STUTTGART – Global Standard, the non-profit which oversees the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), has launched a Due Diligence Handbook for Auditors. The handbook was developed in collaboration with The Hague-based UpRights Foundation.
According to Global Standard, the new resource is designed to align with emerging regulatory requirements worldwide while promoting environmental and human rights due diligence. Ruslan Alyamkin, who oversees social responsibility within Global Standard’s standard development and implementation team, described the handbook as “a transformative tool for the textile industry on its journey towards responsible production.”
He added, “This handbook provides our certification bodies with the knowledge and guidance they need to ensure that the highest standards of environmental and human rights due diligence are met and verified. By aligning with international frameworks and recent legislative developments, we are further strengthening Global Standard’s mission to promote sustainable, transparent, and socially responsible practices throughout global textile supply chains.”
The GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Auditors offers a detailed framework to assist certification bodies and auditors in evaluating compliance with GOTS 7.0 criteria. It focuses on ensuring consistent verification of due diligence, human rights, and social standards through clear, step-by-step methodologies for conducting thorough audits.
The handbook does not replace existing audit protocols but aims to complement them by providing additional tools and insights. It builds on the foundation set by the GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Certified Entities, which was released in 2023. Together, these resources form part of the Global Standard Due Diligence Framework.
The creation of the handbook saw Global Standard’s standard development unit conduct interviews with GOTS auditors to understand the challenges and best practices in verifying compliance across different regions. Feedback was also sought from business and human rights experts to address the sector’s unique complexities.
“This collaborative approach ensures the handbook reflects the operational realities faced by GOTS-certified entities worldwide,” a Global Standard representative explained. By incorporating input from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, the resource aims to be both practical and effective.
The handbook’s release comes at a pivotal moment, as global regulations increasingly call for stronger corporate accountability. For instance, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) now mandates due diligence requirements for companies operating within the European Union. Similar legislation, such as Germany’s Supply Chain Act, France’s Duty of Vigilance Law, and Norway’s Transparency Act, points to a growing emphasis on responsible business practices.
GOTS 7.0 already requires certified entities to respect internationally recognised human rights criteria and align with emerging legal obligations under these and other due diligence laws. The new handbook aims to help certification bodies ensure these standards are upheld throughout the textile supply chain.
“By equipping certification bodies with this resource, we are reinforcing our commitment to sustainable and ethical practices,” Alyamkin noted.
