| Combating poverty goes hand-in-hand with protecting | | | | to the development of the crops. As these farmers |
| the environment in developing countries according to | | | | grow their cotton in rotation with basic food crops, an |
| the Aid by Trade Foundation, an organisation | | | | excellent base is in place for sustainable cultivation. |
| established in 2005 by Dr. Michael Otto to encourage | | | | However, the danger to the farmers and the |
| eco-awareness and promote environmental protection | | | | environment is posed by the inappropriate or |
| in Africa. The organisation has three primary aims: to | | | | excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers, especially in |
| improve the cotton-growing process to making it more | | | | the cases where the families are not able to read the |
| of a sustainable industry; to enhance the | | | | instructions on these often-poisonous products. This |
| competitiveness of African cotton on the global | | | | can furthermore pose a serious threat to drinking |
| market; and to introduce a new dimension of | | | | water resources. |
| corporate responsibility for all involved in production and | | | | In terms of support for the project, numerous |
| manufacturing. | | | | international retailers and textile apparel manufacturers |
| To improve social conditions in Africa and to begin to | | | | have already gotten on board, including the Otto Group, |
| redress the growing social gap between the rich and | | | | Tchibo, Puma, and Tom Tailor. Global partner Avery |
| the poor, it's necessary to pursue sustainable resource | | | | Dennison is the primary supplier of the "Cotton made in |
| usage and regional projects that keep the environment | | | | Africa" labels, which provide the quality seal for |
| at the forefront of any future developments, which in | | | | garments produced under the auspices of the |
| turn ensures that the future is safeguarded for the | | | | programme. The "Cotton made in Africa" project aims |
| coming generations. This is because soil pollution, | | | | to create a new dimension of social responsibility and |
| environmental damage, and the depletion of drinking | | | | to provide an equitable and responsible plan for the |
| water resources are all issues inextricable from the | | | | future, or in its own words, "a fair deal." |
| use and abuse of natural resources in a | | | | The benefits of the project are numerous, for the |
| non-sustainable manner. | | | | cotton producers in Africa to the large textile |
| Why exactly is Aid by Trade focusing on the | | | | manufacturers, but also for the consumers around the |
| production of cotton in Africa? It's simply because | | | | world who are seeking ecologically and socially |
| African cotton is a high-quality material with long | | | | responsible products. The "Cotton made in Africa" |
| handpicked fibres. Grown in the regions south of the | | | | woven clothing labels are the key to identifying the |
| Sahara without the use of environmentally damaging | | | | campaign for the rapidly expanding target audience of |
| artificial irrigation, the small-hold producers practice | | | | socially and environmentally conscious consumers |
| rain-field cultivation whereby the natural rainfall is crucial | | | | around the world. |