Blockchain Could Soon Be Used to Trace Organic Cotton Thanks to Bext360 Agricultural Project
The increase in interest in organic materials in fashion is growing, and the global market for just organic cotton alone has risen to $15 billion. The growth in production has grown in the double digits each year, but companies are having a hard time keeping up with the demand from consumers. The current supply chain has even made it difficult for manufacturers to determine if the materials they acquire are truly organic or a cheap imitation, according to a recent article in Forbes.
Bext360, an agricultural blockchain startup, has decided to partner with multiple tech companies, especially nonprofits and fashion-based platforms. This partnership is all part of a pilot test to see if blockchain technology can find a use case in the sourcing of organic cotton on the supply chain. The founder and CEO of Bext360, Dan Jones, said that the systems were created “at the farm level.” Essentially, the pilot will include marking the bags of organic cotton when they are harvested, ensuring that the source is recorded.
The pilot, which is being called the Organic Cotton Traceability Pilot, is a partnership between the C&A Foundation, the Organic Cotton Accelerator and Fashion for Good. Supported by C&A, Zalando, PVH Corp and the Kering Group as well, the cotton is traced from the farm to the processing gin. During the second phase of the pilot, the cotton is then traced from gin to the consumer. At the final stage, the stage will be connecting organic farmers, textile producers, and fashion companies.
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Source: bitcoinexchangeguide.com (Tuesday, March 05, 2019)
Wednesday, March 06, 2019
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Report shows ‘preferred cotton’ sourcing progress
Textile Exchange has published the first annual 2020 Sustainable Cotton Challenge Report, as part of an initiative that aims to encourage brands and retailers to source 100 per cent of their cotton from a list of approved environmental standards.
It was found that nearly half (47 per cent) of the current signatories to the programme have already achieved a preferred cotton share in their supply chains of between 75 – 100 per cent.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Friday, February 22, 2019)
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Pakistan resurrects organic cotton production
In the frame of a project run by WWF-Pakistan and Directorate of Agriculture Extension, Baluchistan, Pakistan has taken up the production of organic cotton again with the support of C&A Foundation.
By 2021 it is expect all the cotton will be certified as organic and reach 15,000 metric tonnes of lint.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, February 07, 2019)
Monday, February 11, 2019
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Growth in Fairtrade (and organic) cotton
Of the Fairtrade cotton grown, 73 per cent was joint certified organic (8,311 tonnes lint).
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Source: EcoTextile News (Sunday, January 27, 2019)
Monday, February 11, 2019
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Volcom launches 'farm to yarn' initiative
US clothing company Volcom has announced the launch of a new sustainability-focused project in India called ‘Farm to Yarn’.
In partnership with the social enterprise CottonConnect, the initiative focuses on growing certified organic cotton that’s traceable back to the farm of origin, while also providing education programs for the farmers and the women in the farming villages of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh - the locations from which the cotton was sourced.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, January 17, 2019)
Friday, January 18, 2019
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic Cotton Sourcing Guide launched
The German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and the Swiss development organisation Helvetas has launched an Organic Cotton Sourcing Guide, to coincide with Berlin Fashion Week’s ‘How hard is it to go organic?’ forum.
The Guide lays out the case for the use of organic cotton, featuring a ‘Six steps to go organic’ section, along with quotes from leading companies such as H&M and Aldi on why organic cotton is important for the fashion industry.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, January 17, 2019)
Friday, January 18, 2019
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Record attendance at Organic Cotton Café
As this year’s World Café on Organic Cotton comes to a close, the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) reflects on a highly successful 77th annual meeting in the capital of Côte d'Ivoire, which attracted a record number of delegates.
With the theme ‘Cotton Challenges: Smart and Sustainable Solutions’, 150 people were in attendance as the event set its sights on driving discussion around organic cotton in hopes of yielding practical ideas for the wider industry to implement in future.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, December 06, 2018)
Friday, January 18, 2019
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Cotton project reinvigorates Fukushima economy
Seven years on from the devastation caused by an earthquake, tsunami and a nuclear disaster, cotton – a crop which thrived in Japan until about a century ago – is going from strength to strength once again in Fukushima.
Started by local residents in 2012, the Fukushima Organic Cotton Project is behind this upturn in fortunes and is said to have increased the amount of cotton the region harvests tenfold since 2013.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, November 08, 2018)
Friday, January 18, 2019
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
IntegriTEX system against fraud
raud in organic cotton is an old problem. Now TailorLux, a German company, think they have a solution and are taking it to the field in India. Simon Ferrigno reports.
Tailorlux's IntegriTEX system uses 'inorganic security pigments' (colour particles) as markers in fibres and textiles, which can be identified using light pens. These are used to fight counterfeiting and as proof of origin (including in Pima and Egyptian cotton), but following a visit to the Chetna organic/Fairtrade cotton project, founder Alex Deitermann wants to stop the fraud that has blighted organic cotton in India, according to an article in Germany's SudDeutsche Zeitung.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, October 23, 2018)
Friday, January 18, 2019
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Oritain reveals ‘100 per cent traceable cotton’ collaboration
Oritain has, alongside Albini Group and Supima, announced a strategic partnership seeking to offer the first 100 per cent scientifically traceable Supima organic cotton to the mainstream fashion market.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, October 15, 2018)
Friday, January 18, 2019
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Outerknown launches 100% organic cotton jeans
US apparel firm Outerknown has moved into the production of jeans, launching S.E.A. Jeans which the brand says incorporates 100 per cent organic cotton from Candiani & ISKO denim mills and is manufactured by Saitex.
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, August 29, 2018)
Monday, October 15, 2018
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
West Africa hub could boost organic cotton
The idea of a cotton sourcing hub in West Africa has recently resurfaced, but this time it’s being tied to a goal to which could massively increase the production of organic cotton. Simon Ferrigno catches up with Tobias Meier of Swiss-based consultancy Ecos to learn more about the initiative which is scheduled to kick-off in Burkina Faso in September.
Producer groups are being organised from four countries: Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Benin and want to reach a local organic cotton market share of 5 per cent within the next few years – effectively making ten times more organic cotton available from the region than there is now.
Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, July 30, 2018)
Monday, October 15, 2018
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
C&A Foundation blazes trail for organic cotton co-operation
C&A Foundation and the Government of Madhya Pradesh have co-hosted ‘Cotton Trailblazers’, an event held in Bhopal which highlighted, among other things, the role of organic cotton cultivation in improving the livelihood of farmers in the region.
The event was designed to enable a dialogue to be established between stakeholders at different stages of the organic cotton supply chain, in order to strengthen industry ties and increase the resilience of the sector.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, May 09, 2018)
Monday, October 15, 2018
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
OTA kicks off organic anti-fraud pilot
Fraud is a still an on-going issue in the organic cotton sector, leading to many traders and brands refusing to source fibre from some regions where the problem is rife. Now though, the US Organic Trade Association has launched a pilot project following similar problems in the food sector, which could also prove to be a potential solution for organic textiles. Simon Ferrigno takes a closer look.
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Source: Ecotextile News (Thursday, July 05, 2018)
Thursday, July 05, 2018
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Pakistan organic cotton eyes certification
Up to 50,000 bales of organic cotton currently being cultivated in Pakistan will get certification from world agencies next year, the World Wildlife Fund Pakistan (WWF-P) and the Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) says. WWF-P will supervise the crop’s quality before it is then certified by an independent, verified body.
At the meeting organised by WWF-P to inform cotton stakeholders of certification plans, issues related to seed, production, demand, and textile supply chain linkages were discussed.
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Source: EcotextileNews (Wednesday, February 21, 2018)
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Tintex ditches conventional cotton
Tintex has announced that it has completely switched from using conventional cotton and the launch of a new range. Naturally Advanced Cotton by Tintex has a choice of four responsible cotton solutions, the company says. These include the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Ecotec by Marchi and Fildi, GOTS certified organic cotton, and Supima.
BCI cotton aims to reduce the environmental impact of cotton production, improve the livelihoods and economic development in cotton producing areas, and commit to increase the flow of Better Cotton throughout the supply chain.
Ecotec yarn saves 77.9 per cent of water during the manufacturing process, according to Tintex, and is made from 50 per cent recycled polyester.
Recently, Tintex has taken on German brand Jan’n June, which has garments printed with QR codes showing customers information about the fabrics used and sourcing.
Overall, the company says its new collection uses up to 90 per cent sustainable materials, including up to 40 per cent contemporary cotton from BCI, Ecotec, GOTS and Supima.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Sunday, January 15, 2017)
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Ethiopia produces first certified organic cotton
The first ever organic cotton certificates in Ethiopia have been handed out to 200 cotton farmers located near Arba Minch in North Omo where yield rates have risen by 100 per cent and price per kg of cotton has risen by 77 per cent in some instances.
This organic cotton project is being funded by the fashion reuse charity TRAID, supported by the Pesticide Action Network UK, and was delivered in-country by PAN Ethiopia.
Organic cotton production in some parts of Ethiopia have raised controversy in the past due to accusations of land grabs but this project is based in a different region of the country to where previous problems have been reported.
Ecotextile News has reported on this venture before which started out life as an integrated pest management (IPM) project. Over 2,800 cotton farmers in Ethiopia are currently involved.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, January 11, 2018)
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Timberland reveals use of organic cotton
Fashion brand Timberland has announced its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) results for Q3 2017. The report is broken down into Product, Outdoors, and Community.
In Q3, Timberland says 79 per cent of all cotton used in Timberland apparel was either organic, or US origin, or Better Cotton Initiative certified.
The company also claims that its use of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) was 52 grams per pair of shoes, and 93.7 per cent of leather came from tanneries that have silver or gold ratings by the Leather Working Group.
Timberland sourced from 365 factories in Q3 with 99 per cent of them meeting the company’s compliance standards. 32 per cent of energy used by the company was from renewable sources, with the aim of reaching 50 per cent still not achieved.
Landfill diversion rose to 75 per cent from 54 per cent in the previous year. In regard to workers, there was an increase in benefit and hours utilisation in Q3 2017, as Timberland employees worked a total of 12,953 hours.
Timberland, alongside the Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA) and Haiti’s minister of commerce and industry, recently announced the reintroduction of cotton as an anchor crop in Haiti, after a 30 year absence. The company says the project will revitalise over 17,000 farms, while adding to the economy and contributing positively to the environment as it plans to plant millions of trees. Cotton was once the fourth largest agricultural export from Haiti before it disappeared by the late 1980s. Its demise was due largely to external pressures and internal politics, not climate or environmental concerns.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, December 12, 2017)
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
White paper seeks organic cotton progress
A report published by European fashion giant Kering and Textile Exchange has addressed the challenging issues of pricing and the existing trading models that are used in today’s organic cotton supply chain. Increasingly, it says today’s business sourcing models are becoming less ‘fit for purpose’.
The newly released 66 page white paper includes a ‘how to’ guide for companies at all levels of the organic cotton supply chain and says that getting trade and pricing mechanisms right for cotton and other commodities in the textile industry will be critical if international sustainable development goals are to be met.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, December 12, 2017)
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Textile Exchange Releases 2017 Organic Cotton Market Report
The 2017 Organic Cotton Market Report provides the most up-to-date data on organic cotton fiber production. The report includes both a global overview of the sector and trends and deeper dives into each producer region.
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Source: Textile Exchange (Thursday, January 01, 1970)
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Submitted by Lisa Emberson
Reports aim to boost organic cotton trade
Kering and Textile Exchange have today published two guides on the organic cotton trade, which they hope will provide a blueprint for companies sourcing organic cotton, and accelerate its use across textile and clothing supply chains.
Because the organic cotton market has been quite fragmented and only makes up approximately 0.5 per cent of the total cotton supply, it is often difficult for companies to find what they need in terms of organic cotton sourcing.
