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USDA Organic logo
USDA Organic
United States · Tier 1 Gold
OTC
OEKO-TEX Organic Cotton
Global · Tier 2 Trusted
Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) logo
Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC)
United States · Tier 2 Trusted
What it meansThe US Department of Agriculture's national organic standard. The green-and-white seal is the legal mark for any food sold as 'organic' in the United States.Launched April 2023 by the OEKO-TEX Association. A separate certificate from Standard 100 that combines the Standard 100 chemical-residue test with verified organic-cotton supply chain — addressing the long-standing confusion that Standard 100 alone is NOT an organic mark.A 'beyond organic' standard developed by the Regenerative Organic Alliance (Patagonia, Rodale Institute, Dr. Bronner's, others). Built on top of USDA Organic; adds soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness pillars.
ScopeFoodTextilesSeveral categories
Established200220232018
InspectionAnnual on-site by USDA-accredited certifierAnnual on-site by OEKO-TEX-accredited institute (Hohenstein et al.)Annual on-site by ROA-accredited certifier
Residue testingRequired on ≥5% of operations annuallyRequired (Standard 100 panel + GMO/pesticide screening)Per USDA NOP
Guarantees
  • At least 95% of ingredients are certified organic (the '100% Organic' variant requires every ingredient).
  • No synthetic pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers, no GMOs, no sewage sludge, no irradiation.
  • Annual on-site inspection by a USDA-accredited certifier.
  • Residue testing on at least 5% of certified operations each year.
  • Two grades: 'Organic Cotton' (100% certified-organic cotton) and 'Organic Cotton Blended' (≥70% certified-organic cotton).
  • Full Standard 100 chemical residue test on the finished product.
  • Additional GMO test + pesticide residue test specific to organic farming.
  • Verified chain of custody from farm to finished product.
  • Annual re-certification with independent OEKO-TEX institute audits.
  • USDA Organic baseline (or equivalent) is a prerequisite.
  • Soil health: cover cropping, no-till or reduced-till, conservation crop rotation, compost.
  • Animal welfare: pasture-based, Five Freedoms, prohibits factory-farm conditions.
  • Social fairness: living wage, freedom of association, safe workplace, no forced or child labour.
  • Three tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold based on adoption depth.
Does NOT
  • Doesn't certify nutrition, taste, or animal welfare specifically (separate marks like AWA cover welfare).
  • Doesn't guarantee local production — a 'USDA Organic' product can be grown anywhere with an accredited inspector.
  • Doesn't certify the social/labour conditions across the supply chain in the way GOTS does (use OEKO-TEX STeP for that, or pair with GOTS).
  • Cotton-only — doesn't apply to other organic fibres (wool, hemp, linen).
  • Newer label (2018+) — supply still limited, mostly US brands.

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