Fairtrade Foundation launches 'certified cotton'

18 Nov '05

2 min read

The Fairtrade Foundation introduced new certified product on 'Cotton on to Fairtrade' theme.

This is the first ever cotton certified by the Fairtrade Foundation was launched at a press launch themed 'Cotton on to Fairtrade' held at the Royal Horticultural Halls, London, on Thursday 17th November.

This is the first time in the UK that the FAIRTRADE Mark, the independent consumer label licensed by the Fairtrade Foundation, will appear on goods made from cotton. The aim is to extend the benefits of Fairtrade to a new product category and improve the lives of cotton farmers.

The launch event was hosted by George Alagiah, Fairtrade Foundation patron, and other speakers include Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for International Development, Harriet Lamb, Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, and Julia Tilford, Trade Campaign Manager from Oxfam. The initiative is supported by presenter and journalist Sankha Guha of BBC1's Holiday programme and musician Youssou N'Dour.

The press briefing focussed on the urgent need for Fairtrade cotton in the context of low world cotton prices, depressed in part by US and EU subsidies.

Fairtrade will benefit the cotton growers in some of the developing countries where farmers used to be able to make a decent living from cotton production but now struggle to provide for their families because cotton farming is so poorly remunerated.

UK based The Fairtrade Foundation was established in 1992 by CAFOD, Christian Aid, New Consumer, Oxfam, Traidcraft and the World Development Movement. These founding organisations were later joined by Britain's largest women's organisation, the Women's Institute.

Currently there are a total of 22 members of staff at the Fairtrade Foundation that work within the departments of Commercial Relations, Communications, Certification and Operations, Finance and IT.

The Fairtrade Foundation

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