The first report concerns fibre classification to ease sourcing based on quality, type and regional varieties whereas the second – and potentially extremely useful document – examines organic cotton trading models and aims to progress more responsible pricing and trade.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, November 08, 2017)
Thursday, November 09, 2017
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
GM cotton report sparks war of words
The cotton industry has never been free from controversy. Whether debating sustainability, organic cotton status or genetic modification (GM), views across the industry have seldom been aligned.
Following the release of the recent Soil Association (SA) report on GM cotton in India – interpreted on the whole as a damning account of what it described as “the astronomical rise and catastrophic fall of GM cotton in India” – another tempestuous row has erupted with cotton at the centre.
Soil Association maintains that GM is harming the lives of farmers, both economically and otherwise. “Organic cotton can be just as profitable as non-organic cotton, incomes are more secure as farmers grow other crops alongside their cotton, and organic farmers have the opportunity to supply a market that has been growing for years.”
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, October 12, 2017)
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
India drags on organic cotton volumes
Latest organic cotton production figures show that total global production fell 4 per cent in the 2015 – 16 season with volumes at 107,980 metric tonnes as production in number one region India fell to just over 60,000 metric tonnes – still 56 per cent of total global output.
In 2015/16, world cotton production declined by 19 per cent to 21.3 million tons, which was the lowest volume since 2002/03. In this period organic cotton represented an estimated 0.5 per cent of global production.
Top buyers of organic cotton in this period included C&A, H&M, Tschibo, Nike and Inditex, respectively, although exact volumes purchased were not detailed in the new report released today.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, October 12, 2017)
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Regenerative organic certification takes shape
A new standard for regenerative organic agriculture, which applies to cotton production is now in the process of being set up by a coalition of farmers, nonprofits, scientists, and brands such as Patagonia in collaboration with the certification body NSF International, which is facilitating a public comment process to ensure broad stakeholder engagement as the protocol is developed.
Led by the Rodale Institute, the move aims to increase soil organic matter over time, improve animal welfare, provide economic stability and fairness for farmers to create resilient regional ecosystems and communities.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Friday, October 13, 2017)
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Changing fashion - The clothing and textile industry at the brink of radical transformation
WWF rating of 12 textile brands shows a bad picture with regard to brands engagement against climate change and water pollution.
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Source: WWF (Thursday, September 28, 2017)
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Integrity of Indian organic cotton questioned
Textile manufacturer Elmer & Zweifel GmbH & Co.KG, which owns the Cotonea organic cotton brand, has called for the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) to investigate what it claims to be genetically modified (GMO) cotton in GOTS labelled products originating from India. The company notes that GMO cotton in India now accounts for as much as 90 per cent of total production saying there will soon be no GMO-free cotton available in India as GMO cotton plantations continue to expand into nearby organically grown agricultural land.
This is not the first time that accusations of GMO cotton from India is being labelled and sold as organic cotton on the international market. Back in 2010, an investigation into Indian organic cotton by the German Financial Times found that H&M, C&A and Tchibo have been unknowingly selling garments labelled as organic, which were contaminated with genetically modified cotton.
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Source: www.ecotextilenews; www.cotonea.com (Thursday, September 07, 2017)
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Quick Guide to Organic Cotton
Quick Guide to Organic Cotton is an overview of the impacts of organic cotton, including frequently asked questions and supporting facts that indicate organic cotton is the best choice for people and planet.
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Source: Textile Exchange (Monday, June 26, 2017)
Monday, June 26, 2017
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Remei helps to realise opportunities
Fed up with identical clothing offers and with always the same fashion brands where supply chains remain obscure and lack visibility, Jürg Peritz, former Executive Board Member of Switzerland's Coop Group decided to partner with fellow Swiss business Remei Ag to develop a new private label organic collection that he says provides retailers a unique differentiation in the market-place and a very strong position to develop future markets for fashion.
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Source: Ecotextile News (Friday, February 03, 2017)
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
First Stakeholder Round Table on Organic Textiles in China
China
Together with their Chinese cooperation partner Chinese National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), GOTS organized a first time stakeholder round table to discuss challenges for (GOTS) certified organic textiles in the Chinese market.
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Source: GOTS (Wednesday, November 30, 2016)
Thursday, December 01, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Jill Dumain new CEO at bluesign
Bluesign technologies has announced that former Patagonia executive Jill Dumain will take up the position of CEO from January 2017 following the decision by Peter Waeber to retire at the end of the year. Swiss scientist Waeber began to develop sustainable products in the 1980s, with a project for the World Wildlife Federation (WWF). He founded Bluesign in 2000, and successfully developed it into a leading input based textile supply chain management system. He will continue to serve as a member of Bluesign technologies' advisory board.
Taking over, Dumain has held various senior positions at Patagonia for more than 27 years, her time there having spanned positions in textile research and development to her current role as director of environmental strategy. Her projects have included the transition to organic cotton, The Common Threads Recycling Program, The Footprint Chronicles, and the introduction of bluesign tools and systems at Patagonia.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, November 10, 2016)
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Study makes case for Haiti organic cotton farming
US outdoor apparel brand Timberland and the Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA) have launched the results of a study which looks at the potential for smallholder cotton farming in Haiti. The results make a solid case bringing cotton farming back to Haiti while proposing a new model for introducing small-scale Haitian farmers to the global economy via exports. Cotton was once valuable agricultural export crop for Haiti but it has been hit hard by natural disasters, deforestation and various trade embargoes. The study looked at opportunities of smallholder cultivation of organic certification or participation in the Better Cotton Initiative.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, November 16, 2016)
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Achieving SDGs trough Organic Cotton
Textile Exchange explains how organic cotton farming plays a role in helping countries achieve their SDGs. Millions of people around the world live in rural communities depending on farming. Holistic organic farming systems based on the organic principles of health, ecology, fairness and care, build thriving and resilient communities that attract people to stay on the land rather than move to cities, regenerating and nurturing the earth, its resources, and its people.
Source: Textile Exchange (Thursday, October 20, 2016)
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Forget Organic, Retailers Increasingly Are Turning to Sustainable Cotton
Cotton, the most widely used natural fiber, is considered the world’s dirtiest crop because of its heavy use of pesticides—its cultivation accounts for 17.5 percent of global insecticide sales. So in recent years, several apparel and home-goods companies, including Eileen Fisher, Patagonia, and Nike, have used organic cotton, grown by farmers who eschew pesticides and enrich their soil with compost. That’s good for the environment but raises another big problem: Organic cotton is too expensive for average shoppers. Organic fiber cost as much as $2.20 per pound, vs. about 61¢ for conventional cotton, in the 2015-16 growing season. That’s kept demand low; less than 1 percent of the world’s cotton production is organic.
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Source: Bloomberg.com (Thursday, October 20, 2016)
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
LCA research shows benefits of upcycled cotton
A new study suggests there may be considerable environmental gains to be made by using upcycled cotton materials compared with using conventional and even organic cotton. Researchers carried out a life cycle assessment (LCA) of cotton obtained from recycled garments compared with virgin cotton cultivated from traditional and organic crops, measuring environmental impact categories such as abiotic depletion, global warming, water use, acidification and eutrophication potential.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, October 18, 2016)
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
African land clearances and organic cotton
Following the release of the recent Textile Exchange organic cotton report, one statistic included in the figures immediately jumped out to our team of journalists. That was the brand new production figures for organic cotton in Ethiopia where previously no organic cotton fibres have been documented.
Since then we've been in touch with the certifiers concerned – ICEA – which has confirmed that 145 mt of organic cotton was grown on 900 hectares of a 4600 ha project in the Korcha area of the lower Omo Valley Ethiopia by Turkish company Else Group.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Sunday, October 23, 2016)
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Accelerating Change for a Prosperous Sector
The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) started 2016 with a bold ambition: to build an independent organization fit for the purpose of accelerating positive change in the organic cotton sector. A strategy for structural change and a structure to support its implementation, including partners that represent a significant market share and all key stakeholders, are key to success. After months of hard work behind the scenes, OCA came out strong on the Textile Exchange Sustainability Conference in Hamburg.
Subscribe to the newsletter on the webpage of OCA!
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Source: OCA (Wednesday, October 19, 2016)
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
C&A supports China organic cotton production
The C&A Foundation and C&A China have teamed up to work with conservation NGO Rare to sow seeds for the slowly emerging organic cotton market in China. While China is one of the world's largest producers of cotton - second only to India – in 2015 only around 13,000 of the five million metric tonnes of cotton grown by Chinese cotton farmers were organic. As reported earlier this week by Ecotextile News, China is increasingly pushing its organic textiles market and to this end, China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) is set to run an organic textiles roundtable in Xinjiang Province on 19 September. The event will look at the scale of the organic textile industry in China as well efforts to harmonise Chinese national standards on organic textiles. China's organic fibre - mainly cotton – comes mostly from the northwesterly Xinjiang region.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, August 25, 2016)
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
China to stage organic textile roundtable
China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) will run an organic textiles roundtable in Xinjiang Province on 19 September in recognition of the growing demand for organic textiles in China. The event will look at the scale of the organic textile industry in China as well efforts to harmonise Chinese national standards on organic textiles. Representation from the Chinese standardisation and certification authorities and the BCI has already been confirmed.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, August 22, 2016)
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Ethiopia cotton concerns addressed in report
A new report commissioned by H&M and Dutch Government has outlined the serious sustainability and environmental challenges faced by the cotton sector in Ethiopia. The report looked at six cotton regions and found all of them face severe environmental challenges due to a lack of awareness, knowledge and capacity of the local work force. The report also found there is an over use of pesticides and chemicals causing environmental pollution, as well as water management issues, with an excessive use of water through irrigation systems.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, August 08, 2016)
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Continental Clothing launches organic cotton range
Continental Clothing Company, a leading UK-based wholesale t-shirt manufacturer, is to launch a new range of Fairtrade organic cotton t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts under its new label Fair Share. The company says its decision to invest in Fairtrade cotton is a result of growing market demand for more sustainable textiles and ethically sourced clothing. The first order of 300,000 items has already been made from Fairtrade cotton grown by members of Pratima Agro Fairtrade co-operative in Orissa, India. The farmers are investing Fairtrade certification premiums in projects to enable women to build businesses and market goods to provide them with an independent income. It is expected that Pratima will earn over £9,000 in Fairtrade Premiums per year on top of the Fairtrade price and organic premium thanks to the move.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, June 20, 2016)
Monday, August 08, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Award for US organic cotton farmers
A group of farmers from the Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative (TOCMC) will receive the prestigious Organic Farmer of the Year Leadership Award from the Organic Trade Association (OTA). The award is in recognition of their work in helping organic cotton production in Texas to expand from virtually nothing in the early 1990s to over 20,000 acres in 2015, making the Texas High Plains the largest organic cotton growing region in the US.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, July 26, 2016)
Monday, August 08, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton production down 3.8 per cent
Global production of organic cotton declined 3.8 per cent from 2014 to 2015 according to new figures released by Textile Exchange in its 2016 Organic Cotton Market Report. The fall was down largely to a decrease in production in India, the world's largest producer of organic cotton, whose production area fell by 13 per cent. TE blamed this on Indian farmers moving towards more lucrative crops against a backdrop of depressed cotton prices. The organic cotton area in China, the world's second largest producer, however rose by seven per cent.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, July 21, 2016)
Monday, August 08, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton initiative launches in Pakistan
WWF-Pakistan and the Agriculture Extension Department (AED) Balochistan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to initiate a formal partnership for capacity building of organic cotton farmers in Balochistan. Balochistan is one of the four provinces of Pakistan, located in the southwestern region of the country. Its provincial capital and largest city is Quetta.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, May 24, 2016)
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Cotton Inc joins debate on cotton sustainability
US cotton research and promotion organisation, Cotton Inc, has shared with Ecotextile News its views on the current debate around sustainability in the cotton industry following the recent publication of a report which claimed that more than fourth fifths of identity cottons – such as BCI and organic – are being sold on the conventional market.
