An estimated 100 million households are involved in cotton production in 70 countries around the world. The largest cotton producing countries are the United States, China, India, Uzbekistan and the West and Central African region. Cotton is an especially important source of employment and income within West and Central Africa, India, Pakistan, and Central Asia.
The world price for cotton has been in steady decline for the past couple of decades. In the 2001-02 season cotton prices fell to US$0.92 per kilo - the lowest level in 30 years. While the current price has recovered somewhat the value of cotton is still only a third of what it was in the early 1980s.
Fairtrade is primarily a development tool which is designed to address the problems faced by vulnerable producers of agricultural commodities such as coffee, cocoa and bananas. The certification of cotton addresses the injustices affecting cotton farmers and helps to improve their economic position but the manufacturing process of the cotton from the farmer’s field to the end product is not yet guaranteed in the same way.
Fairtrade standards require that all companies involved in the manufacturing of a Fairtrade certified cotton product must submit documentation of decent working conditions, however the monitoring of labour conditions is complex and ultimate responsibility must be taken by the end brand or retailer. Organisations such as the Ethical Trading Initiative, the Fair Wear Foundation and Social Accountability International have made enormous efforts to improve working conditions in the garment industry.
Fairtrade complements this work and can be seen as a way of raising the bar and encouraging more responsible sourcing practices amongst brands and retailers. We recognise that there are vulnerable people in the manufacturing supply chain of cotton products who could benefit from Fairtrade certification and we are currently exploring whether and how we can develop a standard which extends the benefits of Fairtrade further so a product could be labelled with the FAIRTRADE Mark from seed to finished garment.
Patagonia Will Be the First Fair Trade-Certified International Clothing Brand
Share the News