Organic Cotton Plus Becomes Certified to Global Organic Textile Standard
In a further step toward embracing eco-friendliness, Ridgefield, Conn.–based online fabric retailer Organic Cotton Plus has been certified to Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS). GOTS certification requires the use of organic fiber while prohibiting the use of child labor or toxic finishing agents, such as formaldehyde.
“We are proud to have raised the bar as to what is possible in the textile world,” said Organic Cotton Plus manager Linda Hayes, who warehouses the fabrics in Starr, S.C. “Consumers will get the same high-quality fabric and colorful designs they expect and enjoy, but now they have the reassurance of having third-party, independent certification proving the fabrics are certified organic from field to fabric, as well.”
The company is one of the first to obtain certification in North America since May 2011, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the new textile-labeling guidelines addressing which textiles may be considered organic.
Having opened in 1991, Organic Cotton Plus is the oldest organic-fabric business in the United States. It was acquired by Fox-Rich Textiles in 2010 and sells to companies in North America and around the globe. The company plans to increase its organic-fabric offerings by 50 percent in 2012, according to Hayes.—D.C.
