price, these brands have partnered directly with farmers and farming
projects. For example:
• In 2007 OE, C&A Europe and the Shell Foundation entered into
an ambitious multi-year partnership to support organic farming
“T“The overall impact of providing organic and
eco-friendly products has had a
measurable positive effect on
Wal-Mart, works closely with a
farming cooperative of 380
farmers in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province.
Together with its partner, Kings
Farming Group, Greensource in
2005-2007 built schools next to the
fields (the nearest school was 60
miles away). Greensource/
Kings also supplies free trucking to
transport bales and in 2008 established its own ginning facility.
sales of all of our products.”
Future Challenges
—Anthony Corsano, CEO of Anvil Knitwear
Despite the explosive growth of
Anvil Knitwear
the organic cotton industry during
and community development and to build capacity for sustainable the last decade, the industry faces
manufacturing based in India. challenges in the years to come. The
Over the next five years, this partnership will improve the lives most speculated challenge is the slow-and livelihoods of more than 50,000 farmers by improving soil ing global economy. To be certain,
and farming conditions, generating economic opportunity and in- the rapid growth of the organic cot-vesting in rural farming communities. This partnership will also ton industry will slow, but many com-create sustainable value-chain business models, tools and informa- panies believe that the organic cotton
tion which support replication and scale up approaches for other industry will nonetheless continue to
farmers, manufacturers and brands. get stronger.
• OE, Woolworth’s South Africa (WWSA), Cotton South Africa and Anthony Corsano, CEO of Anvil
the country’s Agricultural Research Council (ARC), with the fi- Knitwear, notes, “The current eco-nancial support of nomic climate will have
ComMark Trust, are an impact on the rate of
undertaking pilot growth of our organic ac-projects with existing tivewear line, but we still
WWSA suppliers and expect significant in-small- to large-scale creases in sales as our or-cotton farmers. This ganic and eco-friendly
will lead to the coun- products continue to
try’s first commercial- grow.” He continued,
scale organic cotton “The overall impact of
fiber production and providing organic and
vertical processing op- eco-friendly products has
erations. 2007/2008 had a measurable posi-
was the country’s first Organic Exchange is working with local nonprofits and retailers to tive effect on sales of all
organic cotton crop, create education programs for organic cotton farmers in Africa. of our products. The de-producing seven MT mand for products made
( 32 bales) of organic cotton, which WWSA plans to use in its prod- by companies guided by a higher so-uct line. cial and environmental philosophy
• Nordstrom is working with Organic Exchange to help 5,000 West has never been stronger. More now
Nile, Uganda organic cotton farmers improve their production than ever, customers (businesses and
and develop their management and organizational capacity. mass consumers alike) insist on doing
Nordstrom will also help Organic Exchange work with the Na- business with suppliers who share
tional Organic Agriculture Movement of Uganda to improve de- their values.”
livery of training and market access programs in the country. Indeed, it appears that with less to
• Greensource, a major supplier to Macy’s, Kohl’s, Sam’s Club and spend, consumers are choosing their
