Earlier this year, I completed a feasibility study for the German government about the planned Fairtrade Textile Standard.The report consists of close to 100 pages and focuses on the cotton supply chains, from farming to manufacturing.
This standard is now being developed by Fairtrade International.
I will not post the 100 page report on these pages. Many have asked for the report, however, and I will e-mail it to you on request. Just e-mail me on j.furstenborg@bluewin.ch . Also do this if you have any questions or views.
By the way, in principle I support Fairtrade’s project to develop this standard but I also do have views on how it should be done to be as useful and effective as possible. This is also in line with my overall view that we should welcome all serious and positive approached to improve conditions in global supply chains – and in this case also in small scale farming and rural communities in developing countries.
So, the contents are roughly like this:
Introduction
Is a Fairtrade Textile and Apparel Standard needed and feasible?
Fairtrade as a movement and a concept
Cotton supply chains from farms to factories
Fairtrade and cotton
3Freunde hooded jackets – a Fairtrade cotton approach
Fairtrade in the social responsibility landscape
Fairtrade: Human Rights and Labour Conditions
Fairtrade and the elimination of child labour
Fairtrade Textile and Apparel Standard
Applying a Fairtrade Textile and Apparel Standard
Cotton farming and its impact on the environment
Genetically modified cotton
Organic cotton
Fairtrade and GOTS – added value through cooperation?
Possible tasks for government