What Does GOTS-Certified Mean? A Parent's Guide to Organic Cotton Certification

Q: What percentage of organic fiber does GOTS require?

At least 95% certified organic fibers for the organic label grade and at least 70% for made with organic.

Blog-BIG FRENCHIES-Jennifer B-GOTS Certified-Organic Cotton-Sustainability

If you have shopped for baby or kids' clothing recently, you have probably seen the label "GOTS-certified" and wondered what it actually means, and whether it is worth paying attention to. Short answer: yes. Here is what the certification covers, what the two GOTS label grades mean, how to check a claim yourself, and why it matters for the clothes touching your child's skin.

Key Takeaways

GOTS stands for the Global Organic Textile Standard, one of the most widely recognized organic textile certifications.
A product labeled "organic" under GOTS contains at least 95% certified organic fibers; "made with organic" means at least 70%.
GOTS covers the whole supply chain, from fiber processing to finished garment, including chemical limits and social criteria.
Every company in the chain must be certified by an approved independent certification body.
You can verify a brand's claim by checking for a license number and looking it up in the GOTS public database.

What Does GOTS Stand For?

GOTS stands for the Global Organic Textile Standard. It was developed by leading organic standard setters to define worldwide-recognized requirements for organic textiles. Unlike many "eco" labels that only look at one part of the process, GOTS follows a garment through its entire production, from fiber processing and spinning through dyeing, manufacturing, and labeling of the finished product.

What Do the GOTS Label Grades Mean?

Label grade	Certified organic fiber content	What it tells you
Organic	95% or more	Almost entirely certified organic fibers
Made with organic	70% to 95%	Mostly organic, with some other fibers allowed

Both grades must meet the same environmental and social criteria for processing. The difference is only how much of the fiber is certified organic.

Why Is GOTS More Than a Sticker?

To sell a product as GOTS certified, every company involved in processing it must be inspected and certified by an approved, independent certification body. That includes limits on the dyes and chemicals used in processing and social criteria for workers. At Big Frenchies, our supply chain is inspected by a third-party auditor so suppliers are held to GOTS standards, not just claiming them. Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides, and GOTS processing rules restrict harsh chemicals, which makes it a gentle choice for babies and kids with sensitive skin.

How Can You Verify a GOTS Claim?

Look for the GOTS logo along with the label grade ("organic" or "made with organic").
Check for the name or license number of the certification body near the logo.
Search the brand or supplier in the GOTS public database of certified companies on the GOTS website.
Be wary of vague wording like "made with GOTS cotton" without a license number, which does not guarantee the finished product is certified.

What Else Is Big Frenchies Certified For?

GOTS is our foundation, but it is not the only box we check. Big Frenchies products and packaging are also covered by:

GRS (Global Recycled Standard): verifies recycled material content and traces it through the full supply chain.
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®: one of the world's best-known labels for textiles tested for harmful substances.
CPSIA compliance: meets U.S. federal safety requirements for children's products, including limits on lead and phthalates.
Home Compostable Verified packaging: our mailers meet the Australasian AS5810 compostability standard through our partner, The Better Packaging Co.
noissue Eco-Packaging Alliance: we are a proud member of this coalition of sustainable brands that also contribute to global reforestation.

You can see the full list, with links to each certifying body, on our Sustainability Certifications page.

What Does This Mean for Your Family?

Every certification on that list exists to answer one question honestly: is this actually safe and sustainable, or does it just say so on the tag? For a company built around dressing babies, toddlers, and families, we do not think that is optional.

Ready to see GOTS-certified organic cotton in action? Shop our organic cotton baby onesies or browse kids' organic cotton clothing for the whole family.

More Organic Cotton Picks at Every Budget

Want more options? Here are more in-stock picks from our catalog, from everyday basics to premium upgrades, so you can compare across price points.