Ciranda’s New Palm Oil
Now RSPO Certified
Since 2007, Ciranda has supported a worldwide effort to
achieve economic, social and environmental palm oil
sustainability through its participation in the Roundtable
on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a global nonprofit association. Now, with the RSPO certification of its supply partner Agropalma, a leader in South America’s palm oil
industry, Ciranda is proud to support Brazil’s first Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).
With Agropalma,
global produc-
tion of CSPO is
now close to 5
million tons, 10
percent of global
palm oil produc-
tion. Through
RSPO, Ciranda is
part of a global
initiative to pro-
tect biodiversity,
strengthen local economies, provide a livable wage to
workers and educational and healthcare support to their
families.
Save the Date
• Sustainable Cosmetics Summit: Food
& Cosmetics Convergence—Paris,
Nov. 28-30. Explores the use of food
(ingredients) in cosmetic applications
and nutri-cosmetics. (
www.sustain-ablecosmeticssummit.com)
• Sustainable Foods Summit:
Sustainable Ingredients & Packaging—Jan. 17-
18, San Francisco. Focus is on
sustainable proteins/ingredients and
ecological packaging. (
www.sustainablefoodssummit.com)
• CCOF Annual Meeting and EcoFarm
Pre-Conference: Advancing Organic 2012, Practices and
Policies—Feb 1., Asilomar, Pacific Grove, CA. Topics include
energy conservation in organic processing facilities, food
safety (National Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement and
the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010) and 2012 U.S.
Farm Bill provisions. Keynote speakers: Craig McNamara,
Sierra Orchards/Center for Land-Based Learning, Daniel
Imhoff, author, Food Fight: The Citizen’s Guide to a Food
and Farm Bill. Includes a video address by Senator Debbie
Stabenow of Michigan, chairwoman of the U.S. Senate
Committee on Agriculture.
Today, many brands are using organic textiles to make an
eco-fashion statement, but as the demand for organic ap-
parel and home textiles has increased, so has the range of
claims. To clarify its stance on the issue, earlier this year the
USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) released a policy
memorandum addressing the labeling of such products. At
Natural Products Expo East in September, NOP Deputy Ad-
ministrator Miles McEvoy met with leaders in the industry to
further clarify the details.
The memo sent out in May
states that processed textile prod-
ucts labeled as “organic” must be
third-party certified, and all fibers
identified as “organic” contained
in the textile product must be cer-
tified organic to the NOP regula-
tions. While the NOP policy memo
did state that a product can be la-
beled as “organic” and make refer-
ence to NOP certification if it is
produced in full compliance with
the NOP production and handling
standards, the NOP was designed
with food in mind, not hoodies or
duvets. Thus, with exception to
simple items like cotton balls, most
organic fiber products require
methods outside those used for
food. As a practical alternative, the NOP’s policy memo
states that products produced in accordance with the Global
Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) may be sold as “organic”
in the U.S., but they must use the GOTS seal and may not
refer to NOP certification or carry the USDA Organic seal.
GOT GOTS?
USDA Clarifies Position on Organic Textile Labeling
GOTS-certified apparel from
Under the Nile.
What is GOTS? GOTS is a voluntary global standard for the
entire postharvest processing (including spinning, knitting, weaving, dyeing and manufacturing) of apparel and textiles made
with organic fiber. All fiber used in a
GOTS-certified product must first be
certified organic. In addition to this, environmental and social provisions for post-farm to retail shelf management must be met. For
example, GOTS prohibits the use of child labor, genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) and highly hazardous chemicals
such as azo dyes and formaldehyde. GOTS also requires that
workers are paid living wages and that processers adhere to
strict wastewater treatment practices.
