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Certifications are intended to help you know that what you’re getting meets a certain standard. Usually, this standard implies superiority and high quality. And while you should be able to trust certifications at face value, not all certifications are created equal.
One example of fabricated certifications—where the government stepped in—is the case of EcoBaby, who claimed that their NAOMI organic seal meant their baby products were indeed organic. However, in 2013 the Federal Trade Commission exposed EcoBaby Organics, requiring the company to stop using this fake seal of confidence, which gave the false impression that a third-party, independent certifier approved of their products.
It’s easy to see how a consumer might mistakenly believe in EcoBaby’s greenwashing. Not only did the company have the word “organics” in their very name, but they also labeled their products with a fake organic seal. This is just one example of companies being misleading in their organic related claims.
The Certification That Matters: GOTS
As a consumer, how are you to know which certifications are real and which are fake?
In the mattress industry, the only certification that really matters is GOTS — which stands for Global Organic Textile Standard.
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the world's leading processing standard for organic textiles and fibres, including ecological and social criteria, backed by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain.
The aim of the standard is to define globally recognized requirements that ensure organic status — from harvesting of the raw materials through environmentally and socially-responsible manufacturing all the way to labelling in order to provide credible assurance to the end consumer.
Every Naturepedic mattress is GOTS certified, which means you can rest assured that our mattresses are made with truly top-of-the-line organic materials that are safer, healthier, and more natural.
Our entire factory and manufacturing facility is GOTS certified. Naturepedic only uses certified organic cotton fabric, certified organic cotton fill, certified organic wool, certified organic latex, and other non-toxic materials approved by GOTS.
What Does a Certification Guarantee?
You may be wondering what a GOTS certification actually means, and we’re here to break down the nitty-gritty details for you.
Only organic textile products that contain a minimum of 95% organic fibres can become fully GOTS certified. The choice of accessories is limited in accordance with ecological aspects as well.
Receiving a GOTS certification is an involved process, as the principles of the review and revision procedure are detailed and comprehensive. If a product meets GOTS standards, it meets numerous criteria, including:
Environmental Criteria
-Prohibition of critical inputs such as toxic heavy metals, formaldehyde, aromatic solvents, functional nanoparticles, genetically modified organisms (GMO) and their enzymes
- Azo dyes that release carcinogenic amine compounds are prohibited
- Discharge printing methods using aromatic solvents and plastisol printing methods using phthalates and PVC are prohibited
- All operators must have an environmental policy including target goals and procedures to minimize waste and discharges.
Technical Quality and Human Toxicity Criteria
- Technical quality parameters must be met (s.a. rubbing, perspiration, light and washing fastness and shrinkage values)
- Raw materials, intermediates, final textile products as well as accessories must meet stringent limits regarding unwanted residues
Social Criteria
- The key norms of the International Labour Organization (ILO) must be met by all processors and manufacturers, such as safe and hygienic working conditions, employment is freely chosen, etc.
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Though more manufacturers are becoming certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard, only about 50 companies in the U.S., representing stages all along the entire organic textile supply chain, have chosen to become GOTS certified. At Naturepedic, we chose to become GOTS certified (and did so over ten years ago) because we care.
As a GOTS certified organic mattress manufacturer, Naturepedic provides this assurance to its customers by meeting the strict GOTS criteria, maintaining chain of custody records for all organic material purchases, and undergoing regular inspections and audit reviews.