The report, commissioned by Pesticides Action Network (PAN) UK, Solidaridad and WWF, holds up four identity cotton programmes – Fairtrade, BCI, Organic and CmiA – as being sustainable, and suggests there is a significant gap between the production of these cottons and uptake by retailers and apparel brands.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Friday, April 15, 2016)
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
National Geographic launches cotton film
Leading international apparel retailer, C&A is supporting a new National Geographic documentary which looks at the growth of more sustainable cotton practices. The 60 minute documentary reveals to viewers the importance of a shift to more sustainable cotton production methods, highlighting how 2.4 per cent of the world's crop land is planted with cotton and yet the crop accounts for 24 and 11 per cent of global sales of insecticide and pesticides respectively. The film claims that organic cotton delivers "substantial economic and environmental benefits, but represents less than 1 per cent of the world's total annual crop."
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, May 05, 2016)
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
GOTS wins civil action and urges greater FTC vigilance
In a move that highlights the problem of false organic cotton fibre claims on textiles, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) has just won a US legal case against three companies, where it alleged the unauthorised use of the GOTS logo on sleeping mattresses. Subsequently, the organisation also urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to expressly acknowledge GOTS, refer to NOP’s Policy Memorandum on Textiles, and to monitor and enforce use of the term “organic” on textiles more closely in the USA.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, April 07, 2016)
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Most sustainable cotton, "sold as conventional cotton"
A new research briefing on cotton says that 83 per cent of sustainable cotton gets no recognition and is actually sold into the conventional cotton market. This new research by three leading NGO's suggests there is a significant gap between the production of sustainable cottons and uptake by retailers and apparel brands.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, April 05, 2016)
Thursday, April 07, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Timberland investigates Haiti cotton farming
US outdoor brand Timberland is investigating the opportunities for sustainable cotton farming in Haiti in a new feasibility study being carried out together with Impact Farming and the Haiti-based Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA). The study will look at opportunities of smallholder cultivation of organic certification or participation in the Better Cotton Initiative.
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, March 23, 2016)
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
ISKO awarded Nordic Swan label
Turkish brand ISKO has become the first denim mill in the world to be awarded the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. The standard is high and has strict requirements for the entire value chain, from cotton field to the finished fabric. The emphasis is on organic cultivation, low water consumption, sound chemical use and good working conditions.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, March 10, 2016)
Monday, March 21, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
German-led project addresses supply chain traceability
A German Development Agency (GIZ) project is working with Bangladeshi garment manufacturers to look at how traceability can be improved in the country's notoriously complex textile supply chains. Sustainability standards have 'Chain of Custody' requirements (particularly the organic standards) – this means the ownership of a product or its inputs must be documented throughout the production process.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, March 10, 2016)
Monday, March 21, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Farmer suggests organic cotton “isn’t profitable”
A prominent US cotton farmer has claimed the organic cotton market simply "isn't profitable at the current time" due to the risks and certification costs associated with growing organic as well as consumer apathy about the sustainability of the clothing they wear.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, February 25, 2016)
Monday, March 21, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
The Better Project - Sustainable Fashion - Need your help !
An immersive EP installation and launch based on the concept of 'growth'. Incorporating a sustainable fashion show, to raise awareness for climate change.
We have launched a kick starter and have only 9 days left to raise the rest of the money to make this event happen and launch 'The Better Project' brand, run by solo musician Lu'Ami and a team of eager sustainable fashion designers and artists.
On the link you watch a video loaded with info and get rewards including a ticket for the event, an exclusive physical 'Better' EP, Sustainable fashion items, a private yoga lesson, artist prints and portrait sketch. ALL sustainable and to help the cause ! Please take a look and give as much as you can, £2 will make a huge difference as well, LETS SAVE THE PLANET TOGETHER. <3
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Source: Lu'Ami (Tuesday, March 08, 2016)
Tuesday, March 08, 2016
Submitted by Louise Nicholls
Market volatility impacts sustainable cotton
World ending cotton stocks are forecast to drop 8 per cent to 20.4 million tons this year, representing the first reduction in world ending stocks since 2009/10 and offering further evidence of the uncertainty sweeping global commodity markets. ICAC says low prices for polyester have hurt world cotton consumption in 2015/16, and its briefing on cotton comes at a time when farmers are also facing a challenge to achieve premiums for organic cotton, the price of which closely linked to conventional cotton.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, March 02, 2016)
Wednesday, March 02, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
UK organic textile market shows further growth
The Soil Association's 2016 Organic Report has revealed that the UK organic market achieved subdued growth of 4.9 per cent 2015, with the UK organic sector now worth £1.95 billion. The report shows that Soil Association Certification organic textile sales were up 16 per cent for the year, with the UK market for Soil Association Certification textile products now worth £21.6 million - sales are being fueled by a wider availability of organic textile ranges and booming sales of organic baby clothes
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Friday, February 26, 2016)
Wednesday, March 02, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
The Challenges to Expanding Organic Cotton
Organic cotton has a strong role to play in creating a sustainable future. Hopefully, with more impetus from companies, greater consumer demand and increased advocacy from organizations like Textile Exchange will make it more easy to buy organic clothing.
read more
Source: Triplepundit (Tuesday, February 09, 2016)
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Burkina Faso abandon GM cotton
This might directly influence the organic cotton sector in Burkina Faso: Cotton companies in Burkina Faso have set a timeline for completely abandoning their use of GM cotton and are demanding US$280 million from US seed and agro-chemicals company, Monsanto, to compensate for losses incurred due to declines in cotton quality since the introduction of Monsanto's insect-resistant Bt cotton. However, Ecotextile News sources suggest this could be temporary measure until a Burkina variety can be developed which could receive the Bt gene.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, February 02, 2016)
Wednesday, February 03, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Deal to boost organic fibre in North America
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) and Textile Exchange (TE) have agreed to work together in a bid to strengthen the North American organic textile industry's public policy influence and public relations efforts. The ultimate aim of the recently signed agreement is to lobby policymakers and to more effectively market the environmental and social benefits associated with organic textile fibres to consumers in North America.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, January 20, 2016)
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Soil Association report: Organic Cotton Production Reduces GHG, Water and Energy Use
Switching to organic production could reduce the global warming impact of cotton production by 46% compared to non-organic cotton production, reduce consumption of scarce fresh water by over 90%, and decrease energy use by over 60%, according to Cool Cotton – Organic Cotton and Climate Change, a recent Soil Association report. The organization notes that conventional cotton has been called the world’s dirtiest crop due to its heavy use of insecticides and water, high greenhouse gas emissions, and land use practices. Globally, cotton production releases 220 million tonnes of CO2e, and one tonne of non-organic cotton produces 1.8 tonnes of CO2e.
read more
Source: GOTS news (Thursday, September 10, 2015)
Monday, January 04, 2016
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Leading cotton merchant to focus on Africa
Moves by one of the world's leading cotton merchants to restructure and focus on the expansion of its African operations have been described by a leading global cotton sustainability expert as a major "vote of confidence" for the region.
Ecotextile News correspondent Simon Ferringno said: "Plexus has always had a big focus on Africa, with its boots on the ground rather than just trading. Clearly they see potential in linking production to more processing, based on their investment in spinning in Uganda. It's probably a positive for sustainability as they are already heavily involved with CmiA and organic cotton. I'd say it's a vote of confidence.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, December 16, 2015)
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
ICAC confirms study on climate change and cotton
The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) has commissioned a study on climate change and cotton production in modern farming systems. The news was announced at the closing of ICAC's recent 74th Plenary Meeting in Mumbai, India, where it was also noted that "measures to increase soil organic matter can help maintain long-term soil fertility, while at the same time contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation."
Discussion about the Reduction in use of insecticides: Many nonchemical insect control options, including biological management, are available that are simple and easy to apply, but which must be used on an area-wide basis.
Customers are increasingly interested in the 'story' of their clothing according to two of the world's leading textile and apparel retailers interviewed at a recent cotton conference in India
read more
Source: ICAC & EcoTextile News (Friday, December 11, 2015)
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Townsend defends GM cotton
Campaigners for organic cotton who attack biotechnology have been compared to flat-earth proponents by former head of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) Terry Townsend.
In an interview with US publication Women's Wear Daily, Townsend launched a staunch defence of GM cotton, crediting its introduction into the Indian market as being one of the reasons that the area under cotton in India has climbed from six million hectares in the early 2000s to 12 million hectares today. GM cotton's introduction, he said, has led to higher yields for farmers and, "fundamentally improved insect control in India."Townsend also dismissed the much-discussed link between farmer suicides and GM cotton-use in India. "India has 35 million households producing cotton. Any time you have a population as large, you're going to have suicides," he said.
EcoTextile cotton correspondent, Simon Ferrigno, suggested Townsend was factually incorrect in his assertion that GM cotton's introduction in India had coincided with yield increases. "Yield increases began before the widespread adoption of GM cotton, and farmers did not have a choice due to withdrawal of some varieties and the arrival of lot of illegal GM hybrids," said Ferrigno.
One industry insider suggested to us that the more pertinent question marks around GM related to the fact that its introduction "often coincides with the promotion of GM cotton to new countries debating its adoption ... it happened in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay."
Terry Townsend's comments can be found in the next printed edition of Ecotextile News.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, December 03, 2015)
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Colombia develops organic cotton production
Organic cotton is now being grown in Colombia for the first time thanks to a pioneering project initiated by German company, La Siesta, which has been manufacturing hammocks using organic cotton since 2008. Organic cotton has been grown in Latin America since the 1990s, starting in Peru, and is also grown in Brazil, Paraguay and in central America, Nicaragua
Much of the raw materials for La Siesta's products is currently supplied by Colombian textile company, Industrias Fatelares, with the two companies working together to produce GOTS-certified hammocks since 2013.
Until recently, organic cotton for such production had to be imported from overseas, as there is no organic cotton available in Colombia. However, La Siesta has now teamed up with a group of farmers in the Colombian province of Tolima with a view to providing organic cotton for La Siesta's hammocks.
Jens Soth of Swiss NGO Helvetas said: "These farmers had a strong and radical organic philosophy and a correspondingly extensive knowledge and experience in organic farming and soil fertility management. For 2014 / 2015 the trials were first intended to start with three farmers on a total of 18 hectares.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, November 30, 2015)
Wednesday, December 02, 2015
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Ethiopia’s Lower Omo Valley: one year on
One year after Ecotextile News ran an exposé of alleged land-grabs linked to a proposed organic cotton development in Ethiopia's Lower Omo Valley, it appears little in the country has changed, as the government appears determined to attract huge swathes of inward investment – whatever the environmental and human cost. That's the view of sustainable cotton expert, Simon Ferrigno, who argues that apparel brands currently heading into Ethiopia should tread with great care.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Thursday, November 19, 2015)
Wednesday, December 02, 2015
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Indidex investing in organic cotton from China
Pablo Isla, chairman and CEO of Spanish business Inditex, presented the sustainability plan which the world's largest fashion retailer is implementing all over the world. With respect to raw materials, Isla talked about investing in organic cotton farms in China and explained the importance of implementing the "right sourcing actions" in supply chains.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, November 04, 2015)
Wednesday, December 02, 2015
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Introducing Pre-Organic Cotton
he POC (Pre Organic Cotton) program is an initiative of two Japanese companies kurkku and Itochu. The program supports farmers' transition from conventional to organic cotton and strives to grow the organic cotton market by supporting successful organic cotton businesses across the supply chain.
read more
Source: Textile Exchange (Tuesday, November 03, 2015)
Wednesday, November 04, 2015
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
C&A Foundation works with WWF in India
C&A Foundation and WWF India are working together on an initiative which aims to see 6,000 farmers in the Satpuda-Pench corridor of Central India gain organic certification. The programme will focus on developing farmer skills in organic cotton growth as well as nature conservation, with the Satpuda-Pench corridor of Central India being adjacent to the Pench Tiger Reserve. Farmer training has already started, with farmers learning how to build the fertility of soil to increase yields, and make natural plant pesticides and compost. The aim is to reduce the financial burden on farmers, improve farmer livelihoods and create incentives for farmers to practice sustainable agriculture and minimise the sale of land to other industries such as mining or for commercial development.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, October 06, 2015)
Wednesday, October 07, 2015
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Climate benefits of organic cotton
Switching to organic cotton could reduce the global warming impact of cotton production by 46% compared to non-organic cotton. Organic cotton would also reduce consumption of scarce fresh water by over 90% and energy use by over 60%.
