Sustainable Action Leadership

Walmarts "American Summer" By Way of China and South America…….

Walmart is unequivocally the “Green Giant”...  the “Green Superman,” they are able to take giant leaps of Sustainability with a single bound and change the world!!!!

They have done an outstanding job in the last five years of walking their talk in regards to Sustainability, some of which I am proud to have participated in.

I noticed on a recent trip to Walmart, the Walmart  “American Summer” shop—great stuff!!!  Almost all the T-shirts were made of Organic Cotton, and most were just $3.00…Really exciting…However upon taking a closer look—Nothing in this shop was made in the USA. Flip flops from China, T-Shirts from China,Pakistan and Guatemala.

I am thrilled that the Tee’s are Organic Cotton…but nothing in this shop was made in the USA…and yet the name of the shop is “American Summer” with a tag line of “Main Street USA 2010.” Many people on Main Street are having a tough time these days and many are unemployed. A great solution to  'Main Street USA' would be if Walmart were to source ALL their USA flag bearing products "From Farm (Raw materials) to Shelf" right here in the US? 

Just like we as US consumers are the root cause of the Oil Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico due to our addiction to oil, we are also the cause of  Walmarts “American Summer” by way of China, and South America sourcing model. We want products at affordable prices albeit cheap—and this is just the 'cause and effect' rule in action!.

Looks like Walmart still has work to do!!!! Big Company---Big Change---Takes Time……….  One thing I know for sure....in time they will do the right thing!!!                                                                          

 

My Sustainable T-shirt-A Guide to Understanding Cotton Production and Eco-Labels

Pesticide Action Network (PAN) UK

My Sustainable T-shirt

A guide to understanding cotton production and what eco-labels mean for people and the planet.

Click here to: Download PAN UK My Sustainable T-shirt

Building Trust Again after GM Cotton Contamination of the Organic Cotton Supply Chain

EcoTextile News Cover Story, March 2010.

Building Trust Again, By John Mowbry

Risk Management, By Coral Rose

How do we improve transparency in the organic cotton supply chain after the recent GM(Genetically Modified) contamination of the organic cotton supply chain?

  Download Ecotextile News cover story here

Copyright © 2010 Mowbray Communications Ltd

Organic Living; With Sustainable Textiles and Coral Rose

Organic Living by Eliza Sarasohn and Sonia Weiss-page 227

The Sustainable Action Leadership~Sustainable Textiles Blog was recognized as a leader in sustainable textiles. Thank you Eliza and Sonia!!!

Labeling of Textiles: National Organic Program (NOP)

Original Post 8.08

Labeling of Textiles: National Organic Program (NOP)

USDA regulates the term “organic” as it applies to agricultural products through its
National Organic Program (NOP) regulation, 7 CFR Part 205.(LINK HERE)

● Raw natural fibers, such as cotton, wool ,flax, etc., are agricultural products and
are covered under the NOP crop/livestock production standards. Off-farm treatment of
raw organic fibers are not covered under the NOP crop/livestock production standards. 

● Although the NOP has no specific fiber or textile processing and manufacturing
standards, it may be possible for fi bers grown and certified to NOP crop/livestock standards
to be processed and manufactured into textile and other products which meet NOP
standards. 

Labeling for Certified Handling/Processing/ Manufacturing Operations 

Only textile products certified to the NOP production AND processing standards are eligible to be labeled
“100 percent organic” and “organic.” 

100 percent organic 

● 100 percent organic fiber content.

● Only organic processing aids.

● USDA Organic seal may be displayed on final product, in marketing materials, and in retail
displays—in proximity to certified products only.

● All operations producing, handling, processing and manufacturing the final product must be
certified. 

Organic 

● Minimum of 95 percent organic fiber content.

● 5 percent nonorganic substances, as listed in Section 205.605 of the NOP regulation.

● No non-organic fibers.

● USDA Organic seal may be displayed on final product, in marketing materials, and in retail
displays—in proximity to certified products only.

● All operations producing, handling, processing,and manufacturing the final product must be certified. 

Other Uses of the Word “Organic” in Textile Product Labeling 

The NOP does not restrict the use of the term “made with organic …” in the labeling of textile products to
only those products manufactured in certified organic facilities or containing a minimum of 70 percent
organic fibers. However, all fibers identified in these textile products as “organic” must be produced and
certified to NOP standards. 

Labels on textile products from non-certified handling/processing/manufacturing operations: 

● May identify specific fibers as being organic if certified to the NOP crop/livestock standards.

● May state the percentage of organic fibers contained in the final product.

● May not use the USDA Organic seal.

● May not imply or lead the consumer to believe that the final product is certified organic 

Other Labeling Laws 

● NOP label requirements are in addition to those required by the Federal Trade
Commission’s (FTC) Textile and Wool Acts.

