In a significant stride towards fostering sustainable practices within the textile sector, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) has embarked on the multifaceted OECD Alignment Assessment process. This groundbreaking initiative is poised to empower textile companies with a comprehensive due diligence framework, facilitating the identification, evaluation, and mitigation of adverse impacts across their intricate supply chains.
Marking a momentous milestone, GOTS has formally commenced the meticulous Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Alignment Assessment process for its latest iteration, version 7.0. This transformative assessment unfolds through three pivotal stages: a thorough Standards Assessment, a meticulous Implementation Assessment, and a rigorous Credibility Assessment.
In a collaborative endeavor supported by the esteemed German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, this process set sail in July 2023 and is projected to culminate by January 2024.
Pioneering Responsible Practices: GOTS Due Diligence Framework
Integral to this initiative are the GOTS Due Diligence Criteria, a robust framework empowering companies to proactively confront potential or existing threats to both human rights and the environment. At its essence, this undertaking embodies GOTS' vanguard role, pioneering responsible business practices that are poised to shape the trajectory of the industry.
It is important to note that the OECD Alignment Assessments are inherently advisory in nature, evaluating the alignment of sustainability endeavors with the OECD's seminal Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector. It is imperative to underline that participation in this process carries no implication of endorsement or formal affiliation with the OECD.
Set against the backdrop of a dynamic landscape of evolving human rights considerations in business operations, GOTS stands resolute as an invaluable navigational tool for companies. The contemporary legislative landscape, exemplified by Germany's Supply Chain Act (LkSG), France's Vigilance Act, Norway's Transparency Act, the Dutch Child Labour Due Diligence Act, and the UK Modern Slavery Act, accentuates the critical imperative for rigorous due diligence in assessing the impact of business operations on both human rights and the environment.
Charting the Path Forward: GOTS Version 7.0 and the EU Directive
Evidencing its profound commitment to catalyzing progress, the European Commission has set forth a proposal for a Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence (CSDDD). This pivotal development underscores the imminent contemplation of mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence, further elevating the significance of GOTS' mission.
Central to this transformative journey is GOTS Version 7.0, which furnishes textile enterprises with a comprehensive six-step due diligence process. This strategic framework empowers companies to discern, evaluate, and ameliorate adverse impacts across their expansive supply chains, effectively positioning GOTS as a formidable tool for showcasing compliance with the due diligence obligations delineated in the draft EU CSDDD and corresponding national legislations. Through these concerted efforts, GOTS is indelibly shaping the future of sustainable practices within the textile industry.