Organic Exchange is proud to announce the new OE 2009 Organic Cotton Farm & Fiber Report is complete and now available. This valuable industry-serving report is available to OE members at the $500 membership level and above, member details here. This report is also available for purchase for $400 USD via the online order form, with any questions please contact Daren Abney: daren@organicexchange.org.

The OE 2009 Organic Cotton Farm & Fiber Report explains that organic cotton now represents 0.76 percent of global cotton production, while exploring the challenges of 2009 production.

Source: Organic Exchange, Daren Abney (Wednesday, February 17, 2010)

Global organic cotton production rose by 20% in 2009 tipping the scales at 175,113 metric tons (802,599 bales) grown on 625,000 acres (253,000 hectares), according to a new report from Organic Exchange (OE).

Source: Ecotextile News (Monday, February 15, 2010)

TLR International Laboratories (NL) have confirmed that garments sold under C&A's "Bio Cotton" label are free of GM-construct.

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Source: C&A (Tuesday, February 09, 2010)

The CICR confirms the misquotation in the FT article. K. R. Kranthi, Acting Director, Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur affirms that the CICR has neither collected samples from organic cotton producers in India anytime nor conducted any ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno sorbent Assay) studies with organic cotton at the institute.

Source: K. R. Kranthi, Acting Director, Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur (Sunday, January 31, 2010)

There has been an enormous amount of controversy and rumour in the global textile sector after a recent FT report alleged that leading European brands sold organic clothing which was knowingly certified as organic but which contained traces of genetically modified (GM) cotton from India. GM cotton is outlawed under organic standards.

Source: Ecotextile News (Thursday, January 28, 2010)

According to Organic Exchange (OE), allegations in a recent article in the German edition of the Financial Times that major retailers are knowingly selling as organic cotton genetically modified (GMO) cotton from India are unfounded.

Source: Organic Exchange, La Rhea Pepper (Wednesday, January 27, 2010)

In response to reports about the integrity of organic cotton coming from India, H&M has confirmed that promoting organic cotton continues to be part of its environmental strategy and says there is no reason to believe that organic cotton used in its garments comes from GM seeds.

Source: Ecotextile News (Tuesday, January 26, 2010)

European retailer C&A is the second major brand to come out today and re-affirm its commitment to organic cotton in the wake of press reports that claimed C&A – along with others – were unknowingly selling organic cotton clothing tainted with genetically modified (GM) cotton.

Source: Ecotextile News (Tuesday, January 26, 2010)

Clothing retailers across Europe have been quick to reassure their customers

that their garments sold under organic cotton labels are indeed environmentally

sound.

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Source: Organic Exchange (Monday, January 25, 2010)

The romantic garden collection is made using organic cotton and recycled materials.

Source: H&M (Monday, January 04, 2010)

The first German language Organic Textile Symposium will take place from 3-4 March, 2010 in Switzerland.

Source: Organic Textile Services (Friday, January 01, 2010)

The Dutch sustainable denim brand Kuyichi plans that in 2010 100% of the cotton they use will be certified as organic.

Source: Ecotextile News (Friday, January 08, 2010)

Organic cotton growers increased plantings by 26% in 2009 compared to the previous year, according to the preliminary data collected by the Organic Trade Association (OTA). However, those surveyed also highlighted the problems of securing a reliable market for their cotton.

Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, December 22, 2009)

Two South America-based label certifiers have been accredited by GOTS giving them the authority to certify to this globally recognised organic textile standard.

Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, December 07, 2009)

Terra Viva - about the organic cotton sector in India, with a video clip about the achievements of Chetna Organic Farming Association.

Source: euronews (Tuesday, November 24, 2009)

Attention Farmers and Farm Groups – OE is introducing the Farmer Visibility Map and needs your to help ensure we have as much information available as possible.

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Source: Ashley Currin (Wednesday, November 18, 2009)

Imagine a complete village growing ‘genetically modified’ Bt Cotton and then falsely certifying it as organic, and exporting it to EU, US, Switzerland and other importers!