● Information on FTC labeling requirements for textiles can be found at the following websites:

Threading Your Way Through the Labeling Requirements of The Textile and Wool Acts

Calling it Cotton

USDA regulates the term “organic” as it applies to agricultural products through its
National Organic Program (NOP) regulation, 7 CFR Part 205.(LINK HERE)

● Raw natural fibers, such as cotton, wool ,flax, etc., are agricultural products and
are covered under the NOP crop/livestock production standards. Off-farm treatment of
raw organic fibers are not covered under the NOP crop/livestock production standards. 

● Although the NOP has no specific fiber or textile processing and manufacturing
standards, it may be possible for fi bers grown and certified to NOP crop/livestock standards
to be processed and manufactured into textile and other products which meet NOP
standards. 

Labeling for Certified Handling/Processing/ Manufacturing Operations 

Only textile products certified to the NOP production AND processing standards are eligible to be labeled
“100 percent organic” and “organic.” 

100 percent organic 

● 100 percent organic fiber content.

● Only organic processing aids.

● USDA Organic seal may be displayed on final product, in marketing materials, and in retail
displays—in proximity to certified products only.

● All operations producing, handling, processing and manufacturing the final product must be
certified. 

Organic 

● Minimum of 95 percent organic fiber content.

● 5 percent nonorganic substances, as listed in Section 205.605 of the NOP regulation.

● No non-organic fibers.

● USDA Organic seal may be displayed on final product, in marketing materials, and in retail
displays—in proximity to certified products only.

● All operations producing, handling, processing,and manufacturing the final product must be certified. 

Other Uses of the Word “Organic” in Textile Product Labeling 

The NOP does not restrict the use of the term “made with organic …” in the labeling of textile products to
only those products manufactured in certified organic facilities or containing a minimum of 70 percent
organic fibers. However, all fibers identified in these textile products as “organic” must be produced and
certified to NOP standards. 

Labels on textile products from non-certified handling/processing/manufacturing operations: 

● May identify specific fibers as being organic if certified to the NOP crop/livestock standards.

● May state the percentage of organic fibers contained in the final product.

● May not use the USDA Organic seal.

● May not imply or lead the consumer to believe that the final product is certified organic 

Other Labeling Laws 

● NOP label requirements are in addition to those required by the Federal Trade
Commission’s (FTC) Textile and Wool Acts.

● Information on FTC labeling requirements for textiles can be found at the following websites:

Threading Your Way Through the Labeling Requirements of The Textile and Wool Acts

Calling it Cotton

Better cotton threading its way towards global markets

Gland, Switzerland: The first batch of sustainable cotton – to be produced with a fraction of the water and pesticide use of traditional cotton cultivation – is expected to reach global markets starting next year.

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), a partnership between major corporations such as Adidas, IKEA, Gap, and H&M, and NGOs such as WWF, recently created a new set of criteria to make cotton cultivation more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable.

The Better Cotton System outlines mechanisms to mitigate the negative impacts of one of the world’s most water and chemical crops, which is often grown in semi-arid and water scarce areas.

Cotton cultivation covers more than 2.4 percent of global arable land, involving about 30 million farmers. Cotton is produced in more than 65 countries worldwide, mainly in the developing world.

“The Better Cotton Initiative aims to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it and better for the environment it grows in” said Walter Wagner, WWF Switzerland, newly elected vice-chair of the BCI.

Pilot projects are slated to test the BCI system in Pakistan, India, Africa, and Brazil to provide sustainable cotton to textile makers and buyers starting next year. For example, the initiative aims to reduce water and pesticide use.

Projects underway in Pakistan and India led by WWF and IKEA have led to 75 percent reduction in water and pesticide use, while increase the net revenue to cotton producers by 70 percent.

“BCI endeavors to initiate global change in the mass market, with long-term benefits for the environment, farmers and other people dependent on cotton for their livelihood,” according to its website.

Original post here: World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Panda.org

Link here: Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)

The (r)evolution of textiles:

From the Industrial Revolution to the Chemical Revolution to the
Green Revolution.

Check out Harmony Art's the (r)evolution of textiles.

the (r)evolution of textiles:

 
 

Wal-Mart Strengthens Social and Environmental Goals

BEIJING – [10.22.08] Just as the global textile industry has started to question whether its journey towards sustainability can survive in these tough economic times, Wal-Mart has bucked the trend with a series of new goals and expectations to build a more environmentally and socially responsible global supply chain.

Lee Scott, the president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced the move at an unprecedented gathering of more than 1,000 leading suppliers, officials and NGOs in Beijing, China. “Sustainability is about building a better business. We think it is essential to our future success as a retailer – and to meeting the expectations of customers,” said Scott, “Maintaining the trust of our customers – today and in the future – is tied hand-in-hand with improving the quality of our supplier factories and their products.”

The company will focus on areas aimed at meeting or exceeding social and environmental standards, driving innovation and efficiency and building stronger partnerships with suppliers, government and NGOs.

As part of a series of new requirements for its suppliers, Wal-Mart is taking a number of steps to further strengthen and enforce supplier compliance with environmental and social standards, including the creation of a new supplier agreement that will require factories to certify compliance with laws and regulations where they operate – as well as rigorous social and environmental standards. The agreement will be phased in beginning with suppliers in China in January 2009 and expanding to suppliers around the world by 2011.

