#Sustainability

2025-01-09

Global Standard opens public consultation for GOTS version 8.0

The public is invited to consult on the next version of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and its Implementation Manual. Global Standard, the non-profit that owns and operates the Standard, makes the announcement at a time when the textile industry needs guidance on staying in compliance with global regulations and combat greenwashing.

GOTS revisions occur every three years in an open and transparent manner, seeking inputs from the public and expertise from industry stakeholders. As a dynamic Standard, GOTS remains relevant, effective and aligned with the latest developments in the textile industry, environmental and social responsibility, and regulatory frameworks.

“Global Standard is excited for the next era of GOTS in a period of evolving regulations and increased public awareness of the need for a more sustainable textile sector,” said Claudia Kersten and Rahul Bhajekar, Global Standard managing directors, in a joint statement. “We remain committed to our vision of a world where all textiles are produced in accordance with the principles of health, ecology, fairness and care to enhance people’s lives and the environment. GOTS Version 8.0 will continue to build on that and provide much-needed rules and tools for businesses and remain the trusted label for consumers.”

The first public consultation for the initial draft of GOTS Version 8.0 and accompanying Implementation Manual will remain open until 7 March 2025. Global Standard invites inputs from all stakeholders, which will be reviewed and discussed by the GOTS Standard Revision Committee. A second public consultation will take place in July. Summarized inputs and outcomes of comment discussions will be published on the GOTS revision webpage for transparency and further engagement.

As part of the process, Global Standard announced to the public 1 January 2025 the new Standards Revision Committee. This 25-member group chosen from over 50 applicants after a public appeal consists of representatives from all sectors of the textile value chain, including fibre production and processing, chemical production, manufacturing, labour, traders, retailers, consumers, the post-consumer sector, civil society and professional and technical services.

Read the first GOTS Version 8.0 revision drafts, submit comments and learn more on the GOTS Revision webpage.

https://global-standard.org/the-standard/gots-revision

Global Standards announce launch of a new textile processing standard

The 14th September 2026 marks the public launch of the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS), a new standard for the processing of textiles made from fibres certified to third-party standards recognised by GRTS and covering a broad range of plant, animal, synthetic, man-made cellulosic and recycled fibres.

180 years of TESTEX: From Zurich silk testing to global certification

For 180 years, TESTEX has developed alongside the textile industry while maintaining the same underlying purpose: creating trust through independent and reliable measurement. Founded in Zurich in 1846 as the Zurich Silk Conditioning Institute, TESTEX has grown from a local institution serving the silk trade into an international Swiss testing and certification institute for textiles and leather.

Cascale launches member-led process to shape 2030 strategy

Cascale has launched a member-led process to define the industry alliance’s strategic direction for the next decade. At the Cascale Annual Meeting 2026 in Athens, CEO Ying McGuire announced that members will contribute to an industry system map that will inform Cascale’s 10-year vision, its 2030 strategy and priorities for 2027. The new strategy is scheduled to be finalized in December.

Jeanologia Sustainability Report highlights environmental impact of textile technologies

Jeanologia has published its Sustainability Report 2025, reporting a 13.64% reduction in its own carbon footprint and quantifying the environmental impact associated with the use of its technologies across the global textile industry. According to the company’s calculations, their use avoided the pollution of 21.52 million m³ of water and emissions of approximately 103,530 tonnes of CO₂ compared with conventional textile finishing processes.

ALLIED expands down traceability with lot-level carbon footprint data

ALLIED Feather + Down has expanded its TrackMyDown traceability platform to include validated cradle-to-gate carbon footprint data linked to individual down lots. The initiative is designed to provide brands and consumers with more detailed environmental information on the materials used in finished products and could also support future data requirements associated with Digital Product Passports.

HeiQ & Archroma and Lenzing & Armedangels win ITMF International Collaboration Awards 2026

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has named two industry partnerships as winners of the ITMF International Collaboration Awards 2026. The awards go to collaborations between HeiQ and Archroma as well as Lenzing and Armedangels, highlighting joint approaches to innovation and sustainability across different parts of the textile value chain.

Moving Advanced Recycling from Innovation to Implementation

The Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 explores technologies, markets, financing and scale-up of innovative recycling solutions for waste streams including mixed plastic waste, textiles and PVC. Europe’s chemical and materials sector faces growing pressure to close carbon loops, strengthen raw-material safety and resilience and meet increasingly ambitious EU recycling targets. Against this backdrop, the Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) will bring together industry leaders, technology providers, researchers, innovators and policy-makers on 17–18 November 2026 in Cologne, Germany.

German textile industry and retailers form alliance to shape textile EPR system

Germany’s textile and fashion industry and retail sector have joined forces to establish the “Alliance for Textile Circularity” (Allianz für textile Kreisläufe). Initiated by the German Textile and Fashion Industry Association (Gesamtverband textil+mode) and the German Retail Federation (HDE), the alliance aims to contribute industry expertise to the development of Germany’s future Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for textiles and footwear.

PERFORMANCE DAYS introduces Digital Design Journey with CLO and VIZOO

PERFORMANCE DAYS will introduce a new Digital Design Journey at its upcoming edition in Munich, connecting physical fabric sourcing with 3D product development. Supported by CLO and VIZOO, the installation will demonstrate how real performance fabrics can be digitized and incorporated into virtual garment development workflows.