News
Regenerative agriculture
A new buzzword is spreading, regenerative agriculture. What is it and how can we assess it?
Cotton textiles have a positive carbon footprint
The recently passed German supply chain law has been criticised for ignoring major environmental crises such as climate change (BUND, 6/2021). This is despite the fact that, according to studies, the fashion industry, among others, contributes dramatically to climate change (McKinsey/Global Fashion Agenda, 8/2020). If this situation does not improve, the industry's CO2 emissions will likely increase to such an extent that by 2030 it will have caused twice the amount of emissions as stipulated in the Paris Agreement. Now, a new finding suggests that cotton could be the path to a climate-friendly textile industry.
Cotonea advises on the development of the Textile Trust platform
The first phase of the joint project between IBM, Kaya&Kato and Cotonea with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has been completed. Textile manufacturer Cotonea is providing content expertise for the development of the blockchain-based platform Textile Trust. The aim is to ensure security and transparency in textile supply chains.
What makes fashion brands and textile manufacturers trustworthy?
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) has uncovered a scam in India: during their own investigations, the non-profit organisation discovered falsified certificates for more than 20,000 tonnes of organic cotton. No GOTS certificates were falsified, but certificates relating to raw fibres were. These certificates are accepted by GOTS as proof that the raw fibres are organic. The organisation has recalled all its own certificates issued on the basis of these falsified pre-certificates and has taken further measures.
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 7): The cotton wool specialist Cotonea contributes to providing clean and sustainable energy
The United Nations (UN) have agreed on 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which should be implemented by 2030. The seventh SDG demands access to affordable, reliable, environmentally-friendly and sustainable energy.
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6): Clean water – how can a medium-sized company such as Cotonea contribute to achieving this sustainability goal?
The United Nations (UN) have agreed on 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which should be implemented by 2030.
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5): Gender equality - How does Cotonea contribute to achieving this goal in its projects?
The United Nations (UN) have agreed on 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to make the world a better place. They should be implemented by 2030. Cotonea, too, implements the 17 Sustainable Development Goals wherever possible.
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4): Quality education. How Cotonea implements this goal in its projects
The United Nations (UN) have agreed on 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to make the world a better place. They should be implemented by 2030. Cotonea, too, implements the 17 Sustainable Development Goals wherever possible.
How does a customer know how "green" a textile manufacturer is?
Our sales representatives are often asked at fairs how a customer can know how "green" a textile manufacturer is. In concrete terms, the question is whether a producer or supplier really does what it claims to do. Is a quality standard label such as Oeko-Tex (with relatively low standards) enough for the consumer or does he ask for a completely organic product with high standards such as IVN BEST or at least GOTS?
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3): Good health and well-being - the duty and obligation of every company
The United Nations (UN) have agreed on 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to make the world a better place. They should be implemented by 2030. There is not much time left. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance, that all companies actively face up to this responsibility.
UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2): ending hunger
With its organic cotton projects, Cotonea helps to secure food in its cultivation countries and contributes to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to end hunger.
Cotonea contributes to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): Number 1 ending poverty
In order to finally and fundamentally move the world in the direction of sustainable development, in 2014 the United Nations (UN) agreed on 17 global Sustainable Development Goals. The member countries should implement these by 2030. In order to achieve this, everybody has to contribute.
Glyphosate – not only a problem for Bayer
The non-selective herbicide glyphosate that has been marketed under the name Round up for nearly 30 years, kills every plant, unless its seeds have been genetically modified so that they are resistant to just this specific herbicide. The producer of both products is the US-company Monsanto, which was bought by Bayer for 63 billion dollars in 2018. Glyphosate has also been patented as an antibiotic since 2010, which, like every antibiotic, kills bacteria. However, fertile soil needs bacteria and humans are also completely dependent on bacteria.
Cotton requires only little water – when professionals are at work!
Who invented it, the fairy tale of thirsty cotton; who claimed it was true, repeated and spread it, thus making everyone believe it? Maybe the synthetic fibre industry? The truth is: cotton uses less water than all other common field crops! And in the end, farmers do have to cultivate some kind of crop.
Ecologically-fair cotton (OFT): Cotonea is the third largest processor worldwide
In 2016, Cotonea occupied the third place in NGO Textile Exchange’s ranking list of the 10 larg-est processors of ecologically-fair cotton worldwide. For more than 10 years Cotonea has been consistently sourcing organically-fair cotton from its own cultivation and, for their long-standing commitment in Uganda and Kyrgyzstan, have now been rewarded with third place on the Organic Fair Trade ranking list (OFT). Only Boll & Branch from New Jersey and the Swiss Coop have achieved a higher ranking position than Elmer & Zweifel with Cotonea.
Cotonea relies on honest organic cotton
GOTS-certified organic cotton contains gene-manipulated organisms (GMO). The guidelines prohibit this. However, GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) does not pursue these accusations, but rather contests the testing process.