PRESS RELEASE / GREENSOURCE ORGANIC CLOTHING

Organic Patriotism

Just in time for the US Independence Day celebrations on July 4th, Seattle-based organic apparel manufacturer Greensource Organic Clothing Co. has worked with Walmart to create a patriotic line of men’s, boys, and toddler organic cotton tees and muscle shirts with a July 4th flag motif, according to a Greensource release.

Greensource is the world’s 8th largest organic apparel manufacturer, according to a recent report from the non-profit organization Organic Exchange which analyzed organic cotton consumption levels in 2009.

Greensource Organic Clothing Company, a trend-forward apparel design and manufacturing company based in Seattle, WA, is one of the nation’s largest suppliers of  private-label and branded apparel made with organic cotton. It is also a large supplier of certified organic cotton blank T-shirts for the men’s, women’s, and children’s markets.

The shirts are available as part of Walmart’s “Faded Glory” brand and are available in red, white, navy, royal blue, heather, and black. The manufacturing process was done in an eco-friendly manner with all the dyes and inks certified to the Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS).

This is the first time that Walmart has offered this large volume/low price ‘Flag Tee’ item in organic cotton.

“With Walmart’s Independence Day flag apparel, consumers can show they are patriotic and appreciative of the environment at the same time,” said David Basson, Greensource CEO.

COMMENTARIES / POUGHKEEPSIE.COM

The Eco-Friendly Shirt



Abby Luby, a freelance writer in Hudson Valley in an insightful piece written 'Is your shirt eco-friendly' for poughkeepsiejournal makes the point that the reason why
designers and retailers are moving to organic has less to do with
being 'fashionable' and with it and more to do with the genuine
concern about sustainability of growing cotton.

Writes Abby Luby in her piece,"Perhaps it's less about being fashionably "with-it" and more about how fabric is made, from growing the plant to the finished dress on the rack. Take cotton. To grow conventional, nonorganic cotton, farmers use more pesticides and insecticides on cotton plants than on any other crop, according to the USDA's 2008 Agricultural Chemical Usage report."

Abyy explores the world of fashion and retail and points out that the big change has come in organic being now available at affordable prices at outlets such as and not staying restricted to a pricey, organic designer-chic clientele.

"A few years ago, organic designer-chic was very pricey, but today, more natural-fiber apparel is being sold at affordable prices at places such as Wal-Mart and Target."

Abby points that while there stays a significant price differential, there is also a value difference: "There is still a price difference between organic and nonorganic cotton. Bell said an organic cotton T-shirt sold at Mountain Tops goes for about $20 as compared to a conventional cotton T-shirt sold in a mall store for $5. The advantage for the buyer is that organic cotton lasts more than 100 washings, while conventional cotton breaks down after only 10 or 20 washings."

Photo Courtesy: H&M Garden Collection

Read the Full Article here

COMPANY REPORT / IKEA

IKEA Increasing Engagement for More Sustainable Cotton
IKEA, the world‘s largest home furnishing retailer, in its 2009 Sustainability Report "The Never Ending Job" drives home its commitment to using sustainable cotton and lays out is strategic approach to Cotton Challenges. According to the report, "Cotton is one of our most important raw materials, and we want the cotton used in our products to be produced in a sustainable manner. We have increased our engagement in a number of activities deep into a long and complex supply chain in order to speed up results and move closer to sustainable cotton cultivation and processing."

IKEA and WWF started cooperating to improve cotton farming practices in India and Pakistan in 2005 by giving farmers access to hands-on training and support. Initially, 450 farmers joined the IKEA and WWF projects, and IKEA now estimates that around 60,000 farmers will implement better farming practises in 2010.

"We believe this will lead to significant improvements in mainstream cotton farming in several cotton producing states in both countries, and drastically increase available volumes of cotton grown in a more sustainable manner," says the report.

2009 WWF estimates show that farmers on average have reduced the use of chemical pesticides by 50 percent, while water consumption has also been halved and the use of chemical fertilisers has been cut by 30 percent. At the same time, farmers’ average earnings have increased by approximately 40 percent.

According to the report, In 2008, the IKEA and WWF projects generated 34,000 tonnes of cotton grown in a more sustainable manner, and IKEA suppliers bought 12,500 tonnes for use in IKEA products. In 2009, the total available volume was 150,000 tonnes and IKEA suppliers bought 23,000 tonnes (the target was 50,000 tonnes).

The report says that "Our long-term goal is to source all cotton used in IKEA products from more sustainable cotton production. The availability of sufficient volumes will determine how quickly we can achieve this goal. In the meantime, IKEA will step-by-step increase the overall share of this more sustainable cotton across the range rather than focusing on individual products."

IKEA wants to influence mainstream cotton producers to move towards a more sustainable production, and believes that the best way to achieve lasting positive change is to cooperate with others.

"We have decided to begin by addressing the challenges in India and Pakistan, which are two of our most important cotton sourcing countries, with large cultivation areas and need for environmental and social improvements. However, IKEA is at the end of a long and complex supply chain. Achieving major change in mainstream cotton production will take time, and requires cooperation with many parties including other international companies, NGOs, governments and authorities."