Soil Association Certification, the UK’s leading organic certification body, has added the Global Responsible Textiles Standard (GRTS) to its textile certification services, complementing the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which it has certified since 2006.
GRTS is a newly launched standard that offers global recognition for textiles made with certified responsible and recycled fibres. While GOTS spotlights textiles made with organic certified fibres, GRTS covers natural, recycled and regenerated fibre categories, including natural and non-GM plant and animal fibres, regenerated fibres, recycled natural and synthetic fibres, biopolymers and certified organic and organic in conversion fibres below the GOTS threshold. This can include fibres certified to Textile Exchange standards such as Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) and Global Recycled Standard (GRS), as well as FSC and PEFC certified cellulosic fibres.
Both standards operate under an aligned certification system that rigorously audits the whole supply chain of the textiles product. Each stage of the production process, from first-stage processing to final product, is assessed against environmental and social criteria, which include codified human rights and living wage protection.
In addition to clothing, the final products can include fibres, yarns, home textiles, mattresses and bedding, textiles accessories, and children’s toys. For certification to remain valid, each stage must pass a yearly inspection against this criterion.
Companies certified to both GOTS and GRTS can undergo a single combined audit, reducing administrative effort while maintaining the integrity of both certification schemes.
Commenting is Soil Association Certification CEO, Dominic Robinson. “GRTS is the first globally harmonised processing and manufacturing standard for textiles that are made with sustainable fibres, but which are outside the scope of organic certification, and I am delighted that we can now offer businesses this service.
“GRTS simplifies the process and reduces the workload and resource it would take to manage several different standards, while still ensuring the highest environmental and social protections.
“Most shoppers say that sustainability concerns shape their choices around fashion and textiles. The sales of organic certified textiles grew by +10% in 2025 as consumers look for third-party standards that provide proof of brand ethics, not just marketing slogans. GRTS now offers shoppers a simpler way to verify a brand’s credentials without needing to look for several different certification logos.”
To find out more about GRTS and how businesses can certify, visit the Soil Association Certification website.