Global Standard, the non-profit organisation behind the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), has been awarded an Impulse Grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund to enhance its auditor training programs. This grant will fund the development of a continuous learning policy and a specialised training curriculum focusing on GOTS Due Diligence Criteria, aimed at improving human rights due diligence within the textile industry.
The new training resources come in response to the growing demand for more responsible and transparent supply chains, which require auditors to possess a deep understanding of human rights due diligence. “The increasing demand for responsible and transparent supply chains requires auditors to have a deep understanding of human rights due diligence and its application in textile certification,” said Ruslan Alyamkin, Responsible, Standard Development and Implementation (Social Responsibility) at Global Standard. “With this project, we aim to equip GOTS auditors with the necessary expertise to assess compliance effectively, reinforcing the credibility of GOTS certification.”
Key Objectives of the Training Program
The training initiative addresses the challenges auditors face due to evolving regulations like the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDD) and the lack of clear implementation guidelines within the textile sector. The project will focus on three main objectives:
- Developing a continuous learning policy for GOTS auditors and creating a structured framework for ongoing professional development.
- Designing a specialised training curriculum, focusing on equipping auditors with the necessary skills to assess compliance with GOTS Due Diligence Criteria.
- Conducting a pilot training programme for approximately 30 auditors, incorporating feedback from certification bodies and real-world audit experiences to improve and refine the training approach.
By incorporating best practices in human rights due diligence and insights from internationally recognised frameworks, such as the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, this initiative will ensure auditors are prepared to verify compliance effectively in the textile industry.
This initiative is part of Global Standard’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its Due Diligence Framework, which includes the GOTS certification system, detailed manuals for implementation, and handbooks for both certified entities and auditors. These resources are designed to ensure GOTS-certified companies meet evolving regulatory standards and stakeholder expectations.
“With mandatory human rights due diligence laws becoming more prevalent and setting higher standards for corporate accountability, the role of auditors in verifying compliance is more crucial than ever,” added Alyamkin.
This project is supported by an Impulse Grant from ISEAL, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The project will be implemented in collaboration with UpRights, an organisation dedicated to promoting human rights.
With this grant, Global Standard takes a significant step towards equipping auditors with the tools needed to ensure greater accountability and human rights compliance across the textile value chain.