These numbers were published in a recent report Cool Cotton – Cotton and Climate Change by the Soil Association.
Cotton has been called the world’s dirtiest crop, owing to its heavy use of insecticides and water, high GHG emissions, and land use.
Download the full report Cool Cotton – Cotton and Climate Change (link is external) or read Soil Association’s press release.
read more
Source: IFOAM (Friday, September 11, 2015)
Wednesday, October 07, 2015
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic Cotton Market sees 10% growth following three years of decline
The 2014 Organic Cotton Market Report of Textile Exchange is an important industry tool as well as an opportunity to
celebrate the growers, companies and brands that are building a better organic cotton market. Fiber production data was collected from all organic cotton producing countries, and 57 companies from across the world responded with data to help inform this report.
read more
Source: Textile Exchange (Monday, June 08, 2015)
Tuesday, June 09, 2015
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
TE Launches Organic Cotton Sustainability Assessment Tool (OC-SAT)
Textile Exchange today announced the release of an online tool for the textile industry that measures the environmental, economic and social aspects of organic cotton production. The Organic Cotton Sustainability Assessment Tool (OC-SAT) is the first mechanism in the industry to provide an all-encompassing view of organic cotton’s benefits.
While the tool has been road tested on organic cotton, the assessment framework could be developed for other initiatives in the sector. TE will be holding an interactive webinar to review the OC-SAT on April 22.
Click the link below to access the tool and to download the Summary of Key Findings.
read more
Source: Textile Exchange (Wednesday, March 25, 2015)
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Submitted by Lisa Emberson
Report of Task Force on Cotton Identity Programs
In 2012/13 production in organic cotton programs decreased by 21%. Organic cotton program faces specific challenges with lack of seed availability and a mismatch between supply and demand. However, consumer demand for organic cotton is steadily growing.
read more
Source: ICAC (Thursday, March 05, 2015)
Thursday, March 05, 2015
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
US organic cotton acreage at 20-year high
A survey of organic cotton growers by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) suggests more acres of organic cotton were planted in the US in 2014 than since 1995. The OTA gathered data from 62 organic cotton growers in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas and North Carolina who, between them, are believed to represent all the states with growers of organic cotton in the United States in 2013. Respondents reported a 14 per cent increase in organic cotton acres planted in 2014 – from 15,973 in 2013 to 18,234, representing the largest planted organic cotton acreage in the US since 1995.
The OTA's research suggest that a core group of experienced, knowledgeable organic cotton growers will increasingly account for organic cotton production moving forwards as factors such as a limited supply of labour, the increasing difficulty of weed control, the lack of commercial availability of organic cotton seed, and the growing dominance of GM seeds make the organic cotton market an increasingly tough nut to crack.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, February 10, 2015)
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton accelerator launched
A new initiative aimed at accelerating the uptake of organic cotton has been launched with the backing of retailers such as C&A, H&M and Eileen Fisher, as well as Textile Exchange. The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) will work with "the entire supply chain" in order "to find and fund innovative ways to ensure the supply of organic cotton." The idea for the initiative was first discussed at Textile Exchange's organic cotton roundtable in Istanbul in 2013. The OCA lists its objectives as increasing the supply of and demand for organic cotton, improving social, environmental and economic prosperity for organic cotton farmers, promoting best practices throughout the organic cotton value chain and ensuring the financial viability of OCA.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, November 19, 2014)
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Findings announced of organic cotton LCA
46 per cent reduced global warming potential; 70 per cent less acidification potential; 26 per cent reduced eutrophication potential (soil erosion); 91 per cent reduced blue water consumption; and 62 per cent reduced primary energy demand. These are the most significant LCA findings when comparing organic cotton to conventional.
Textile Exchange used this year's annual conference to announce the results of the first ever Life Cycle Assessment of organic cotton. The findings suggest organic cotton compares highly favourably when measured against conventional cotton in areas such as water consumption, global warming, energy demand and soil erosion.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, November 19, 2014)
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
CmiA launches organic cotton standard
Through its Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) programme, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) has officially launched its ‘CmiA Organic Standard’ onto the market for the first time. The standard principally combines existing organic standards with socio-economic criteria regarding food security, farmer income, and gender equality. It also draws on criteria from the European Organic Regulation’s 834/2007, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) standard, and previous social and economic criteria implemented in CmiA’s principles.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, November 19, 2014)
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Action plan in Ethiopia against land grabbing
H&M has told Ecotextile News it has established an action plan to prevent land-grabbing in Ethiopia. The plan will be followed by its staff on the ground in the country, where we last week reported links between proposed new organic cotton projects in the Lower Omo Valley, Southern Ethiopia and land grabs of virgin land, including the removal of populations and human rights abuses. While H&M has confirmed it was not involved in the Lower Omo Valley project, to its credit, the Swedish retailer appears to have moved swiftly on the issue of land-grabbing in Ethiopia generally.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, November 19, 2014)
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Aid by Trade Foundation to Launch CmiA-Organic Cotton on the Market for the First Time
New CmiA-Organic Standard Creates Market Access and Social Added Value for African Organic Cotton Farmers
The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is the largest cotton initiative in Africa and is committed to integrating cotton originating from Africa into the textile industry with increasing success. The foundation is now also dedicated to promoting organic cotton production in Africa as well as its competitiveness on international markets. After successful verification of the Tanzanian cotton company BioSustain, organic cotton according to the CmiA Organic Standard is now available on the market.
read more
Source: CmiA (Thursday, November 13, 2014)
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton projects linked with deforestation
New organic cotton projects in the Lower Omo Valley, Southern Ethiopia linked with the deforestation of virgin and protected land and the removal of populations and human rights abuses. The projects have clear connections with a leading Turkish textile manufacturer, and Ecotextile News is currently verifying whether organic cotton supply arrangements from the projects are already in place with three major western retailers.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, November 05, 2014)
Thursday, November 06, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
CMiA partner leaves cotton sector
A local partner of Cotton Made in Africa (CMiA) has withdrawn from the initiative with immediate effect, and instead has chosen to focus on the production of food crops. CMiA cited ‘economic reasons’ for the withdrawl of Cargill Zimbabwe from the African cotton industry.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, November 04, 2014)
Thursday, November 06, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Turkish organic cotton anomalies clarified
Anomalies in the Turkish section of the Textile Exchange annual report on organic cotton, which were questioned by Ecotextile News, have been clarified after tighter verification audits – as well as rising production costs – which appear to be the main reasons behind a recent fall in the production of organic cotton in Turkey.
Regionally, according to the recently released Textile Exchange report, Turkish production has fallen due to rising production costs and a switch to easier and more lucrative crops. But the report also says data on organic cotton farming has been 'purified' because, "in the past few years, the attractive subsidies on all organic field crops including cotton were abused."
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, September 29, 2014)
Monday, October 06, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton: at a crossroads?
New research has highlighted ongoing uncertainties facing the organic cotton sector after figures from the latest Textile Exchange report confirmed a 50 per cent drop in organic cotton production in the past five years.
Ecotextile News has canvassed opinion from several leading protagonists in the organic cotton sector from around the globe and found that the issues which have historically dogged the sector – such as an absence of supply chain traceability, a lack of clear commitment from brands, and an inability by farmers to obtain price premiums – refuse to go away, and may even be getting worse.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Friday, September 12, 2014)
Monday, October 06, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton aim for Columbia
The latest initiative from the Textile Cluster Preparation of Tolima (CTCT) aims to develop organic cotton production in Columbia, in turn increasing textile imports and exports throughout the country.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, September 09, 2014)
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Cotton Horizons
The complete guide to cotton standards, sustainability initiatives and regional programmes: facts and greenwash.
read more
Source: Written by Simon Ferrigno & Edited by John Mowbray. (Thursday, August 28, 2014)
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Textile Exchange released Organic Cotton Report - from Farm to Market
For the first time ever, the Organic Cotton Report combines the annual Farm and Fiber Report with the Organic Cotton Market Report – reflecting the growing interconnectedness of the supply chain and allowing us to look at it more holistically.
The report explains the fall in production of organic cotton despite growing consumer demand and suggests solutions for redressing this imbalance. It also reveals the much-anticipated Top 10 lists, including the Top 10 Organic Cotton using companies in which H&M has reclaimed its position at top of the table, just above C&A.
read more
Source: TextileExchange.org (Saturday, August 23, 2014)
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
ICAC head critical of cotton “demonisation”
ICAC's former executive director Terry Townsend has hit out at the sustainable cotton lobby for its ongoing “demonisation” of conventional cotton and called for discussions around cotton production to be “grounded in current reality and objective science.” “Some of the identity cottons demonise conventional cotton in order to justify the license fees or premiums built into their programs,” Townsend told Ecotextile News during a lively debate on sustainable cottons with independent organic and conventional cotton expert, Peter Ton.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, May 14, 2014)
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
India to set up organic cotton secretariat
Representatives from the Indian organic cotton industry have agreed to set up a new organic and fair cotton secretariat to focus on industry policy, manage and identify resources and provide support services to accelerate the growth of the organic cotton sector.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, April 29, 2014)
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
C&A warns of organic cotton shortage
Apparel retailer C&A, reportedly the largest buyer of organic cotton, has warned that despite an increasing demand for organic cotton in international markets, global production continues to decline, and says that counteracting this reduction is a “special priority.”
After worldwide production of organic cotton continuously rose up to 2011, crop yields subsequently sank by 8 per cent in the following years, C&A states, regardless of the fact that 50 percent of production countries increased their production of organic cotton.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, April 08, 2014)
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
California: organic cotton-free zone
A lack of demand for organic cotton means it will not be planted in California for the first time in many years after Don Cameron, president and general manager of Terranova Ranch Inc., located 25 miles SW of Fresno, said he is unable to sell his current stockpile of organic cotton. Cameron, for several years the only organic cotton farmer in the State, told Ecotextile News: “This year it will not be planted here. The demand is so low that I am unable to sell what organic cotton I have in inventory. I can plant other organic crops on this land that are profitable and in demand by consumers, i.e. food."
