certificates
wunderwerk has been a member of the IVN, the International Association for Natural Textiles (www.naturtextil.de), from day one in order to support this association and its projects. The “IVN Best” seal is still one of the highest sustainable seals today and is regarded as the benchmark for sustainable textile production.
The organic cotton used at wunderwerk is also almost exclusively produced in accordance with the Global Organic Textile Standard, or GOTS for short, and has therefore been awarded one of the best certificates. This globally recognized and widespread standard is issued by the International Working Group on GOTS. One of the members of this group is the IVN. The GOTS is therefore only indirectly an IVN standard, even though the IVN played a leading role in its development.
The “IVN certified” standard, which is no longer awarded today, was the inspiration and was largely used as a template for the GOTS. The requirements of the GOTS are slightly lower than those of the NATURTEXTIL IVN certified BEST and are therefore a minimum standard for products that the IVN rates as genuine and consistent natural textiles.
The most important difference between the two guidelines lies in the minimum quantity of certified natural fibers. A product must consist of at least 90% natural fibers if it is to carry the GOTS label; a maximum of 10% may be synthetic fibers or viscose. Only socks, leggings and sportswear may contain up to 25% synthetic fibers. Irrespective of this, at least 70% of the fibers must come from plants or animals from controlled organic farming (kbA or kbT).
The list of approved paints and auxiliaries is longer than that for BEST; for example, copper may be used as an exception for paints containing heavy metals.
Mercerization, i.e. the refinement of cotton yarns with caustic soda to increase the sheen, is permitted by GOTS. Optical brighteners are also permitted. wunderwerk rejects this. Interlinings, embroidery threads or ribbons made of viscose are permitted for trimmings and accessories, but do not necessarily have to be made of natural fibers. Buttons made of plastic, for example, may also be used. Here too, wunderwerk tends to follow the IVN BEST standard. Source: https://naturtextil.de/qualitaetszeichen/gots/
