Organic cotton and textile labels: GOTS, OCS and what "organic" means on clothes
Organic food has its certifiers, and so do organic textiles. If you're buying baby clothes, bedding, towels, nappies or shopping bags marked "organic cotton", the labels work a little differently from food. This guide explains the main schemes you'll see in Australian shops and online, and how to check them.
As with food, organic certification describes how the fibre was grown and processed. It isn't a claim about health or safety, and we don't make one.
Why textiles need their own standards
A cotton T-shirt goes through many hands: the farm, the gin, spinning, knitting or weaving, dyeing, cutting and sewing, often in several countries. Food organic standards cover the farm and food processing. Textile standards follow the fibre through the whole supply chain, so the organic cotton that left the farm is the same cotton in the finished garment.
GOTS: the Global Organic Textile Standard
GOTS is the most widely recognised organic textile standard. It covers both the fibre content and the processing and manufacturing steps, including restrictions on chemical inputs and social criteria for workers.
GOTS has two main label grades:
| Label grade | Minimum certified organic fibre |
|---|---|
| "Organic" | at least 95% |
| "Made with X% organic materials" | at least 70% (the exact percentage must be stated) |
There are matching "organic in-conversion" grades for fibre from farms that are part-way through converting to organic.
A genuine GOTS label on a product should include:
- the GOTS logo
- the label grade ("organic" or "made with X% organic materials")
- a reference to the certification body (its name or logo)
- the licence number of the certified business
OCS: the Organic Content Standard
The Organic Content Standard (OCS), run by Textile Exchange, tracks organic fibre from farm to product and verifies how much organic fibre is in it. Products labelled "OCS 100" contain 95% or more organic material; "OCS Blended" products contain between 5% and 94% organic material blended with other fibres.
The big difference: OCS is about content and chain of custody. It doesn't set the processing and chemical rules that GOTS does. Both are legitimate; they simply answer different questions.
Wording to watch
| Wording | What it means |
|---|---|
| "GOTS certified organic" + logo, certifier and licence number | Certified to GOTS at the "organic" grade. You can check it. |
| "Made with 70% organic cotton" + GOTS details | Certified to GOTS at the "made with" grade |
| "Organic cotton" with no logo or number | A claim, not proof. It must still be truthful under Australian Consumer Law. Ask the seller for the certificate. |
| "Contains organic cotton" | Could be any percentage. Look for OCS or GOTS details. |
| "Natural", "eco", "pure cotton" | Not organic claims |
| "Bamboo" | A fibre source, not an organic claim. Most bamboo fabric (viscose/rayon) is chemically processed. |
How to check a textile certificate
- Find the certifier and licence number on the swing tag, sewn-in label or product page.
- Search the public database. GOTS publishes a public database of certified suppliers, searchable by name or licence number. Textile Exchange also lists certified sites.
- Check the scope. As with food, a certificate covers named products or product categories. A brand may have some ranges certified and others not.
- Check the date. Certificates expire. If it lapsed, the claim may no longer be current.
The ACCC has warned that broad statements such as a business being "certified" can mislead if only some products or components are certified. If a brand says "certified" but only one item is, the product page should make that clear.
Shopping tips for families
- Baby clothes and wraps: look for the GOTS logo and label grade, not just the word "organic". Many Australian baby brands publish their GOTS licence number on their website.
- Bedding and towels: "organic" sheets often blend fibres. The "made with X%" grade tells you how much is organic.
- Secondhand is fine. Preloved organic cotton is still organic cotton, and buying secondhand is one of the simplest ways to reduce waste. Labels may have faded, so check the brand's website.
- Care labels still apply. Follow the care label to make garments last.
The short version
- GOTS "organic" = at least 95% certified organic fibre, with processing rules.
- GOTS "made with" = at least 70%, and the percentage must be shown.
- OCS verifies organic content, not processing.
- No logo and no number? Ask for evidence.
Information checked 17 October 2026 against GOTS labelling guidance and the GOTS implementation manual, Textile Exchange's Organic Content Standard materials, and ACCC guidance on organic claims and greenwashing. General information only.
— the Blueberry Bear Team