our planet - organic cotton clothing ethically produced

organic cotton

Where does our organic cotton come from?
The natural organic cotton used in our t-shirts is currently grown in India. The cotton is grown by a farmers' co-operative in India that is committed to improving the livelihood of its farmers and their communities in a manner that is environmentally sound and sustainable.

The Saf supply chain is audited against the Global Organic Standard, this standard includes an audit against social criteria, the scope of this social audit includes checking for the following:

• Employment is freely chosen

• Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected

• Working conditions are safe and hygienic

• Child labour is not used

• Living wages are paid

• Working hours are not excessive

• No discrimination is practised

• Regular employment is provided

• No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed

Turkey in particular has become one of today's main organic cotton producing countries. The cotton is grown and distributed through a number of farmers' co-operatives each committed to improving the livelihood of its farmers and their communities in a way that is sustainable and environmentally sound.

What about environmental impact?
ZooZoo2 are committed to reducing environmental impact through the use of natural organic cotton together with more environmentally-sound dyes.

Why organic cotton?

Conventional cotton farming is one of agriculture's most environmentally destructive activities. It takes an enormous toll on the earth's air, water, and soil, and significantly affects the health of people living in cotton growing areas.

A typical conventional cotton t-shirt uses about 150 grams of acutely toxic pesticides and insecticides; that's the size of a cup of sugar. (source: Soil Association). Our organic cotton clothing uses none.

Organic cotton farming methods benefit farmers and their communities by:

• preventing and reducing farmer debt

• improving food stability for farmers as a result of crop rotation

• preventing pollution of the water table

• preventing potential fatal pesticide poisoning of farmers and their families

• improving and maintaining biodiversity

To achieve organic certification, only azo-free dyes are used in the dying process and all effluent is properly treated.

In addition, the traceability of organic cotton right back down the supply chain means that it is the only cotton that you can be certain is GM free

And, naturally, your skin can't absorb any toxic pesticides when you wear organic cotton clothing.

How can you be sure it is natural organic cotton?
All the cotton used by ZooZoo2 is currently certified by Control Union (formerly SKAL international). Our main supplier is currently being audited against the new Global Organic Standard, a standard which was released in January 2006. This standard is recognised by both the I.M.O and the Soil Association.

A number of independent international certification and inspection bodies check and verify organic cotton production worldwide including SKAL, IMO, ECOCERT and the UK Soil Association. For any product to be sold as organic it must be certified and any supply chain checked according to EU regulations.

Skal International
Skal International as an organisation regulates and certifies organic products and production processes worldwide.

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