Increasingly, companies are making mattresses that include organic cotton, organic wool,
or other organic fiber. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program
(USDA’s NOP) on May 20, 2011, issued a Policy Memorandum1
that clarifies how such
organic fiber-containing products may be labeled. Below is an overview of the definitions
and permissible claims companies using organic fibers may use.The bottom line is that
mattress labels that imply or lead the consumer to believe that the final product is
certified organic must meet either the USDA organic regulations or the Global
Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
What is organic fiber? Organic fiber includes cotton, wool, hemp, flax (linen), and other
natural fibers grown according to national organic standards without the use of toxic and
persistent pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or genetic engineering. USDA-accredited thirdparty
certification organizations verify that organic producers use only permissible
methods and materials in organic production.2
What is the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)? The Global Organic Textile
Standard (GOTS) is the stringent voluntary international standard for the processing of
organic fiber-containing products, addressing all the post-harvest processing stages
(including spinning, knitting, weaving, dyeing and manufacturing). It includes both
environmental and social provisions for post-farm to retail shelf management. Key
provisions include a ban on the use of child labor, genetic engineering, heavy metals, and
highly hazardous chemicals such as formaldehyde, while requiring living wages and strict
wastewater treatment practices.
What is the difference between the NOP and GOTS standards? NOP sets the
standards for agricultural products including products made from organic fiber. However,
its post-harvest processing standards only apply to food, not fiber. GOTS, on the other
hand, sets standards for the post-harvest processing of consumer fiber products made
with certified organic fibers. For GOTS-certified consumer products sold in the United
States, the organic fibers used must be certified to the NOP standards. With both
complementary certifications, a product can be considered “organic” from field to finished
product in the United States. At this time, GOTS is the only third-party organic certification
system for fiber products that is explicitly recognized by NOP.
What is an organic mattress? According to NOP, while its regulations do not include
specific processing or manufacturing criteria for textile products, mattresses containing
organic fiber may be labeled as “organic” and make reference to NOP certification if they
are produced in full compliance with both the NOP production standards (crops and
livestock for raw materials) and the NOP handling standards (processing of the
finished product). This includes all processing methods allowed under 7 CFR 205.270 and
all ingredients and inputs allowed under 205.605 and 205.606 of the National List.
However, given that most of these methods and ingredients are more applicable to food
processing versus textile processing, NOP labeling alone is unachievable for most
mattress products An NOP-recognized and more practical option is that mattresses containing organic cotton
may be sold as “organic” in the United States if their manufacture has been
certified to GOTS. While it may display the GOTS seal, the label may not refer to NOP
certification or display the USDA Organic seal. GOTS certification requires that all
processing stages through manufacturing of the finished product take place in GOTScertified
facilities, and all B2B traders involved in the supply chain of GOTS-certified
products be certified to GOTS themselves. Manufacturers may not make a claim that their
products are GOTS-certified if only certain components (such as batting or fabric) are
certified to the standard.Only if these certification requirements are met may a GOTScertified
entity apply the GOTS label (including the GOTS seal) to a final product and claim
in promotional materials that its products are GOTS certified.3
Note that NOP labeling requirements are in addition to those required by the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) labeling requirements, including “truth-in-labeling”
requirements. Thus, processed textile products not certified to a recognized standard such
as NOP or GOTS may include an organic fiber content claim provided that the specific
fiber is certified to NOP regulations. However, as “made with organic (specified
ingredient)” is a codified labeling category under NOP as well as a labeling category under
GOTS, textile manufactures choosing to make a fiber content claim in accordance with the
FTC labeling requirements—but whose products do not meet the NOP or GOTS
standards—should use terminology such as “contains 80% organic cotton,” and may not
use the phrase “made with.” 4 OTA suggests that companies that cannot be certified to
GOTS or NOP get certified to the OE Blended standards to fully verify their claims.
What are the GOTS requirements for accessory components of a consumer
product? GOTS permits non-organic accessory components (fiber and non-fiber) in
organic consumer products (e.g., an innerspring or barrier fabric in a mattress). However,
all such accessory components must meet certain material requirements, and may not
contain harmful or toxic characteristics prohibited in the standard.
How can consumers identify a correctly GOTS-certified and labeled product?
Consumers should look for the on-product labeling. GOTS labeling must be applied on the
product in such a way that it is visible to the consumer at the time of purchase (e.g., on the
packaging and/or hangtag and/or a label).
Correct and complete GOTS labeling shows the trademark-registered
GOTS logo (or the lettering ‘Global Organic Textile Standard’), the
GOTS label grade (‘organic’ or ‘made with organic’), reference to the
certification body, and the license number and/or name of the certified
entity. Because retailers are not required to become certified
themselves, correct labeling may show the license number and/or
name of their supplier (trader, manufacturer) of the final product.
Consumers (and the supply chain) can look up the data of the certified
entity by entering the license number (or name) provided on the GOTS labeling in the ‘free
text field’ of the publicly available GOTS database. Only this correct GOTS labeling
provides the assurance for the consumer that the final product is GOTS certified.
Headquarters - The Hall of the States, 444 N. Capitol St. NW, Suite 445-A, Washington, D.C., 20001 • (202) 403-8513
Member Services - 28 Vernon St., Suite 413, Brattleboro VT 05301 • (802) 275-3800 • fax: (802) 275-3801
www.OTA.com
Note that products referencing GOTS but identified, advertised, or offered for sale without
the required labeling are not considered GOTS certified. The precondition for on-product
label use of the GOTS name is that both the entire value chain and the final product
are certified. Claims used on organic fiber-containing products or in promotional
literature, such as “this mattress uses GOTS-certified cotton yarn or fabric,” are solely the
claims of the seller, and have not been verified by the GOTS certification process.
1 USDA National Organic Program, Labeling of Textiles that Contain Organic
Ingredients, May 20, 2011.
2 Organic Trade Association, Organic Cotton Facts.
3 International Working Group on Global Organic Textile Standard, How to Get
Products Labeled.
4 Organic Trade Association, USDA OK’s Organic Textile Labeling Including GOTS –
Press Release, June 7, 2011.
When your day is winding down and all you can think about is hitting the sack, do you consider what you are sleeping on or in? Most of us usually look only for comfort in a mattress, soft sheets, warm blankets and matching decor. Most people do not lay in bed and wonder what chemicals they will be inhaling all night. Organic mattresses are becoming more popular with the knowledge of major side effects from chemicals put in synthetic bedding.organic mattress reviews
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