We are really proud we are able to offer certified organic cotton fabrics to you in most of our BBH products. Our training pants, cloth wipes, the cotton in our bamboo & hemp fleece all contain organic cotton which is French certified to the International Standards of the Textile Exchange. What does that actually mean though? What is GOTS Certified Organic Cotton or OCS 100 Certified? Allow us to explain…
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognized as the world’s leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibers. OCS 100 (Organic Content Standard) is a new certification ensuring that final product contains the accurate amount of a given organically grown materials.
Both standards ensure that the plants are grown organically & it also requires environmentally & socially responsible manufacturing. Here’s a snapshot of the requirements:
- Textiles must be 95% – 100% organic in origin to be GOTS Certified Organic.
- Toxic chemicals used in some conventional textile processing, like formaldehyde, heavy metals & flame retardants, cannot be used.
- From farm to factory, organic fibres cannot commingle with conventional.
- Dyes must be naturally derived or safe synthetics (as outlined in the GOTS).
- Manufacturers can’t use finishing methods that pose risks to workers (like sand-blasting fabrics).
- Manufacturers must have environmental policies and procedures to monitor and improve the environmental performance of their facilities.
- Organic textiles must be stored and transported in a way that prevents contamination by prohibited substances and commingling with conventional products.
- Packaging material must not contain chlorinated plastics (e.g. PVC).
- Any paper or cardboard used in packaging material for the retail trade of GOTS Goods (incl. labelling items such as hang tags or swing tags) must be recycled from pre- or post-consumer waste or certified according to a program that verifies compliance with sustainable forestry management principles.
- Transportation means and routes must be documented.
- Textiles must meet specific quality standards in regards to how they hold up to washing and color fading.
- Workers have to be treated well with safe working conditions, no child labor, fair wages, a cap on how many hours they can work a week, and more.
- In regards to nappies, the final fabric must be 100% organic fibre & they also can’t contain unnecessary dyes or optical brighteners monist other things.
So there you go. We are very proud to bring you organically certified products for your babies little bums, and look forward to bringing your more certified organic cotton products in the future. You know for a fact that you are putting the environment first, putting less chemicals on your babies bum & supporting a manufacturer with high standards that meet strict International standards. Look out for these logos on your hunt for true organically certified products.
