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Although there is still confusion customers are becoming more educated about the organic sector, says distributor Quayside. "Organic and Fairtrade product is available on the high street and people are becoming more aware and gaining greater understanding of the issues," it says. "Press articles and television programs like the Blood, Sweat and T-shirts are clearly bringing the subject to the end consumer."
Quayside says sales of its organic brand Saf and the overall demand for ethical products are increasing as people's understanding of the issues grows.
"It is widely understood that protecting the environment is a global challenge not limited to a specific industry," it says. "It is only now that people are becoming aware of the 20,000 people a year that in die in less developed countries from pesticide poising and the damage that is done by the use of toxic pesticides and insecticides. Labour practises in Uzbekistan only came to public attention in the last 12 months and I am delighted that several companies including SAF have banned the use of Uzbek cotton and have changed their labelling to increase transparency and give customers more power to select companies that share their ethical views."
This growing awareness is only going to increase demand, predicts Quayside. "Organic clothing helps to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals used in cotton farming. It is good for the consumer, it's good for the producers and it's good for the environment," it says.
This year Saf has launched more styles and during 2008 the Saf Range will have doubled in size. Quayside expects this demand to continue to grow steadily.
"Legislation is changing and the situation is improving," it says. "After nearly a decade of environmental damage and a high number of fatalities in the cotton-growing community, the insecticide endosulfan has finally been banned in Benin.
The West African country is one of the top three cotton producers in the region and has announced the pesticide will be banned after the existing stocks are used up - over 1 million bottles of endosulfan are distributed annually in Benin alone.
"Charities have been campaigning for a ban on endosulfan for many years because it has caused an increasing number of pesticide poisoning incidents, leading to many deaths within cotton growing communities. Sadly, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast still have over 1.6 million litres of endosulfan in stock, most of which will be distributed to cotton farmers this season."
Web: http://www.tradetag.co.uk/
Tel: 08456 522 722
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