User:Terramar Organics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Terramar Organics, founded in 2004, is an online ethical clothing retailer in Aberdeen, Scotland. It seeks to promote the benefits of and raise the level of awareness of certified organic fair trade clothing to the mainstream.
The cotton used in the production of the clothing is grown on organic cotton projects and co-operatives in Uganda, Turkey and India. These farms are independently monitored by certification agencies such as Control Union (formerly known as Skal International) to monitor and implement strict organic standards laid down in EC Regulation 2092/91.
Fairly traded cotton guarantees the farmer a fair advance price for his/her crop and helps ensure a sustainable future for family agriculture and co-operatives of smaller producers in developing countries.
Manufacture of the clothing is done in India and Turkey where further monitoring is done to ensure fair working practices and, where applicable, Fairtrade standards.
Conventionally-grown cotton requires the application of chemical pesticides and insecticides in order to yield an economically viable crop. While only 2.5% of all cultivated land is used for the production of cotton, 10% of all pesticides and 22.5% of all insecticides are applied to conventional cotton crops. Cotton provides nearly 50% of global fibre requirements. (Source: PAN UK) These chemicals are known to have adverse effects on the environment, farmers and the consumer.
It has been reported that at least three million people are poisoned by pesticides every year and more than 200,000 die. [citation needed] Furthermore, chlorine bleach used in conventional cotton manufacture is also a health hazard, releasing carcinogens responsible for birth defects, low sperm count in men and numerous allergies. [citation needed]
Therefore, by growing, manufacturing and processing cotton organically it is possible to limit the damage done by these chemicals and produce a product which will not have such adverse effects on producers, the environment and the consumer.
In consideration of environmental and social impact, the use of water in growing and processing cotton is of major concern. Conventional cotton requires on average 3000 litres more water per acre than organic cotton to grow due to the repeated application of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilisers, and the chemical treatment of cotton during manufacturing requires the use of even more water. [citation needed] The subsequent waste is often poorly managed resulting in environmental damage.
Sustainable textile production relies on minimising social and environmental exposure to harmful chemicals so that only a very limited and highly regulated number of chemicals (such as caustic soda) are used. Thus water usage is minimised with correct procedures for recycling/cleaning waste water. Farm and factory workers are not exposed to hazardous chemicals, and local communities do not end up with a sick environment and ill population.
