ETI Statement
ETI statement on the launch of Marks & Spencers’ Fairtrade cotton range
6 March 2006
We welcome wholeheartedly the launch of Marks & Spencer’s range of clothing using Fairtrade cotton: Cotton farmers are right at the bottom of supply chains and as such, they are in a very vulnerable position and particularly susceptible to injustices in the global trading system.
Whilst the FAIRTRADE Mark guarantees a better deal for cotton farmers, there are many other workers in other parts of the global garment industry who do not benefit enough from global trade.
We welcome the Fairtrade Foundation’s current research into whether, and how, it could develop a standard which would extend the benefits of Fairtrade further along the supply chain to those involved in cotton garment and textile manufacturing.
Marks & Spencer is a leading member of the Ethical Trading Initiative and we salute its efforts to improve labour practices throughout its supply chain. All members of the Ethical Trading Initiative, including Marks & Spencer and other buying companies, trade unions, campaigning and fairtrade organisations have been working for many years to tackle the causes of poor working conditions worldwide.
We believe that by working collectively, we can develop solutions to the problems that occur in individual workplaces but also affect entire countries and industries.
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See also:
ETI activities: ETI experimental projects
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