#Sustainability

2021-07-29

New staff joins the GOTS family

GOTS is excited to introduce five newly appointed staff members, who are experts in their respective fields. Ranging from the first representative on in Africa to the spheres of the digital world: Meet the new GOTS-Family members and read more about their positions and essential tasks for the assurance of our developments and goals.

Strengthening Standard Development and Quality Assurance

Two new members were added to the GOTS Standard Development and Quality Assurance Team. Bükra Kalayc? is a textile engineer and holds a master’s degree in environmental sustainability. Her PhD research focuses on circular systems in the textile supply chain. Bükra has been appointed to the newly created position Responsible, Standard Development and Implementation (Ecology) at GOTS. She will continue to develop the ecology pillar as well as ensure an efficient implementation of the GOTS standard. Bükra is based in Turkey.

Ruslan Alyamkin has been appointed as Responsible, Standard Development and Implementation (Social Responsibility). Ruslan has a PhD in International Public Law and has a background in human rights. He has worked with international, governmental and non-governmental organisations, including the OSCE and the UN OHCHR. Ruslan will help GOTS in ensuring the Standard continues its development in the social responsibility pillar. He is based in Germany and may engage with CBs for matters related to GOTS social requirements.

Prachi Gupta is now designated Responsible, Quality Assurance and Impact. Prachi takes on the task to engage with GOTS ACBs regarding Quality Assurance procedures, such as CB Webinars and Training, GMO data collection, CB complaints and Impact related procedures, such as quality surveys with CBs and Certified Entities.She will also work with Accreditation Bodies as required. Prachi holds a master’s degree in Textile Technology and is based in India.

First GOTS Representative in Africa appointed

Muktar Dodo is the newly appointed GOTS Representative in Africa. He is responsible for enhancing GOTS on the continent that is quickly becoming a sourcing destination for major markets. Muktar comes to the role with substantial experience in implementing standards and quality assurance services in the cotton and textile sector in Africa. He also gained experience in organic textile certification having worked with a certification body in China. Muktar is based in Nigeria.

Expanding GOTS IT and Marketing capabilities

In order to meet the growing demand on digitalisation, data processing and marketing, two specialists in their respective fields were hired.

Swati More has taken on the role as IT Specialist and formally joined GOTS on 19 July 2021. Swati is from the Software - IT industry and completed her graduation in Electronics Engineering. She has expertise in software applications development & database management. Next to focusing on the data digitisation process & data management, she will also be looking over the support of existing software applications and new software developments, enhancing GOTS's digitalisation process. Swati is based in India.

Holger Stripf has been appointed GOTS Head of Marketing. He brings with him over thirteen years of international marketing experience. Holger has worked for corporations in Australia, USA and Germany and spent the last nine years in senior marketing positions at Heine, a member of the Otto Group. Next to his strategic marketing focus, Holger has also taken over the responsibilities of Juliane Ziegler, who has been appointed the new GOTS Representative in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Holger is based in Germany.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

WHILL selects Teijin’s tough, lightweight Carbon Fiber Composite for new last-mile mobility

Teijin Limited announced today that WHILL Inc., a global leader in inclusive mobility technology, has selected Sereebo® P CFP series, a carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) material, for key structural components of the upcoming WHILL Model C Lite. Sereebo® P CFP series provides high strength, light weight, design flexibility and system cost advantages to the Model C Lite, which is a battery powered, single-seat, last-mile device. This new model combines maneuverability with light weight and one-handed folding to ensure ease of handling and operation.

Execs help steer Cascale’s consumer goods agenda in Athens

The 2026 Cascale Annual Meeting, taking place September 15–17 in Athens, Greece, will convene leaders from across the global consumer goods value chain to tackle one of the industry’s defining questions: how to accelerate meaningful, system-wide transformation. Guiding those conversations as this year’s co-chairs are Sean Cady, vice president, global sustainability, responsibility, trade, and government affairs at VF Corporation, and Dr. Delman Lee, vice chair at TAL Apparel Limited.

SAITEX reports efficiency gains and greater transparency in 2025 Impact Report

Vietnam-based denim manufacturer SAITEX has published its 2025 Impact Report, documenting progress in resource efficiency, chemical management, digital traceability and knowledge sharing across its manufacturing operations in Vietnam and the United States. Rather than focusing on sustainability ambitions, the report presents operational data, manufacturing developments and lessons learned from the past year.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues 2026 concludes with 50 international participants immersed in Brazilian cotton production

The Cotton Brazil Dialogues concludes its 2026 edition after a series of technical visits to farms, cotton gins and reference centers, as well as workshops focused on Brazilian cotton production. A total of 50 participants from 14 countries took part in the field trips. The initiative is led by the Brazilian Association of Cotton Growers (Abrapa) and the National Association of Cotton Exporters (Anea), with support from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

Novel flame-retardant and recyclable fiber-reinforced composite

Airplanes and passenger trains must meet strict safety requirements, including fire safety standards. This calls for materials that are flame-retardant, lightweight, robust, and scalable. Empa researchers, in collaboration with their industry partner Elantas, have now succeeded for the first time in making such a material – a composite – fully recyclable.

ZymoChem secures $4 million in renewed federal funding to advance U.S. biomanufacturing of critical materials and their supply chains

ZymoChem, the specialty chemicals company dedicated to bringing decarbonization, sustainability, and supply chain resiliency to the chemical industry through innovative biological manufacturing, today announced the resumption and expansion of its federal research portfolio. The company has been notified that previously paused work under a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program is officially back on, to be joined by continuing collaborations with three of the nation's premier national laboratories.