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GOTS Scope 4 - Chemical Inputs & Accessories

GOTS Scope 4 - Chemical Inputs & Accessories

Get GOTS Scope 4 Letter of Approval (LoA) for dyes, textile auxiliaries, and accessories with ETKO. Ensure global organic textile compliance and expand market…

Green Chemistry Certification
On this page
  1. GOTS Scope 4: Chemical Inputs & Accessories Certification
  2. What Does GOTS Scope 4 Cover?
  3. The GOTS Scope 4 Approval Process
  4. Who this standard is for
  5. What is certified
  6. What this standard does not cover
  7. Questions buyers and operators usually ask
  8. What to have ready before the audit
  9. Frequent findings
  10. Frequently asked questions
  11. Related standards
  12. Application Process

GOTS Scope 4: Chemical Inputs & Accessories Certification

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the world's leading processing standard for organic fibers, ensuring environmental and social responsibility throughout the entire supply chain. GOTS Scope 4 is the dedicated certification category for evaluating and approving chemical inputs—such as dyestuffs, textile auxiliaries, printing inks, and accessories—used in organic textile manufacturing.

ETKO provides independent verification for chemical manufacturers, formulators, and traders seeking GOTS Scope 4 approval, enabling seamless integration into the global sustainable textile supply chain.

What Does GOTS Scope 4 Cover?

GOTS Scope 4 certification assesses all chemical preparations and structural components applied in textile wet processing, dyeing, printing, and finishing stages:

  • Dyestuffs & Pigments: Organic and inorganic colorants, dyes, and pigment formulations used in textile processing.

  • Textile Auxiliaries: Wetting agents, softeners, enzymes, fixatives, sizing agents, and finishing auxiliaries.

  • Printing Inks & Pastes: Digital textile inks, binders, and printing formulation components.

  • Accessories: Buttons, zippers, sewing threads, linings, and trims evaluated against GOTS environmental criteria.

The GOTS Scope 4 Approval Process

Achieving a GOTS Letter of Approval (LoA) involves a rigorous multi-step evaluation:

  1. Application & Product Inventory: Submission of full technical specifications and chemical inventory to be evaluated.

  1. Document & SDS Review: In-depth technical review of Safety Data Sheets (SDS), Technical Data Sheets (TDS), and analytical test reports against GOTS toxicological and eco-criteria.

  1. On-Site Facility Inspection: On-site audit evaluating chemical manufacturing practices, environmental management systems, wastewater treatment, and occupational health and safety (OHS).

  1. Issuance of Letter of Approval (LoA): Compliant products receive an official GOTS Scope 4 Letter of Approval (LoA), valid for one year and registered on the GOTS approved chemical database.

Who this standard is for

GOTS Scope 4 is for manufacturers of dyes, auxiliaries, and accessories that sell into GOTS-certified textile wet processing. It is an input/accessory approval, not a GOTS product certificate for fabric or garments.

What is certified

  • Chemical inputs evaluated against GOTS toxicity, biodegradability, and restricted-substance rules
  • Accessories and trims intended for GOTS articles (buttons, zips, sewing thread as applicable)
  • Technical dossiers, SDS, and test data supporting approval
  • Supply of approved products to GOTS processors

What this standard does not cover

  • Certifying a mill’s fabric or a brand’s garment as GOTS
  • OCS, GRS, or ZDHC MRSL listing treated as automatic GOTS approval
  • Farm-level organic fibre production

Questions buyers and operators usually ask

If our dye is GOTS-approved, is the customer’s t-shirt GOTS?

No. The customer still needs GOTS certification of their facility and product. Scope 4 only lets a GOTS mill use that input.

Is a ZDHC MRSL conformance letter enough?

No. GOTS has its own chemical criteria and approval route. MRSL tools help restricted-substance management but do not replace GOTS input approval.

Do we recertify every shade?

Follow the current GOTS implementation: products are approved as defined in the dossier (product name, chemistry, colour index where relevant). A new formulation is a new approval, not a colour-card courtesy.

Can an accessory supplier skip Scope 4 if the garment factory is GOTS-certified?

The factory’s certificate does not approve your zip or button. Accessories used on GOTS goods must meet GOTS accessory rules; many require Scope 4 / equivalent approval evidence.

What to have ready before the audit

  • Product list with trade names and chemical identity
  • SDS and toxicological / biodegradation data
  • Restricted-substance test reports where required
  • Formulation change-control procedure
  • Customers that are GOTS processors (for sampling the supply chain)

Frequent findings

  • Marketing a Scope 4 approval as a GOTS garment certificate
  • Changing a surfactant in a dye formulation without re-approval
  • Assuming REACH registration equals GOTS approval
  • Selling unapproved leftovers under an approved trade name

Frequently asked questions

If our dye is GOTS-approved, is the customer’s t-shirt GOTS?
No. The customer still needs GOTS certification of their facility and product. Scope 4 only lets a GOTS mill use that input.
Is a ZDHC MRSL conformance letter enough?
No. GOTS has its own chemical criteria and approval route. MRSL tools help restricted-substance management but do not replace GOTS input approval.
Do we recertify every shade?
Follow the current GOTS implementation: products are approved as defined in the dossier (product name, chemistry, colour index where relevant). A new formulation is a new approval, not a colour-card courtesy.
Can an accessory supplier skip Scope 4 if the garment factory is GOTS-certified?
The factory’s certificate does not approve your zip or button. Accessories used on GOTS goods must meet GOTS accessory rules; many require Scope 4 / equivalent approval evidence.
Does ETKO provide GOTS Scope 4 - Chemical Inputs & Accessories certification?
Yes. ETKO certifies GOTS Scope 4 - Chemical Inputs & Accessories within its Green Chemistry Certification program. This page covers the standard, the application process, and related documents.
What is GOTS Scope 4 - Chemical Inputs & Accessories?
Get GOTS Scope 4 Letter of Approval (LoA) for dyes, textile auxiliaries, and accessories with ETKO. Ensure global organic textile compliance and expand market…
How do I apply for GOTS Scope 4 - Chemical Inputs & Accessories certification with ETKO?
Submit an online quote request on the ETKO website: https://www.etko.com.tr/certifications/greenchem/quote-request
Where can I find GOTS Scope 4 - Chemical Inputs & Accessories regulations and forms?
ETKO's document center lists regulations, application forms, and current guidelines for this standard: https://www.etko.com.tr/documents?category=greenchem&standard=gots-scope-4-kimyasal-girdiler-ve-aksesuarlar

Related standards

Application Process

At ETKO, we manage your application process transparently, quickly, and clearly. Our process consists of the following steps:

01.Application and Information Exchange

We gather preliminary information about your company's structure and production processes.

02.Proposal and Contract

We present a detailed proposal for the inspection process and sign a contract upon your approval.

03.Pre-Audit Preparation

This is the process of preparing the necessary documentation (chemical inventory, social compliance documents, etc.).

04.On-Site Audit

Expert ETKO auditors visit your facility and examine your compliance with the criteria on-site.

05.Reporting and Certification

After non-conformities are resolved (if any), the audit report is approved and your certificate is issued.