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Fashionistas with a conscience can now bag themselves a selection of gorgeous sustainable shoppers this summer as the number of different styles of bags made from Fairtrade certified cotton dramatically expands from five to over 100 in just one year.

 
Over 15 styles of bags have now been licensed by the Fairtrade Foundation to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark.  They are available from high street stores and supermarkets such as Topshop, Accessorize, John Lewis, The Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda as well as from smaller shops such as Bishopston Trading. Styles include cotton shoppers, beach bags, fun fashion bags and bags designed to hold carrier bags. There are also make-up bags, shoe bags, peg bags, laundry bags, book bags and pharmacy bags.

Perfect for the beach or picnic, a bag made from Fairtrade certified cotton is a bag for life. It’s sustainable and reusable and an iconic statement against throwaway equivalents. It also meets with government objectives to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags by 25% by the end of 2008.¹

This rapid expansion in bags reflects the overall growth in sales of products made from Fairtrade certified cotton in 2007. Jumping from half a million units to just under 9.5m, sales showed a dramatic increase in demand from people around the UK looking for products that have been sustainably produced. And sales are set to rise, with more cotton producers entering the Fairtrade system. On 1 July, Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International will increase the number of countries in which cotton farmers can qualify for Fairtrade certification from nine to 76. This means that farmers in six world regions² can now access Fairtrade certification.

A recent TNS survey reveals that more people than ever before, 70% of consumers, now recognise the FAIRTRADE Mark, and 64% link it to a better deal for producers in the developing world. Recognition is greater among women than men, highest among 35-44 year olds and fastest growing among 25-34 year olds. Awareness of Fairtrade cotton in particular grew by four percent to 11%.

Last year Fairtrade cotton farmers saw demand for their produce more than double in just one year. Cotton is often the only source of income for farmers in some of the world’s poorest countries. It’s estimated that 10 million people in West African countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Benin depend directly on cotton production. The price conventional farmers get for their seed cotton often does not cover the cost of production and the farmers remain trapped at the end of long supply chains. Cotton farmers in Mali have used the premium generated by Fairtrade sales to build classrooms and to start work on a maternity clinic. Further sales of their cotton will enable them to complete this and other community projects.

Tamara Thomas, Business Development Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation says: “We’re really excited about the clear demand people are showing for products made from Fairtrade cotton. Bags are the perfect accessory for summer, so make sure you look out for one of the new styles before setting off on your summer holiday!

"However, Fairtrade cotton accounts for less than 1% of the total amount of cotton sold in the UK. With millions of cotton farmers still living in terrible conditions in the poorest countries in the world, it is important the high street gets behind Fairtrade and meets rising consumer demand by switching more of their ranges to Fairtrade.”

There are now over 1,000 cotton products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark. They are available from the pioneer Fairtrade cotton companies including Bishopston Trading, Gossypium, People Tree and Epona, independent boutiques, online and from multiple retailers including Marks & Spencer, Monsoon, Next, Debenhams, The Co-op, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

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For more information, product and producer images, please contact Eileen Maybin or Martine Julseth at the Fairtrade Foundation at eileen.maybin@fairtrade.org.uk or martine.julseth@fairtrade.org.uk; or call 020 7440 7695.

Notes to Editors

• ¹The UK retail sector has set itself a shared objective with the government and Waste and Resources Action Programme to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags by 25% by the end of 2008. 22 major retailers and six trade associations have subscribed to this agreement and are working together to send a consistent message to consumers on reducing the usage and impact of carrier bags. See www.pm.gov.uk
• ²Central and South America, Northern Africa, Eastern Africa, Western and Central Afircan, South Asia and Kyrgyzstan.
• Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International is the international body comprising the Fairtrade Foundation and its partner organisations around the world which has overall responsibility for developing Fairtrade standards, supporting producers, and operating global certification and auditing systems. See www.fairtrade.net
• Last year the London-based contemporary furniture design company twentytwentyone decided to move away from using polythene shop-bags and give their customers bags made from reusable Fairtrade certified and organic cotton in their shops.  To launch the move, 39 of the world’s leading designers each produced a unique creation on a blank canvas bag, which were then exhibited at a charity event Bags of Goodwill to raise money for the Fairtrade Foundation.  The purpose of the initiative was also to stimulate debate on sustainability. twentytwentyone are now producing the designs in batches of 1500.  The designers who contributed their time and talents include Lucienne Day, Shin Azumi, Sam Hech, Ross Lovegrove and Jasper Morrison.

 
See www.fairtrade.org.uk for the full range of products made from Fairtrade certified cotton.