The company has pledged to bring more environmentally sustainable products to its store shelves and says it will partner with suppliers to improve energy efficiency in the top 200 factories it sources from directly in China by 20% by 2012. The company will share information and best practices with all of the factories it sources from as well as its competitors.

In terms of supply chain transparency, by 2009, Wal-Mart will require all direct import suppliers plus all suppliers of private label and non-branded products to provide the name and location of every factory they use to make the products it sells. The company will also have all suppliers it buys from directly to source 95% of their production from factories that receive the highest ratings on environmental and social practices by 2012.

Wal-Mart also announced a major effort to make Wal-Mart China a leader in sustainability in China by committing to make its stores more sustainable. The company will design and open a new store prototype that uses 40% less energy and will reduce energy use at existing stores by 30% by 2010. In addition, during the next two years, Wal-Mart China will aim to cut water use in all of its stores in half by investing in new hardware and systems and developing best practices that will help its associates and stores use water more efficiently.

Scott also sent out a strong socially responsible message to the Chinese manufacturing community: “I firmly believe that a company that cheats on overtime and on the age of its labour, that dumps its scraps and chemicals in our rivers, that does not pay its taxes or honour its contracts – will ultimately cheat on the quality of its products. And cheating on the quality of products is the same as cheating on customers. We will not tolerate that at Wal-Mart.”

The announcements build on Lee Scott‘s ‘Company of the Future’ speech to Wal-Mart store managers in January, 2008 where he pledged to make the company’s operations in China more sustainable and our build a more environmentally and socially responsible global supply.

Original Post: EcoTextileNews Copyright © 2008 Mowbray Communications Ltd 

Wal-Mart Bans Uzbek Cotton

BENTONVILLE – [09.30.08] US retail giant Wal-Mart has instructed its global supply base to cease sourcing cotton and cotton materials from Uzbekistan in an effort to persuade the Uzbek government to end the use of forced child labor in cotton harvesting.

The move follows on from a move at the beginning of this year by UK retailer Tesco which also urged its suppliers to stop using cotton from the former Soviet Republic. See related story HERE.

The action by Wal-Mart follows months of work with industry trade associations, government agencies, non-governmental organizations and socially responsible investment groups to form a common position in condemning the Uzbek government‘s practices.

"We have formed an unprecedented coalition, representing 90% of the U.S. purchases of cotton and cotton-based merchandise, to bring these appalling child labor conditions to an end," said Rajan Kamalanathan, vice president of ethical standards. "There is no tolerance for forced child labor in the Wal-Mart supply chain."

The Environmental Justice Foundation is one such organization that has run a long, effective campaign against the cotton industry in Uzbekistan and published the land-mark document ‘White Gold – the true cost of Cotton’, which dealt with this issue.

With Wal-Mart‘s active participation, four industry trade groups, the American Association of Footwear and Apparel, Retail Industry Leaders Association, National Retail Federation, and the United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel sent a joint letter to the Embassy of Uzbekistan on Aug. 18, 2008, demanding an immediate end to the use of forced child labor in cotton harvesting.  In  response, the Uzbek government issued on Sept. 12, 2008 a National Action Plan which details steps to eradicate the use of child labor. The Government has set out a working group to monitor practice against the new minimum age of 16.

Once these steps can be independently verified, Wal-Mart says it will modify the direction to its suppliers.

Copyright © 2008 Mowbray Communications Ltd 

 

How Green Is Your Wardrobe?

Orginal Post on EcoTextile News click here

MATLOCK – [08.07.08] A new on-line calculator which allows consumers to calculate the environmental impact of their clothing has been launched by Colour Connections Ltd – the same company which developed the ground-breaking textile eco-metrics (click here or see this blogs 7.18.08 post) for manufacturers and clothing brands.

The new ‘Household Textile Environmental Impact Calculator’ differs from textile eco-metrics in that it's aimed specifically at shoppers instead of the textile industry. Using a series of drop-down menus and a set of complex mathematics hidden behind its user friendly interface allows consumers to assess the environmental impact of the choices they make when they buy, care and dispose of household textiles and clothing.

All users have to do is choose from a list of common clothing items in terms of how many items they buy and how they are disposed in a twelve month period. Then users are asked how these items are washed, dried and ironed in a typical week. After pressing the 'calculate' button, users score a rating in terms of 'Environmental Damage Units' or EDU’s. The EDU value is an environmental measure which is scientifically arrived at based on water and energy use, the use of non-renewable resources and pollution.

The overall EDU score for each item of clothing depends on each individual consumer’s buying preferences, how they care for their garments and ultimately how they dispose of them.

“You may be surprised at how much impact your personal or family clothing preferences have on the environment,” said Phil Patterson, managing director of Colour Connections. “Doing one fewer tumble drying cycle per week saves 170 EDU’s, which is enough to make the fabric for 50 pairs of underpants.”

CLICK HERE to see how your wardrobe stacks up.

Copyright © 2008 Mowbray Communications Ltd