GOTS – Due Diligence Handbook for certified actors

The GOTS Due Diligence Handbook is a tool to promote sustainability, human rights and ethical business practices in the textile sector.

The handbook provides GOTS-certified companies with clear guidance on how to integrate due diligence processes into their operations and supply chains and supports them in complying with national due diligence laws such as the German Supply Chain Act and the upcoming EU law.

The GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for certified companies was developed as a structured guide to support certified companies in the introduction and further development of their management systems. The focus of the handbook is on a holistic due diligence approach. This enables GOTS-certified companies not only to identify potential negative impacts in their supply chains, on human rights and the environment, but also to proactively prevent and effectively mitigate them.

The handbook ensures that GOTS-certified companies are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to respond to potential challenges.
The handbook and the due diligence approach support obligated actors in the risk analysis within their company in measure 2.1: Establishment of the due diligence process, which forms the basis for measure 2.2: Strategy development for improved working conditions.

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the leading standard for organic textiles, including ecological and social criteria, tested along all processing stages.