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, March 26, 2014)
Tuesday, April 01, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Huge growth forecast for identity cottons
Standard-compliant cotton produced from programmes such as the Better Cotton Initiative and organic could account for around a quarter of global production by 2020 according to a new report, which carried out a comprehensive review of leading identity cotton initiatives. The report claims sustainability will provide a vital basis for differentiation between cotton and its substitutes moving forwards – improving quality, security of supply and, consequently, market competitiveness.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, March 11, 2014)
Monday, March 17, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton facing testing times in India
Organic’s share of the identity cotton market is declining in India due to pricing issues, the lack of availability of non-GMO seeds, and the “multiple costs” of certification which are having a knock-on effect on end-consumer products. Brands sourcing from India are shifting to Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) cotton which, due to current market conditions, is attracting a premium over organic cotton.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, March 11, 2014)
Monday, March 17, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
NGOs launch forum on sustainable cotton
The WWF and German humanitarian NGO, Welthungerhilfe, used the recent Berlin Fashion Week to launch a new forum on sustainable cotton, key goals of which are providing information about the use of sustainable cotton and looking at possibilities to increase transparency in the textile supply chain. The event saw WWF, Welthungerhilfe and Bremen Cotton Exchange hold talks on a wide range of issues from land use, GM seeds and world market prices for African cotton. The Cotton made in Africa initiative also introduced itself as an alternative for textile companies, and ways in which companies can integrate African cotton into their supply chain were examined. This was followed by a discussion among the participants on transparency in the value chain and the shared responsibility of trade in enforcing sustainability standards.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, January 27, 2014)
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Plans for organic cotton taskforce
Proposals for a groundbreaking initiative that could rapidly accelerate growth in the organic cotton market are been discussed by leading clothing brands such as C&A, Kering, Inditex, G-Star, Loomstate, Eileen Fisher, H&M and Patagonia.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Wednesday, December 18, 2013)
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Long-term trial in India shows: Organic Cotton is competitive with GM crops
Organic cotton shows lower yields than genetically modified (GM) Bt cotton. Nevertheless, the lower production costs render the production of organic cotton feasible. The result, however, strongly depends on the environmental conditions, mainly the weather. These conclusions emerge from a long-term experiment in India, carried out by a team of experts of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in collaboration with bioRe Association, the local farmers’ umbrella organization. The results of this study have now been published in the online journal PLOS ONE.
read more
Source: Fibl.org (Thursday, December 05, 2013)
Monday, December 09, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
USA and Australia partner on responsible cotton
Cotton Australia and Cotton Incorporated have today launched the new ‘Cotton Leads’ program, which aims to highlight the responsible and transparent way that cotton is grown in Australia and the United States. The new initiative includes conventional and organic upland and pima cotton grown in Australia and the United States, which together account for around 17 per cent of global cotton production. The two partners emphasise the new program will complement, rather than compete with, existing cotton sustainability certification programs.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, October 16, 2013)
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Textile Exchange releases 2012 Organic Cotton Market Report
Textile Exchange is pleased to announce the release of the 2012 Organic Cotton Market Report with highlights on other preferred fibers. This report includes our annual Top Ten list of companies by use of organic cotton volume and, for the first time ever, a Top Ten list of companies by percentage of organic cotton increase from 2011. Also included are key findings such as the fact that 71 percent of respondents are planning to increased organic cotton for 2013 and that additional more sustainable fibers are also slated for growth.
read more
Source: Textile Exchange (Wednesday, September 25, 2013)
Friday, September 27, 2013
Submitted by Ashley Gill
New Organic Cotton Inforgraphic
A new infographic from the Cottoned On campaign.
Source: Soil Association (Wednesday, September 25, 2013)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Submitted by Ashley Gill
Retailers pledge organic cotton support
After recent production falls, the future looks a little brighter for the organic cotton sector, according to a new market report published today by US-based not-for-profit Textile Exchange. The report says that 71 per cent of retailers it surveyed will boost their use of organic cotton in 2013 with C&A topping the lists of organic cotton users by volume and the percentage growth over the previous year.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Wednesday, September 25, 2013)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Grey water footprint in organic five times less
European clothing retailer C&A and the Water Footprint Network have announced a new partnership to improve water sustainability in the textile supply chain in the wake of their research into water usage, which found that with conventional cultivation, the grey water footprint of cotton is about five times larger than with organic cultivation.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, August 21, 2013)
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
EU organic regulation - European Commission review concludes that organic Textiles will remain out of scope
The EU Commission (DG Agriculture) is in the final stages of a comprehensive review of the EU organic regulation looking at four key issues:
∗ Simplifying the legal framework, whilst ensuring standards are not watered down;
∗ Co-existence of GM crops with organic farming;
∗ Better control systems and trade arrangements for organic products;
∗ Impact of labelling rules.
Organic textiles are not currently included in the EU organic regulation, which cover organic food and farming in Europe. This means that the use of the term ‘organic’ is not controlled in the European market, so there are inappropriate and inaccurate claims made resulting in consumer confusion and the risk of greenwash....
read more
Source: GOTS (Sunday, August 18, 2013)
Monday, August 19, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
GOTS quashes organic cotton market concerns
A spokesperson from GOTS has moved to quickly dispel concerns about the organic cotton market in the wake of the decision by two mills in Mauritius - RT Knits & Ferney Spinning Mill – not to renew their licenses due to a “drastic decrease” in the market for organic cotton textiles and clothing. The decisions by the mills come amid conflicting evidence from the industry as to whether or not the market for organic cotton is set to grow.
Marcus Bruegel, technical director with the Global Organic Textile Standard, told Ecotextile News that the Mauritian mills’ decisions had to be taken in the context of typical fluctuations - especially in developing countries - in the GOTS program, and stressed that the broader picture is of a net rise in GOTS certified facilities.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, August 14, 2013)
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
BCI outlines expansion plan
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has revealed how it plans to expand production worldwide so that Better Cotton accounts for 30 per cent of overall cotton production by 2020. Ecotextile News experts take a closer look.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, July 08, 2013)
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic growers claim ‘partial victory’ v Monsanto
A bid by a group of organic seed growers to pre-emptively sue GM giant Monsanto to try gain protection against patent infringement should they ever become contaminated by Monsanto\'s GM seed has once again been turned down by the US courts. However, Organic Seed Growers & Trade Association attorney, Dan Ravicher of the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT), is claiming a partial victory because, during the course of the lawsuit, “Monsanto has bound itself to not sue the plaintiffs.” The ruling will have significance for growers of organic cotton.
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Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, June 17, 2013)
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Textile Exchange World Environment Day Winning Entries
Textile Exchange partnered with 24 of their member brands, retailers, manufacturers and organic cotton producer groups. Together 12 schools were supported, many in the heart of an organic cotton growing community.
Each child created a masterpiece of art or craft – “From the field to my plate” - looking at the different food crops, grown alongside the cotton, that they enjoy eating on a regular basis.
Follow the link to see the winning entries.
read more
Source: Textile Exchange (Thursday, June 13, 2013)
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Submitted by Ashley Gill
Status report on seed-research project in India
Due to poor availability of genetically unmodified seeds in the Indian market, the bioRe® Foundation, together with the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the University of Dharwad in India, has conducted a seeds-evaluation project for three years. Last year six ....
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Source: Remei AG, Newsletter (Monday, June 10, 2013)
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
EU Fairtrade cotton awards
The first European award scheme that commends the use of Fairtrade cotton useage throughout the supply chain has been launched this week by the Fairtrade Foundation
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Source: EcoTextile News (Friday, May 24, 2013)
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Textile Exchange releases 2011-12 Farm & Fiber Report
TE has now released the 2012 Organic Cotton Farm & Fiber Report, which includes the highlights and trends for the 2011-12 season! We explore the reasons behind the biggest growth and the barriers to growth in specific regions, and discuss the reasons why we think they’re occurring.
Press Release; http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/5/prweb10762733.htm
read more
Source: Textile Exchange (Wednesday, May 22, 2013)
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Submitted by Ashley Gill
Europe boosts GOTS certification
Over 3000 textile facilities were certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) in 2011-2012, with an increase of 44 per cent in the number of certified facilities in Europe to 728, according to new data released by the GOTS International Working Group.
The number of facilities certified to the GOTS rose 11 per cent to 3016 facilities in 2012, with the greatest number of companies and plants receiving certification in India, Turkey, China and Germany.
New Zealand, Paraguay, Kenya, Colombia and Bahrain also received their first GOTS certification in 2011 – 2012, with certified facilities now available in 62 countries.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, April 24, 2013)
Monday, April 29, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
UK organic textile business grows
Although the overall market for organic products in the UK dipped by 1.5 per cent in 2012, demand for organic textiles continues to rise with the Soil Association reporting a 10 per cent jump in the turnover of its licensees, which mirrors a 10.4 per cent rise in the number of GOTS-certified textile mills globally.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, March 20, 2013)
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Traceability tool for Remei clothing
A new traceability tool from Swiss manufacturer Remei AG allows consumers to track the supply chain of their organic cotton clothing using a code on the garment’s label.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, February 26, 2013)
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton buying patterns
University students in the US are willing to pay a 25 per cent premium for an organic cotton t-shirt over a conventionally produced cotton equivalent – provided their parents are doing the buying. That’s a key finding of a recent pilot study funded by the WSU Agricultural Research Centre, which found that participants who pay for their own clothing were not willing to pay a premium.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, February 20, 2013)
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
TE remains upbeat on US organic cotton
Textile Exchange head La Rhea Pepper is confident the organic cotton ‘brand’ won’t suffer any long-term damage in the wake of the recent Organic Trade Association report, which showed that severe drought conditions caused organic cotton production in the US to plunge by 45 per cent in 2011.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, February 13, 2013)
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
H&M, C&A, Nike Top Organic Cotton Users
H&M was the biggest user of organic cotton worldwide for the second consecutive year in 2011, according to Textile Exchange’s latest Organic Cotton Market Report.
read more
Source: Environmental Leader (Friday, November 09, 2012)
Friday, November 16, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton down – but not out
The not-for-profit Textile Exchange has released its sixth annual Organic Cotton Market Report, which reveals a massive 37 per cent drop in organic cotton production in 2011, despite a brand survey that indicated a high proportion of retailers would actually expand their use of organic cotton. The current top users of organic cotton include H&M, C&A, Nike and Inditex.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, November 07, 2012)
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Global organic cotton campaign launched by the Soil Association and GOTS
The New Organic Cotton Initiative will set the record straight – communicating to both brands and consumers how organic production and processing offers the highest standards and the most reliable, trustworthy system for advocates of sustainability.
The initiative is detailed in a briefing paper - released today, which spells out five unique benefits organic production offers:
1. Give control to farmers, not GM companies
Organic farmers don\'t have their choices controlled by GM companies
2. Eliminate hazardous synthetic pesticides
Organic cotton doesn’t use dangerous pesticides, protecting farmers’ lives and the environment
3. Help farmers feed their families
Organic cotton enables farmers to grow other crops for food and income
4. Save precious water
Organic cotton uses less water, preserving a scarce and precious resource for the future
5. Combat climate change
Organic cotton farming uses less energy and healthy organic soils store more CO2
read more
Source: GOTS & Soil Association (Thursday, October 04, 2012)
Friday, October 05, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Record organic cotton crop in Tanzania
African organic cotton project bioRe Tanzania says it forecasts a bumper harvest for the 2012/2013 cropping season with an estimated 10,000 tonnes of cottonseed expected to be produced.
Unseasonal wet weather in Tanzania, with rain falling through the normally dry period from mid-March until mid-May, together with an increase in the number of farmers, has boosted the organic cotton yields at bioRe Tanzania by around 50%.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, September 25, 2012)
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Japanese pledge improves organic cotton prospects
Two Japanese companies have responded to a global initiative that encourages companies to combine commercial success and sustainable development by pledging to back organic cotton farmers in India.
Under the guidelines of the Business Call to Action (BCtA), Japan-based Itochu Corp. and Kurkku a supplier of sustainably sourced food and apparel have committed to help scale up production of organically produced cotton, with around 30,000 low-income cotton farmers expected to benefit.
