also visit the GOTS product finder to identify GOTS-certified brands and stores that carry GOTS-certified goods.

GOLS also has an officially-trademarked logo that you can find by checking the label of any product made from natural rubber. A manufacturer can only label their product “GOLS Certified Organic” if it’s made of more than 95 percent organic materials

We are proud of our GOTS and GOLS certifications and our transparent sustainability practices. Learn more about us and our promise to sustainability.