#Sustainability

2025-02-27

Global Standard receives Iseal innovations fund grant to provide cutting-edge GOTS due diligence training for auditors

Global Standard, the nonprofit that owns and operates the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), has received an Impulse Grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund to develop a continuous learning policy for GOTS auditors and a specialised training programme on GOTS Due Diligence Criteria. These resources are another step by Global Standard to ensure progress is made on human rights due diligence within the textile industry value chain.

“The increasing demand for responsible and transparent supply chains requires auditors to have a deep understanding of human rights due diligence and its application in textile certification,” said Ruslan Alyamkin, Responsible, Standard Development and Implementation (Social Responsibility) at Global Standard. “With this project, we aim to equip GOTS auditors with the necessary expertise to assess compliance effectively, reinforcing the credibility of GOTS certification.”

Advancing GOTS auditor training: Key project objectives

Uncertainty surrounding evolving regulations, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDD), and an overall lack of clarity within the industry about how to implement due diligence effectively can complicate compliance efforts in the textile value chain. This grant will facilitate the creation of the resources necessary for GOTS auditors to carry out their roles more confidently and effectively.

The training initiative will focus on three main objectives:

+ Developing a continuous learning policy for GOTS auditors and creating a structured framework for ongoing professional development.

+ Designing a specialised training curriculum, focusing on equipping auditors with the necessary skills to assess compliance with GOTS Due Diligence Criteria.

+ Conducting a pilot training programme for approximately 30 auditors, incorporating feedback from certification bodies and real-world audit experiences to improve and refine the training approach.

By leveraging best practices in human rights due diligence and incorporating insights from internationally recognised frameworks – including the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for the Garment and Footwear Sector and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights – this programme will provide cutting-edge training to ensure auditors are fully prepared to verify due diligence compliance in the textile industry.

Strengthening the GOTS Due Diligence Framework

Global Standard has developed its own Due Diligence Framework, which comprises GOTS, the Manual for the Implementation of GOTS, the GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Certified Entities and the GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Auditors. This project is a significant step in enhancing the GOTS Due Diligence Framework, ensuring that GOTS-certified entities meet evolving regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations.

“With mandatory human rights due diligence laws becoming more prevalent and setting higher standards for corporate accountability, the role of auditors in verifying compliance is more crucial than ever,” added Alyamkin.

Acknowledgement of funding support

This project is supported by a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund, with funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The contents of this announcement do not imply official endorsement by ISEAL or SECO.

The project will be implemented in cooperation with UpRights, an organisation focused on the promotion of human rights.

Global Standard gGmbH launches second public consultation for GRTS Draft 2 for the textile industry (1–30 April 2026)

Global Standard gGmbH is pleased to announce the release of Draft 2 of the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS) for its second public consultation. The consultation will be open from 1 April 2026 to 30 April 2026, inviting stakeholders across the textile and apparel value chain to provide input and contribute to the further development of this new Standard.

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.

Aid by Trade Foundation presents annual report for 2025: Market position and impact of sustainably verified natural fibres strengthened

Despite global supply chain challenges, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) was able to further expand its international role in promoting sustainably verified natural fibres in 2025. In doing so, the foundation remains true to its fundamental approach of leveraging market forces. Last year, it generated total revenues of EUR 7.8 million; this included EUR 6.7 million collected through the successful marketing of four standards: Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), CmiA Organic, The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS), and the Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS). AbTF invested the resulting income in projects aiming to protect biodiversity, support women, increase transparency in the textile supply chain, and implement its verification system.

Textile Exchange reports growth in certifications and industry engagement

Textile Exchange has published its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting continued growth in certified sites, industry participation and the development of its standards and membership structure. According to the report, more than 100,000 sites worldwide are now certified to Textile Exchange standards, more than three times the number recorded in 2020. Preliminary figures also indicate 12% year-on-year growth across the organization's current standards, including the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and the Responsible Animal Fiber standards.

Brazil sets new cotton export record and consolidates global leadership

Brazil ended the 2025/26 commercial year with a new record, consolidating its position as the world’s largest cotton exporter. Between August 2025 and July 2026, the country shipped 3,373,941 tonnes of the fiber, 19% more than in the previous cycle, and reached record revenue of US$5.3 billion. The result represents a milestone in Brazil’s expansion in the international market and reinforces the country’s role as a strategic supplier to the global textile industry.

The LYCRA Company expands its co-creation vision through an immersive Lifestyle District at Intertextile Shanghai.

The LYCRA Company, a global leader in fiber and technology solutions for the apparel industry, is reimagining the trade show experience at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Autumn Edition, which opened today in China. Building on the success of last year's ALL IN concept, the company has expanded its co-creation vision into a 356-square-meter Lifestyle District featuring partners Jingzili New Material, JYT Textile, Lianxingfa Knitting, and Trend Textile. The district is part of a larger 895-square-meter pavilion showcasing a total of 19 co-exhibitors. Together, they demonstrate how innovations in fiber, fabric, and garments can be combined to create compelling solutions for both work and play.

Plastic-free stretch technologies drive new direction for denim innovation

As the denim industry looks for ways to reduce its reliance on synthetic fibres, plastic-free stretch technologies are gaining momentum. Developments based on mechanical fabric construction and natural rubber are demonstrating that comfort and stretch can be achieved without conventional elastane, supporting both recyclability and circular product design.