The two companies have pledged to scale up their Pre Organic Cotton (POC) Programme, which encourages farmers in India to switch from conventional to organic cotton production by guaranteeing to buy the cotton that is organically produced at a price higher than that of conventional cotton. The commitment is said to be critical to the initiative s success since it typically takes three years for farmers to obtain an organic certification; in the meantime, they are growing organic cotton, which costs more to produce, but are forced to sell it at cheaper, conventional cotton prices.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, August 30, 2012)
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
New PUMA Store Offers Organic Cotton
PUMA today opened a sustainable PUMA Store in India, with products including organic cotton and other sustainable materials.
read more
Source: Cotton 24/7 (Wednesday, August 29, 2012)
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
BCI and CmiA form new partnership
An interim agreement has been signed between the Aid by Trade Foundation (hold CmiA) and BCI.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Monday, July 30, 2012)
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Submitted by Ashley Gill
C&A highlighted as a ‘Future Shaper’
The latest in the 'Future Shapers' series, launched by Textile Exchange to celebrate its 10th Anniversary, is a profile of European retailer C&A which includes details of its commitment to ‘Bio Cotton’ and the journey the company has taken to become one of the two largest buyers of organic cotton worldwide.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, August 15, 2012)
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
New certification standard for organic textiles
The burgeoning market for organic textiles has seen Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority of India (APEDA) launch certification standards for organic textiles.
National Organic Textile Standards (NOTS) have recently been included under the National Programme for Organic Productions (NPOP).
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, August 14, 2012)
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Berlin sees launch of Initiatives for Sustainable Cotton
To raise awareness about sustainably produced cotton the Initiatives for Sustainable Cotton (ISC) was announced during Berlin Fashion Week, which is being backed by the Aid by Trade Foundation with Cotton Made in Africa, TransFair e.V. (Fairtrade Germany) and stakeholders involved in the organic cotton sector.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, July 18, 2012)
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Jack Wolfskin to use exclusively organic cotton
From the 2013 summer collection, Jack Wolfskin will be using exclusively organic cotton
read more
Source: Jack Wollfskin (Thursday, May 31, 2012)
Monday, June 04, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Bt cotton going backwards?
Since its introduction to Burkina Faso in 2008, Bt cotton now accounts for 70% of the planted cotton area in the country, yet new reports say it is being phased out after failing to deliver on quality.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Sunday, April 15, 2012)
Monday, May 21, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
German Fairtrade cotton sales fall
Sales of Fairtrade certified cotton textiles in Germany dropped last year for the first time since 2008, which was in stark contrast to an overall 18 per cent rise in sales of Fairtrade certified consumer goods in the country.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, April 25, 2012)
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic conference in Izmir a great success
In recent years, the share of organic cotton has developed pleasingly from 0.1 % to over 1 %, which is mainly down to the big conventional textile firms like C&A and Nike. More than 200,000 farmers now earn a good living in this segment. 50 % of the fairtrade production now has an organic certificate, as Rossitza Krüger from FLO (picture) explained.
read more
Source: organic-market.info (Monday, April 16, 2012)
Monday, April 23, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Textile Exchange 2011 Farm & Fiber Report Released
The 2011 Farm & Fiber Report covers the significant decline in organic cotton fiber production, the reasons behind it, and the need for industry action. For the first time, we’ve also covered other sustainable cotton initiatives including Better Cotton Initiative (BCI, Fairtrade, Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), and customized cleaner cotton programs with notes from ICAC and Cotton Inc.).
The full report is available to members of Textile Exchange at no cost, for non-members, it may be purchased for $400 USD. The 27-page Executive Summary, also available at no charge to TE Members, may be purchased by non-members for $50 USD. Follow the link for more information.
read more
Source: The Farm Engagement Team at Textile Exchange (Thursday, April 19, 2012)
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Submitted by Ashley Gill
Guarantee systems for sustainable cotton
Cotton is a valuable raw material that is widely known as "the white gold". Yet, growing cotton can also cause serious social and ecological damage. Organic farming and fair trade try to respond to this.
The TDC presents an overview of fair and organic guarantee systems for cotton and describes their functioning and the guarantees provided by each system.
read more
Source: BTC Trade for Developpement (Thursday, March 08, 2012)
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
JOCA ends certification standard, unites with GOTS
The Japanese Organic Cotton Association has abolished its document verifying certification system and the use of the two quality labels ‘pure’ and ‘blended’. Instead it will now certify organic products in relation to the Global Organic Textile Standard while also offering the JOCA ‘family’ label.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Monday, February 20, 2012)
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Benin benefits from organic pest control
Organic cotton yields in Benin are benefitting from the introduction of a new treatment designed to 'attract and retain beneficial insects'.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, January 23, 2012)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Nicaragua on verge of first organic cotton crop
Nicaragua will shortly harvest its first organic cotton crop which has well as boosting the country’s domestic textile industry, is expected to help attract new foreign investment projects.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Thursday, January 12, 2012)
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Investigation Uncovers Inaccuracies in Bloomberg Article
On Dec. 15, 2011, Bloomberg News published an article entitled, “Victoria’s Secret Revealed in Child Picking Burkina Faso Cotton” that alleged Victoria’s Secret purchased cotton from farms that utilize children workers forced into labor.
Since the story was published, a third-party investigation commissioned by Limited Brands was conducted and has uncovered substantial factual inaccuracies, most notably:
The “young girl” who was the centerpiece of the article, Clarisse Kambire, is 21 years old – not 13 years old,as reported by Bloomberg News.
Clarisse does not live nor work on a registered organic cotton farm in Burkina Faso. Rather, she works on a vegetable farm.
Victorien Kamboule, who was reported to be an organic cotton farmer, does not raise cotton, according to records of the UNPCB which registers all cotton farms in Burkina Faso, as well as ECOCERT, a French certification organization that actively inspects and monitors organic agricultural production, including organic cotton from Burkina Faso. Victorien grows vegetables.
read more
Source: Limitedbrands (Friday, January 06, 2012)
Monday, January 09, 2012
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton brought back to North Carolina
A US t-shirt printer has teamed up with a nearby apparel producer to bring organic cotton back to North Carolina for what it says is the first time in recent memory. The USDA-certified organic cotton will be used to produce blank t-shirts that will be printed using low-impact water based inks that do not contain plastisols.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, December 21, 2011)
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Bloomberg article about child labor in Burkina Faso
Bloomberg and other media reported on 12/15/2011 that the production of organic cotton used in the fairtrade collection of the American underwear brand Victoria’s Secret involves child labor. Victoria’s Secret sources its organic cotton from the national cotton producer union UNPCB in Burkina Faso, West Africa. UNPCB organizes all cotton producers in the country, organic as well as conventional ones.
Source: HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation (Sunday, December 18, 2011)
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Cotton made in Africa Develops Environmental Action Plan
CmiA aims to increase transparency about its work in Africa through the release of its environmental guidelines, the organization said. It plans to increase smallholder farmer’s ability for medium- and long-term environmental planning, create incentives for smallholders to adapt environmentally friendly farming practices and show ecological benefits of CmiA cotton compared to standard cotton.
read more
Source: cotton 24/7 (Wednesday, November 16, 2011)
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Sustainable cotton guide launch draws closer
The Insiders Guide to Cotton and Sustainability, written by Simon Ferrigno and edited by John Mowbray, will be available for purchase from January 2012. Published by MCL Global, producers of Ecotextile News and Knitting Trade Journal, the 100 page booklet covers the ecological impact of cotton production and the environmental challenges that this presents.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Wednesday, November 09, 2011)
Friday, November 11, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Global Organic Cotton Market Grows 20%, Hits $5.61 Billion in 2010, Textile Exchange Report Shows
According to a report by Textile Exchange released today, neither the recession nor unstable economies put a damper on the fast-growing organic textiles industry which grew 20 percent to an estimated $5.61 billion in 2010.
read more
Source: PRWeb (Tuesday, September 06, 2011)
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Global Organic Cotton Market: An Analysis
Despite the global recession in 2009, market for organic cotton continued to rise in the period 2005-2009. Organic cotton currently represents only 1.1% of total global cotton production, but the market for organic cotton is witnessing continued and rapid expansion driven mainly by growing consumer interest in ‘green’ products, significant expansion of existing organic cotton programs by brands and retailers, and the growing usage in personal care items, home furnishings, clothing etc. India remained the top organic cotton producing nation in 2009-10 for the third straight year. Other major organic cotton producers include Syria, Turkey, China and the US.
read more
Source: researchandmarkets.com (Thursday, August 25, 2011)
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
ACSA's International Cotton Institute Student Essay: Organic Cotton
Organic cotton now represents only 0.76 percent of global cotton production but it is still in a growth stage, being cultivated in 24 countries worldwide with the top three producers being led by India, China and Turkey. One of its primary keys to success is to build consumer preferences for this niche industry. Organic cotton revenues are on the rise because:
* New consumers are trying the organic products more, and
* A growing proportion of satisfied customers are making repeat purchases.
read more
Source: Cotton 24/7 (Monday, August 01, 2011)
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
ICAC 2011 Preview, "Organic Cotton Production: The Reality of Costs and Benefits"
Interview with Simon Ferrigno Advisor Sustainable & Organic Farm Systems and Jens Soth, Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation.
read more
Source: Cotton 24 (Thursday, August 11, 2011)
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Anvil Knitwear Proud Sponsor and Official T-Shirt Supplier of Farm Aid Concert
Anvil Knitwear is a proud sponsor of Farm Aid 2011 whose mission is to build a vibrant family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. The concert will feature six exclusive Farm Aid designs on Anvil Knitwear t-shirts featuring Texas cotton from organic and transitional growers.
read more
Source: Finanznachrichten.DE (Saturday, August 13, 2011)
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
GM cotton seeds a threat to Indian farmers
Extensive use of genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds is destroying agricultural bio-diversity and jeopardising the livelihood of over four million cotton growers in India. In a common declaration, concerned stakeholders committed themselves to join forces to promote non-GM and organic cotton.
(Frick, July 6, 2011) India has become the largest organic cotton producer worldwide with the number of organic cotton projects increasing throughout the country. Conversely, in 2010 more than 80 percent of India’s cotton area used genetically modified Bt-cotton seeds. On account of this, the seed supply chain of non-GM cotton genotypes has become delinked. Since the private and also many public sectors have largely stopped producing non-GM cotton seed, the supply of non-GM seed to the remaining 20 percent of farmers, including organic cotton projects, has become of critical concern….. read more via link
read more
Source: FiBL, Research Insititute of Organic Agriculture (Wednesday, July 06, 2011)
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
GOTS welcomes USDA ruling
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) has welcomed a new policy memorandum from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in which it explicitly confirms that textile products that are produced in accordance with the GOTS standard may be sold as organic in the US.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, May 23, 2011)
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Cotton firm ramps up production
An India-based organic cotton yarn manufacturer which works closely with WWF India and IKEA is aiming to more than double its production capacity.
Laxmi Cotspin, founded in 2006, currently operates 16,800 spindles but is undergoing an expansion process that will see it increase its capacity to 34,560 spindles by the end of the year.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, May 16, 2011)
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
H&M ramps up organic cotton use
The latest sustainability report from Hennes & Mauritz shows that the company used 15,000 tonnes of organic cotton in 2010, an increase of 77% compared to the previous year. The Swedish retailer has also announced a target to source all of its cotton from more sustainable sources by 2020.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, April 18, 2011)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Textile Exchange Releases Beginner's Guide to Sustainable Fibers for Members
This 18-page guide summarizes the technical and environmental practices and focuses specifically on fiber impacts, highlighting the positive and negative attributes associated with hemp, linen, organic cotton, recycled cotton, recycled polyester, and TENCEL™ from Lenzing.
