100 B&Q stores start to sell Fairtrade Cotton

B&Q announces that it will be selling its first Fairtrade products in store this year. From August 2010, B&Q will sell a range of Fairtrade cotton bedding in 100 stores. 2010 is an important milestone as it marks the fifth year anniversary of the introduction of Fairtrade cotton into the UK market. Source: Fairtrade Foundation




There are now over 100 Fairtrade cotton licensees in the UK – a mixture of brands, retailers and companies. This enables them to use the FAIRTRADE Certification Mark on cotton products, meaning that cotton farmers in the developing world are getting a better deal: receiving a fair and stable Fairtrade Minimum Price for their cotton in addition to the Fairtrade Premium.



Fairtrade cotton began with ten small pioneer companies selling clothing using cotton grown by farmers from nine countries in the developing world. As many as 100 million rural households around the world are involved in cotton production. Most are small-scale cotton farmers especially vulnerable to exploitation and injustice from international trade rules.



Fairtrade offers a positive alternative to thousands of cotton farmers in India and in countries as widespread as Senegal, Burkina Faso, Egypt and Mali in West Africa, Peru and Egypt. Fairtrade certification brings cotton farmers the assurance of a fair and stable minimum price. They also receive the Fairtrade Premium – additional funds to invest in social or economic development projects. The Premium is most often invested in education and healthcare, farm improvements to increase yield and quality, or processing facilities to increase income. These projects can bring long-lasting positive change to the whole community.

Source : Natural Choices.co.uk