Textile certifications guide: GOTS, BSCI, WRAP, OEKO-TEX

Why certifications are essential

Textile certifications provide a verifiable guarantee audited by independent third parties. They meet three fundamental needs of B2B brands and buyers:

• Regulatory compliance: with the European CSRD directive and duty of vigilance, brands must prove their supply chain meets social and environmental standards.
• Consumer trust: 73% of parents say they check labels before buying clothes for their children (Textile Exchange 2025 study).
• Supply chain security: a manufacturer certified GOTS/BSCI/WRAP offers a reliability guarantee that internal audits cannot match.

For more on our commitment, see our dedicated certifications page.

GOTS — Global Organic Textile Standard

What it covers

GOTS certification is the global benchmark for organic textiles. It covers the entire chain: from organic cotton harvest to finished product, including spinning, weaving, dyeing and manufacturing. A GOTS-certified product contains at least 70% organic fibres (95% for the "organic" label).

Detailed requirements

GOTS imposes strict criteria on chemical inputs: no formaldehyde, no azo dyes, no heavy metals. The manufacturing process must respect wastewater discharge limits. Social criteria include the prohibition of child labour, working hours, and remuneration conditions in line with ILO conventions.

At LOI Confection

LOI Confection is GOTS certified by Ecocert Greenlife (certificate no. GOTS-13200), allowing partner brands to offer certified organic collections. Our integrated dyeing unit complies with GOTS water treatment standards.

BSCI — Business Social Compliance Initiative

What it covers

BSCI is a social audit programme created by the Foreign Trade Association (amfori). It assesses working conditions in factories across 11 areas: freedom of association, non-discrimination, fair remuneration, health and safety, environmental protection, ethical business behaviour.

The grading system

The grading goes from A (outstanding) to E (unacceptable). Grade A means the factory not only meets standards but also implements best practices beyond minimum requirements. Only 8% of audited factories worldwide achieve Grade A.

At LOI Confection

LOI Confection holds BSCI Grade A — the highest possible score — attesting to exemplary working conditions for its 1000+ employees. Our CSR initiatives (lactarium, free canteen, on-site medical centre) exceed audit requirements.

WRAP — Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production

What it covers

WRAP certifies that production facilities respect 12 fundamental principles: legal compliance, prohibition of forced and child labour, harassment, health and safety, freedom of association, discrimination, working hours, remuneration, environment, customs compliance, security.

The 3 levels

Platinum is the highest level (3-year validity, reserved for facilities audited 3+ times without major non-conformity). Gold corresponds to 1-year validity. Silver to 6 months. Platinum testifies to a sustained, ongoing commitment, not a one-off effort.

At LOI Confection

LOI Confection is WRAP certified — the highest level — demonstrating a verified long-term commitment to responsible production.

OCS — Organic Content Standard

What it covers

OCS verifies and traces the organic content of products, from source to finished product. Unlike GOTS, OCS focuses only on the traceability of organic material, without imposing additional social or environmental criteria on the production process.

Complementarity with GOTS

OCS is ideal for products containing between 5% and 100% organic materials. It is a standard separate from GOTS, ensuring the declared organic content is genuinely present and traceable. At LOI Confection, this certification guarantees full organic traceability for brands that request it.

ICS — Initiative for Compliance and Sustainability

What it covers

ICS is a French social audit initiative led by the Fédération du Commerce et de la Distribution (FCD). It verifies supplier compliance with international social standards. Mainly used by French retailers (Carrefour, Auchan, Casino), ICS audits working conditions, health/safety and environmental practices.

At LOI Confection

LOI Confection's ICS compliance facilitates partnerships with French retailers and brands that require this standard for their supply chain.

GOTS vs OEKO-TEX: what's the difference?

This is the most frequent question from brands. Here is the fundamental distinction:

In short: OEKO-TEX guarantees that the finished product is safe for the consumer. GOTS guarantees that the entire manufacturing process is organic AND socially responsible. For premium baby clothing brands, GOTS is the reference standard because parents want to know that the entire chain is controlled.

How to verify a manufacturer's certifications

Before signing with a manufacturer, systematically verify their certifications:

1. Request original certificates with validity dates and licence number. An expired certificate has no value.
2. Verify online: GOTS and OCS are searchable on global-standard.org. WRAP on wrapcompliance.org. Cross-check the licence number with the factory name.
3. Request the full BSCI audit report: the score alone is not enough. The report details strengths and improvement points identified.
4. Schedule a factory visit: certifications are a baseline, but nothing replaces a physical visit to assess daily reality.

The real cost of certification

Brands often wonder about the additional cost of a certified manufacturer. Here is the reality:

• GOTS: the annual certification cost for a factory is €3,000 to €8,000. Impact on price per piece is €0.10 to €0.30 depending on volumes.
• BSCI: the audit costs €1,500 to €3,000. Investments to reach Grade A (infrastructure, equipment, training) are far more significant.
• WRAP: certification costs €2,000 to €5,000 depending on the level targeted.

These costs are largely offset by added value in commercial positioning, regulatory compliance, and reduced reputational risk. A manufacturer like LOI Confection, which holds 4 certifications, spreads these costs over a volume of 1.5 to 2 million pieces per year.