‘The Beginner's Guide to Sustainable Fibers’ is a brand new benefit to Textile Exchange members at the $1,000 USD level and above. The addition and update of the information sheets within the guide will be an ongoing project, with revisions available to TE members during their annual term.
A sample of the organic cotton section and the full guide will also be available for purchase by non-members at: http://organicexchange.org/oecms/Textile-Exchange-Publications.html.
read more
Source: Textile Exchange / Daren Abney (Tuesday, April 12, 2011)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Submitted by Daren Abney
Fairtrade cotton sales dip
Despite a picture of overall growth in Fairtrade products in 2010, sales of Fairtrade cotton items across the UK dipped in 2010.
The latest figures released by the Fairtrade Foundation show that although overall purchases of Fairtrade products rocketed by 40% to an estimated retail value of £1.17 billion, sales of cotton items such as garments, kitchen and bedroom linen and cotton wool slipped to just over 10 million units in 2010, the second consecutive annual drop.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Tuesday, March 08, 2011)
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
New version of GOTS standard released
The new version is a result of a stakeholder input process in which various organizations with expertise in organic production, textile processing and social criteria participated. It follows the overal approach of GOTS to define high level verifiable environmental criteria throughout the entire processing chain of apparel and home textiles (including spinning, knitting, weaving, dyeing, manufacturing, and trading) made from a minimum of 70% certified organic fibers and requiring social minimum criteria while still providing for a practical set of requirements that is technically achievable even in large scale industrial textile production and for mass market brands and retailers in order to achieve a considerable environmental and social impact in the textile industry.
All GOTS certified companies must fully comply with Version 3.0 by 1st of March 2012. They receive all required information through their applicable certification body.
read more
Source: International Working Group on Global Organic Textile Standard (Tuesday, March 01, 2011)
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Exclusive: GOTS ratifies updated standard
Next month the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) will officially release its latest version of its standard which lifts a total ban on all biocides and certain fabric softeners, allows certain synthetic fabric finishes, prohibits functioning nanoparticles, asks for metrics on water and energy use and sets a date for a transition to post-consumer recycled polyester content.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Tuesday, February 22, 2011)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Sainsbury’s inks Fairtrade cotton deal
UK supermarket chain J Sainsbury has agreed a deal to source all of its Fairtrade cotton from India.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, February 16, 2011)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
H&M launches a conscious collection
H&M launched its consciuos collection made out of recycled polyester and organic cotton. The collection will be available in H&M stores from April 14.
read more
Source: hmconsciouscollection.com (Thursday, February 03, 2011)
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
US organic cotton planting highest since 2000
US growers increased plantings of organic cotton acreage by 12% in 2010 compared to the precious year, according to a new report.
Analysis of available data collected by the Organic Trade Association (OTA), funded by Cotton Incorporated, and incorporating additional data from the Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative (TOCMC) detailed planted acres for 2010 at 11,827 acres, up from an estimated 10,521 acres planted in 2009. The 2010 number is the highest since 2000, when US farmers planted 13,596 acres to organic cotton.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Friday, January 28, 2011)
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
M&S launches new sustainable collection
Marks and Spencer has launched a new sustainable fabric collection with every garment made using either organic or Fairtrade cotton in addition to sustainably sourced modal or Tencel.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Thursday, January 20, 2011)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton production defies recession
The production of organic cotton continued its steady growth in 2009-2010, buoyed by continued demand from manufacturers, brands and retailers.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, January 12, 2011)
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
2010 Farm and Fiber Executive Summary
Textile Exchange releases 2010 Farm and Fiber Report.
The report presents continued growth for organic cotton in 2009-10. Production rose 15% from 209,950 metric tonnes (mt) in 2008-09 to 241,697 mt this year. The 100-page report covers 23 countries, 260 producer groups, and 275,300 farmers.
As this is the fifth year that the comprehensive report has been produced, we have taken the opportunity to look back over the five years to review the rise of organic cotton since 2005-06, when only 37,000 mt was produced.
Source: Ashley Gill (Wednesday, January 12, 2011)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Submitted by Ashley Gill
In Eco-Jeans, the Green Becomes Harder to Spot
Two years ago, when going green was red-hot in the fashion industry, there were plenty of organic jeans to choose from. Brands including Levi’s, Banana Republic, Genetic Denim, 7 For All Mankind, Earnest Sewn, Aristocrat, Loomstate, Del Forte and J Brand offered at least one pair made with some amount of organic cotton, grown without environmentally threatening chemicals (according to the Sustainable Cotton Project, a nonprofit organisation, conventional cotton consumes 25 per cent of the world’s chemical pesticides and fertilisers).
Today, none of the brands do. Which raises the question: Where has all the organic denim gone?
read more
Source: New York Times (Tuesday, January 11, 2011)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic Cotton Making Inroads Despite Textile Downturn
The textile industry, like so many others today, has been squeezed as consumers struggle through the global recession, but that hasn’t stopped organic cotton from continuing its remarkable growth trend, according to a story posted on www.naturalnews.com.
read more
Source: Cotton 24/7 (Wednesday, December 22, 2010)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
West African cotton: higher yields, fewer pesticides
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has reported that its on-going project with West African farmers has not only improved cotton yields and farmer incomes but at the same time has also cut the use of pesticides.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, December 20, 2010)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Price and quality key to ethical purchasing habits
Price issues remain the main concern for more than 75% of UK consumers when it comes to choosing ethically and sustainable produced fashion while only 28% also believe that organic cotton is of similar quality to conventional cotton, according to a new report.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Friday, December 17, 2010)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Worms eat into GM crop myth - Insects expected to drop dead thrive on cotton plants
Insects expected to drop dead after feeding on genetically modified cotton plants have instead been found for the first time in India to be thriving and even successfully breeding on the plants.
read more
Source: The Telegraph, India (Saturday, December 11, 2010)
Monday, December 20, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic showcase to include textile event
A pre-conference event on Organic Textiles is to take place during next year’s IFOAM Organic World Congress in Korea.
The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements’ event, running under the theme ‘Organic is Life’, will take place in Namyangju City between September 26 and October 5, 2011 with the textiles seminar scheduled to run from September 26 to 28.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, December 14, 2010)
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton with a hologram
Swiss-based Spoerry 1866 Ltd. is now providing special holograms that are used on swing-tags attached to clothes sold in the Asia market which are made from its high-end certified organic cotton yarns.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, November 25, 2010)
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Natural cotton hormone could boost yields
With many developing nations relying on genetically modified cotton to increase yields, researchers in the USA suggest that naturally occurring plant hormones may be an alternative answer – with research showing that these hormones could even boost cotton crop yields under drought conditions.
These findings were reported in September 2010 edition of Recorder, published by the International Cotton Advisory Committee.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, November 25, 2010)
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
New report highlights cotton ‘injustice’
A new report from the Fairtrade Foundation claims that the West African cotton industry is being hindered by a wall of funding provided to US and European Union farmers from their respective governments.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, November 15, 2010)
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic Cotton – The Challenge for the Depressed Textile Industry of Latin America?
SOCiLA stays for Support Organic Cotton in Latin America and is a German initiative for promoting organic cotton production and processing in Latin America
The new web site of SOCiLA, www.socila.eu, exposes a detailed analysis of the peculiar situation of organic cotton development in the region.
Cultivating organic cotton in Latin America – SOCiLA maintains – would not only allow cotton farmers to recover lost ground but also, and most importantly, give industrial enterprises entry possibilities into the globally booming organic cotton market Textile mills and apparel manufacturers could make better use of their installed capacities and employment would be generated at all levels of the value chain.
SOCiLA has so far been active mainly in Colombia. The initiative has, however, the intention to cover the entire area and is seeking partnerships and financial assistance for projects throughout Latin America.
read more
Source: Alexander Grisar, SOCiLA (Wednesday, November 24, 2010)
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Submitted by Alexander Grisar
GOTS Positive List System launched
The new GOTS Positive List System grants immediate access to all GOTS-compliant textile chemicals approved by the Institute for Marketecology (IMO) for processing of GOTS-certified textiles.
Source: IMO, Dr. Ines Hensler, Public Relations (Wednesday, November 16, 2011)
Monday, November 22, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Textile Exchange (formerly Organic Exchange) November eNewsletter Just Released
In this issue we feature the new "Textile Exchange Solution," a booklet full of information pertaining to sustainable textiles. We outline the response to a successful 2010 Sustainable Textiles Conference in New York, address the OE Standards, link to Engage - The Monthly Farm Bulletin and remind our supporters that staff email addresses have been updated.
Follow the link for a complimentary subscription: http://organicexchange.org/oecms/eNewsletters.html. (Link will be updated to TextileExchange.org website soon.)
read more
Source: Textile Exchange / Daren Abney (Thursday, November 18, 2010)
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Submitted by Daren Abney
The Great Cotton Stitch-Up
A new report from Fairtrade Foundation. Read about the wall of subsidies preventing the world’s poorest cotton farmers from making a living.
read more
Source: The Fairtrade Foundation (Monday, November 15, 2010)
Monday, November 15, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Record World Cotton Prices and High Volatility
International cotton prices continued to rise steeply in October. On October 11, the Cotlook A Index broke the
previous record of 119.4 cents per pound established in April 1995, and continued to rise in the following weeks,
reaching 147 cents per pound on October 27, 2010. The Cotlook A Index averaged 127 cents per pound in
October 2010, 89% higher than in October 2009. Price volatility is also very high this season.1 It averaged 57%
from August to October 2010, compared to 11% over the same period in 2009/10. This was the highest volatility
recorded in the first three months of a season since the Cotlook A Index was first published in the 1960s.
Source: ICAC Press Release (Monday, November 01, 2010)
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Is Wal-Mart scaling back on organic cotton?
Wal-Mart recently announced intentions to ramp up its commitment to sustainable agriculture, and last year made commitments to make its Faded Glory brand 100 per cent more sustainable, but reports from India indicate the global retail giant could be cutting back on its use of organic cotton.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, October 20, 2010)
Friday, October 22, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
‘Organic Exchange’ grows to ‘Textile Exchange’
Organic Exchange (OE), the non-profit which has helped drive global sales of organic cotton apparel and home textile products to an estimated $4.3 billion in 2009, will announce its expanded role as the organization driving development of the global sustainable textile industry under the new name, ‘Textile Exchange,’ at its annual conference in New York City. The broadened focus positions the organization to serve as the non-profit convener, catalyst, and market-maker for the sustainable textile industry worldwide.
read more
Source: Organic Exchange (Tuesday, October 19, 2010)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
H&M outlines environmental progress
European retailer H&M has confirmed that by 2020, it will source only ‘sustainable’ cotton
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Tees 4 Trees do more for the environment and you can see it
The G&T Group, LLC, through its wholly owned subsidiary “Tees 4 Trees” tm, is pleased to announce the launch of its new clothing line with a revolutionary and environmentally significant marketing plan. “Tees 4 Trees” tm, has developed both a clothing line manufactured with ecological sensitivity and a distribution plan which contributes to a reduced carbon footprint by planting trees in big cities and worldwide.
The tracking of the tree planting process for each individual tree is made possible through an arrangement between “Tees 4 Trees” tm and several worldwide environmental organizations. “Tees 4 Trees” tm has created this unique system which allows for every “Tees 4 Trees” tm customer to “locate” his or her tree on the planet (a process we call “geo- localization”)
read more
Source: Scott Thompson, organic PR (Tuesday, September 14, 2010)
Monday, September 13, 2010
Submitted by GIEMZA Rémy
Japanese Firm Provides Aid to Indian Farmers for Organic Cotton
Itochu Corp., a general trading firm based in Tokyo, has announced that it will provide financial aid to growers in India who agree to forego the use of chemicals and produce organic cotton.
read more
Source: Cotton International (Thursday, August 26, 2010)
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Kuyichi opens its first UK store
Dutch fashion brand Kuyichi, which was founded by the NGO Solidaridad as a way to introduce more organic cotton into the mainstream market, has opened its first stand-alone retail concept store in Manchester, UK. The store marks the beginning of the roll out of Kuyichi across the UK, Ireland and France.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Thursday, September 02, 2010)
Friday, September 03, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
ICAC: world situation of organic cotton
The ICAC report Volume 63 - Numéro 5 Mai - Juin contains an article about the world situation of organic cotton "Organic Cotton: the challenges ahead".
