GOTS, BSCI, OEKO-TEX, GRS, BCI, Higg: what each certification really covers

We put six certification logos on our homepage because buyers ask for them. But we would rather you understood what each one actually verifies — and what it does not.

GOTS — Global Organic Textile Standard

Covers: the fibre (certified organic cotton) and every processing step — spinning, knitting, dyeing, stitching — plus restricted chemicals and basic social criteria. Proof: a scope certificate for the factory and a transaction certificate (TC) for each shipment. If a supplier cannot produce the TC, the product is not GOTS, whatever the label says.

amfori BSCI — Business Social Compliance Initiative

Covers: working conditions — wages, hours, health and safety, no child or forced labour, freedom of association — checked by an independent audit. Does not cover: the product or the environment. Proof: an audit report with a rating (A–E); ask for the latest one and the corrective action plan.

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100

Covers: the finished article is tested for harmful substances — formaldehyde, heavy metals, azo dyes, phthalates — with stricter limits for babywear (Class I). Does not cover: how or where it was made. Proof: a certificate number you can verify on the OEKO-TEX website.

GRS — Global Recycled Standard

Covers: verified recycled content (minimum 20%, 50% for the logo), chain of custody, chemical restrictions and social criteria. Our crochet bags use GRS recycled cotton yarn. Proof: scope and transaction certificates, like GOTS.

BCI — Better Cotton Initiative

Covers: farming practices — water, pesticides, farmer livelihoods — via a mass-balance system. Important: BCI does not guarantee that the physical cotton in your garment is Better Cotton; it guarantees that an equivalent volume was sourced. It is a sourcing commitment, not a product claim.

Higg Index (FEM)

Covers: the factory’s environmental performance — energy, water, waste, chemicals, emissions — as a self-assessment, optionally verified. Proof: a module score shared through the Higg platform. Ask for the verified score, not the self-assessed one.

How to use this in a supplier conversation

• Ask for the certificate number and expiry, then verify it online.
• For GOTS and GRS, make the TC a shipping-document requirement in your PO.
• Ask which products are in scope — a GOTS factory can still make non-organic garments.
• Ask for the latest audit report, not just the logo.

We share all of the above with any serious buyer before sampling. Compliance paperwork should never be the reason an order is late.

Ready to brief us?

Send your tech pack, a sketch or even a photo of a garment you love through the enquiry form — or WhatsApp it to our merchandising desk in Noida. You will have a line-by-line costing within 48 hours and a first sample in 7–10 working days.