Source: The Times of India (Saturday, November 14, 2009)

Anvil Knitwear has launched TrackMyT.com, an interactive, web-based scheme which chronicles the complete journey and environmental impact of a t-shirt, from cotton-seed to consumer.

Source: Ecotextile News (Monday, November 16, 2009)

Cotton Inc. has launched a manual for cotton textile processors which outlines a range of ideas and technologies for the sustainable production of cotton goods.

Source: cotton today (Friday, November 06, 2009)

The conference offered a platform with more than 30 workshops, keynote sessions and panel discussions, organized around four main topics: building partnerships along the chain, value chain integrity, marketing and communication, trends and policies.

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Source: Apparel Online (Sunday, November 01, 2009)

EarthPositive has won the Best Organic Textile Product 2009 at the Natural & Organic Products Annual Industry Awards.

Source: Ecotextile News (Wednesday, October 21, 2009)

It has not rained much recently in the northern regions of Benin in west Africa, the soil is hard and cracking. But from it sprout small and precious white flowers of organic cotton.

Source: France 24, International News 24/7 (Sunday, October 18, 2009)

This hands-on manual is meant to help mainstream retailers to decide on, to source and to market sustainable cotton.

Source: CREM (Monday, September 28, 2009)

The World Congress on Organic Cotton in Interlaken, Switzerland, has started today. More than 350 professionals are meeting 4 days to exchange and to learn about current issues on organic cotton. Read the blog and see the blips about the conference.

Source: Andrea Bischof, Organic & Fairtrade Competence Center (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)

Zameen Organic, a farmer-owned organic cotton trading and marketing company has received a Rs10 million (US$200,000) investment from venture capital firm, Aavishkaar India.

Source: Ecotextile News (Thursday, September 10, 2009)

The 68th Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is underway. Speakers
during a Roundtable discussion on Sunday the 6th suggested that organic cotton has the potential to
provide new ideas that can influence and support wider sustainability drives in the sector.

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Source: International Cotton Advisory Committee (Monday, September 07, 2009)

The bioRe Foundation, which aims to improve the living conditions for more than 11,000 farmer families in India and Tanzania, is to receive a donation of CHF100,000 (US$94,00) from Remei AG, which was awarded the funds from the Zürcher Kantonalbank Sustainability Award.

Source: Ecotextile News (Wednesday, September 02, 2009)

India has set itself a target of US$1 billion worth of organic product sales by 2012 as it looks to capitalise on its already booming production capacity.

Source: Ecotextile News (Friday, August 28, 2009)

Anvil Knitwear has launched a new eco t-shirt made from recycled PET plastic bottles and transitional cotton, which has been grown on farms that are in the process of becoming certified organic.

Source: Ecotextile News (Tuesday, September 01, 2009)

An overview of Organic Exchange and its continued growth during a difficult year.

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Source: Organic Exchange (Friday, August 28, 2009)

A new 8 page exclusive report on the bioRe Tanzania organic cotton project has been published by Ecotextile News magazine and is freely available as a download from this web-site.

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Source: Ecotextile News (Tuesday, August 26, 2008)

In March 2009, Helvetas launched a nation-wide campaign in Switzerland to raise consumer awareness for textiles made from organic and fairtrade cotton. The campaign is implemented in collaboration with brands and retailers (Coop Switzerland, Switcher, Hess Natur), the State Secretariat of Economic Affairs SECO and various other organisations. It includes posters, a shop-finder where retailers can register their offer of organic and fairtrade textiles, and extensive media work.

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Source: Helvetas Organic & Fairtrade Competence Centre (Wednesday, April 01, 2009)

Fuel and fertiliser price hikes, insect infestations and chemical damage to soil have led some cotton farmers in West Africa to produce organic cotton. But the international recession has blunted demand for the new crop, according to an industry trade group.

Source: IRIN Africa News (Tuesday, February 17, 2009)

Despite the difficult retail sector, most brands selling organic cotton remain upbeat about the market for organics with many brands and retailers planning to expand their offers in 2009 and 2010.

Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, March 18, 2009)

A review of crops grown in rotation or as part of the organic cotton farm system.

Source: Organic Exchange (Thursday, May 14, 2009)