Source: ICAC, Elke Hortmeyer (Tuesday, June 01, 2010)
Monday, July 26, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Control Union Certifications meets Organic and Sustainable Industry Need with Non-Toxic Fumigation System
EcO 2 B.V. has joined the Control Union World Group. EcO2 B.V. is a Dutch-based fumigation company that provides non-toxic alternatives to Methyl Bromide and other toxic fumigants while providing the same level of effectiveness. Control Union Certifications is a division of Control Union World Group. Both companies will work closely in offering a combined service for both fumigation and certification.
contact: Robert Demianew (954) 916-2667.
Source: Control Union (Thursday, July 01, 2010)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
OE comments on malaria controversy
The Organic Exchange has responded to suggestions in a recent magazine article that organic cotton farming in Africa is perpetuating the spread of malaria.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Monday, July 05, 2010)
Monday, July 05, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
New website simplifies eco-sourcing
Source4Style, an online marketplace that allows fashion and interior designers to search and purchase sustainable materials from around the globe will hold a preview at this month’s Home Textiles Fabric Sourcing Expo.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Friday, July 02, 2010)
Monday, July 05, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Document on co-existence of organic and GMO cotton in India
In recent months, a group of specialists in the cotton industry have studied ways of delivering pragmatic and transparent processes and recommendations which will help to further strengthen efforts for the prevention of contamination of organic cotton in countries where the cultivation of GMO cotton is common.
Specialists from organic cotton projects, certification bodies, academics and supply chain managers have elaborated a guidance document which explains the Do's and Don'ts for maintaining high standards for non-contamination, via simple protocols from seed to bale, in line with International organic farming regulations.
The content provided in this document will remain the intellectual property of C&A which has sponsored the study. However, it has been decided to publish the results in the public domain, allowing more general use and reference for the benefit of the wider organic cotton community, and in order to further strengthen the integrity of organic cotton.
Source: C&A, Helvetas, Organic Exchange, Cotton Connect (Monday, June 21, 2010)
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Indian National Fibre Policy: feedback welcome!
The Draft National Fibre Policy was released. Section VIII is about organic cotton. Comments on the draft paper can be brought in. The Date for submitting feedback and comments is extended from 21st June, 2010 to 5th July 2010.
read more
Source: Narasimha Reddy Donthi (Wednesday, June 23, 2010)
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Report: Organic cotton more profitable
Greenpeace has launched a new report which says that farming organic cotton in India is more profitable than growing genetically engineered varieties of cotton because of the higher input costs of GM and a greater potential for debt accumulation.
read more
Source: Andrea Bischof, Organic & Fairtrade Competence Center (Tuesday, June 15, 2010)
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
C&A outlines organic cotton commitment
C&A says it is planning to sell 23 million organic cotton products in 2010, which equates to 10% of its total cotton products.
read more
Source: Andrea Bischof, Organic & Fairtrade Competence Center (Tuesday, June 15, 2010)
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic Exchange 2009 Organic Market Report Released
The 2009 Organic Market Report provides:
- An overview of organic cotton market growth from 2001-2010
-2009 global organic cotton market demand, including significant trends and growth accelerators
-Profiles of Top Twelve organic cotton users and significant up-and-coming companies
-Likely demand scenarios for 2010 and 2011
-Recommendations for sustainable growth of organic cotton supply and demand
The full report is available as a membership benefit, or can be purchased online; full details are at: http://organicexchange.org/oecms/Organic-Exchange-Publications.html.
read more
Source: Organic Exchange / Daren Abney (Thursday, May 27, 2010)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Submitted by Daren Abney
Organic cotton sales up – but what’s the cost?
The latest headline figures on organic cotton retail sales supplied by Organic Exchange (OE) show a healthy 35% growth to a value of US$4.3 billion in 2009, but they also suggest that like the conventional cotton sector, there is considerable ‘mark-up’ taking place along the supply chain with very little profit trickling back down to impoverished farmers.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Japanese Organic Cotton Labeling Guidelines now released
After consultation with numerous stakeholders, including Organic Exchange, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan has completed its Guidelines of Labeling Organic Cotton. These guidelines apply to all products distributed and sold in the Japanese market, and set clear requirements on the certification of the organic fiber. OE is pleased to note that the guidelines allow for the labeling of both partial and full organic content, and do address processing inputs, which means that they can be supported by the OE 100, OE Blended and GOTS standards.
read more
Source: Organic Exchange (Thursday, May 06, 2010)
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton leads India’s export charge
India is targeting US$1 billion worth of organic product exports in the next five years, driven primarily by a greater demand for non-food products such as organic cotton.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Tuesday, May 18, 2010)
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
India’s cotton export ban penalises organic
The Indian government’s decision to ban cotton exports looks like having an unfair impact on the growers of Fairtrade and organic cotton in India, as upstream profits from soaring cotton prices fail to trickle back into Indian farmer’s pockets.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Friday, April 30, 2010)
Friday, April 30, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Sears enhances eco-offer
Sears Canada Inc. has launched ‘Live Green’, a new program which identifies eco-friendly products and services for customers looking to make greener choices.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Monday, March 29, 2010)
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
H&M to launch sustainable collection
At the end of March, Swedish retailer H&M will launch its first collection featuring 100% sustainable materials.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Tuesday, March 23, 2010)
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
GOTS launches new database
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is hoping to make the process of setting up a complete organic supply chain as transparent and easy as possible with the launch of a new online database.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)
Friday, March 19, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
US firm offers sustainable sourcing in Africa
Sustainable Global Sourcing, a new San Francisco–based venture, has opened its first apparel factory in Liberia and is ready to take orders for organic-cotton garments.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Wednesday, March 10, 2010)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Humanity in Fashion Award created by hessnatur
The first European fashion award for ecological and fair clothing will be presented to a young and rising designer at the spectacular Ozeanum in Stralsund in October 2010.
read more
Source: hessnatur, Verena Kuhnert (Friday, February 12, 2010)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
New OE 2009 Organic Cotton Farm & Fiber Report
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:
[email protected].
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.
read more
Source: Organic Exchange, Daren Abney (Wednesday, February 17, 2010)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic cotton grows 20% but challenges remain
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).
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Monday, February 15, 2010)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Tests confirm: no traces of genetically modified content in C&A's organic cotton!
TLR International Laboratories (NL) have confirmed that garments sold under C&A's "Bio Cotton" label are free of GM-construct.
Source: C&A (Tuesday, February 09, 2010)
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Clarification on the ITMF report: misquotation in the FT article
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.
read more
Source: K. R. Kranthi, Acting Director, Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur (Sunday, January 31, 2010)
Monday, February 01, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic ‘fraud’: GMO lab clarifies position
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.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Thursday, January 28, 2010)
Friday, January 29, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic Exchange Responds to Organic Cotton Fraud Assertions from Financial Times of Germany Article
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.
read more
Source: Organic Exchange, La Rhea Pepper (Wednesday, January 27, 2010)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
H&M doubts GM used in its organic cotton
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.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Tuesday, January 26, 2010)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
C&A backs organic cotton
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.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Tuesday, January 26, 2010)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
OE response to contamination claims in Financial Times of Germany article
Clothing retailers across Europe have been quick to reassure their customers
that their garments sold under organic cotton labels are indeed environmentally
sound.
Source: Organic Exchange (Monday, January 25, 2010)
Monday, January 25, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
GOTS for newcomers
The first German language Organic Textile Symposium will take place from 3-4 March, 2010 in Switzerland.
read more
Source: Organic Textile Services (Friday, January 01, 2010)
Friday, January 08, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Kuyichi denim plans to extend reach
The Dutch sustainable denim brand Kuyichi plans that in 2010 100% of the cotton they use will be certified as organic.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Friday, January 08, 2010)
Friday, January 08, 2010
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
US organic cotton wants more promotion
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.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Tuesday, December 22, 2009)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
South America gets GOTS certifiers
Two South America-based label certifiers have been accredited by GOTS giving them the authority to certify to this globally recognised organic textile standard.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Monday, December 07, 2009)
Monday, December 14, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Farmers in India convert to organic cotton
Terra Viva - about the organic cotton sector in India, with a video clip about the achievements of Chetna Organic Farming Association.
read more
Source: euronews (Tuesday, November 24, 2009)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Map of Organic Cotton Producers by Organic Exchange
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.
read more
Source: Ashley Currin (Wednesday, November 18, 2009)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Submitted by Ashley Currin
Villages export fake Bt Cotton; US, EU see red
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!
read more
Source: The Times of India (Saturday, November 14, 2009)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Traceability programme for Anvil childrenswear
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.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Monday, November 16, 2009)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
A World of Ideas - Technologies for Sustainable Cott on Textile Manufacturing
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.
read more
Source: cotton today (Friday, November 06, 2009)
Monday, November 16, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Latest Trends in Organic Cotton from the World Congress "From Fashion to Sustainability" in Switzerland
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.
Source: Apparel Online (Sunday, November 01, 2009)
Monday, November 02, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Swedish firm scoops organic textile prize
EarthPositive has won the Best Organic Textile Product 2009 at the Natural & Organic Products Annual Industry Awards.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Wednesday, October 21, 2009)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
'Peace cotton' smooths its way into Benin
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.
read more
Source: France 24, International News 24/7 (Sunday, October 18, 2009)
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Handbook “Sustainable cotton on the shelves”
This hands-on manual is meant to help mainstream retailers to decide on, to source and to market sustainable cotton.
read more
Source: CREM (Monday, September 28, 2009)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Blog and blips about the World Congress on Organic Cotton
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.
read more
Source: Andrea Bischof, Organic & Fairtrade Competence Center (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Private equity funds organic cotton project
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.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Thursday, September 10, 2009)
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
The role of organic production in the cotton industry
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.
Source: International Cotton Advisory Committee (Monday, September 07, 2009)
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Farmers to reap rewards of prize
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.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Wednesday, September 02, 2009)
Monday, September 07, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
India targets US$1 billion organic cotton sales
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.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Friday, August 28, 2009)
Monday, September 07, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Anvil opts for ‘conversion’ cotton
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.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Tuesday, September 01, 2009)
Monday, September 07, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic Exchange: Annual report 2008
An overview of Organic Exchange and its continued growth during a difficult year.
read more
Source: Organic Exchange (Friday, August 28, 2009)
Monday, August 31, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Special report: bioRe Tanzania
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.
read more
Source: Ecotextile News (Tuesday, August 26, 2008)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Campaign to promote organic and fairtrade cotton
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.
read more
Source: Helvetas Organic & Fairtrade Competence Centre (Wednesday, April 01, 2009)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Submitted by Frank Eyhorn
West Africa: Can organic cotton save the industry?
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.
read more
Source: IRIN Africa News (Tuesday, February 17, 2009)
Friday, May 29, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Exclusive: Organic cotton market outlook
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.
read more
Source: EcoTextile News (Wednesday, March 18, 2009)
Friday, May 29, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
Organic Exchange releases its first "Farm System Crops Baseline Report"
A review of crops grown in rotation or as part of the organic cotton farm system.
read more
Source: Organic Exchange (Thursday, May 14, 2009)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Submitted by Andrea Bischof
