Textile Exchange

The occurrence of climate change has raised concerns in many industries, particularly in agriculture, because this is where more effects will be evident. The changes in environmental temperature, on water (increased flooding and drought), will impact on microclimates, pest populations, and product yield. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) it will be difficult to plan agricultural activities, due to increased climate variability. It is assumed that biodiversity will be reduced in fragile ecosystems, such as rainforests.

Our second guest blogger, Carl Pepper, returns to the subject of organic cotton markets. Carl reveals how his business risks are reduced through direct communication, out of the box thinking, and long term business security [read more]

We are delighted to welcome our first ‘guest blogger’ Graham Burden to the Farm Blog. Graham gives a Cotton Specialists perspective on the triggers behind the cotton market and how the whole value chain needs to better understand what’s required to support organic cotton production [read more]

Written by: Prabha Nagarajan - Regional Director for India, Textile Exchange

Indian Organic Cotton… Integrity Guaranteed

Written by Guest Blogger: Nicole Bassett, Sustainability and Supply Chain Consultant

In the spring of 2008, almost three years ago, 1,300 people across the country ate salsa and became sick from salmonella poisoning... From this lesson, the FDA learned the value of traceability... So what are the lessons for us in the apparel industry? Traceability isn’t going away. As consumers become accustomed to knowing more about what they’re buying, they’ll start asking questions...

By Liesl Truscott, Director Farm Engagement, Textile Exchange

It’s a sad situation when ‘doing the right thing’places an organization at risk. Yet, we saw just recently how true this can be when the company Victoria’s Secret, and the NGOs Fairtrade International and Helvetas, were accused by Bloomberg Press of not ‘getting it right’ in Burkina Faso.

Sustainability is not just a catch phrase to be tossed around the farmer’s market anymore. All over the world, consumers are choosing to adopt more environmentally and socially conscious lifestyles. People are not only taking notice of unethical business practices and destructive natural resource extraction techniques, they are taking a stand against them. Consumers are willing to pay slightly higher costs to ensure that the products they purchase... continue reading...

Wouldn't it be nice if you had a whole list of pre-screened links, blogs, and resources you could access for references and inspiration? Data, stories, images, and previously unpublished information you could integrate into projects or use to develop curricula?