A BIT ABOUT THE T-SHIRTS MINFUL PRODUCTIVITY PRINTS ON:
Mindful Productivity prints onto ‘unprocessed’ t-shirts that are from the Earth Positive range by Continental Clothing. They are a great company who are producing clothing in a sustainable way and won Best Initiative by SME at the 2011 Climate Week Awards.
The shirts offer a 90% reduction in carbon footprint compared to an identical product manufactured using conventional energy sources – the t-shirts carbon footprint has been reduced from 7kgCO2e down to700gCO2e.
The carbon footprint of the t-shirts has been calculated in accordance with BSI PAS2050 methodology, and certified by the Carbon Trust. These are actual reductions achieved in manufacturing, without any carbon offsetting and are achieved through a combination of low-impact organic farming, efficiency in manufacturing and transportation, and the use of renewable energy instead of the fossil fuel based grid electricity.
Read on for a little bit more detail…
100% ORGANIC PRODUCT
The t-shirts are a 100% organic product and are produced under the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and certified organic by the Control Union and the Soil Association. Earth Positive in a GM free product. The aim of the GOTS standard is to define requirements to ensure organic status of textiles, from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing up to labelling in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer.
Approved are natural fibres that are certified organic and fibres from conversion period certified according to recognised international or national standards and certified by any IFOAM accredited or internationally recognised (according to ISO 65) certifier.
The following social criteria currently apply to the textile processing level only. As far as a practical quality assurance system for the farm level will be in place, these social criteria also apply for the farm level.
- Employment is freely chosen
- There is no forced or bonded labour
- Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected
- Working conditions are safe and hygienic
- Child labour must not be used
- Living wages
- Working hours are not excessive
- No discrimination is practised
- Regular employment is provided
- Harsh or inhumane treatment is prohibited
FAIR TRADE
Under the Organic Standards, farmers and agricultural workers are protected by stringent social criteria, total traceability across the supply chain, and also by the ban on the use of poisonous pesticides which can severely damage the health of farmers and families. These standards also free poor farmers tied into third world debt to chemical companies on the ‘pesticide treadmill’.
The entire supply chain in the t-shirts manufacture is made transparent for independent audit by the Fairwear Foundation, which exists to promote fair labour conditions in the clothing industry. The company which makes the t-shirts Mindful Productivity prints on has adopted a zero tolerance policy with regard to the following minimum social responsibility criteria:
- No use of child labour
- No use of forced labour
- Safe and healthy working conditions
- Legal labour contracts
- Payment of living wage
- Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining
- No discrimination against employees
- No excessive hours of work
They have been running a pro-active social responsibility programme since early 2006. All the company’s manufacturing facilities have been audited for social compliance and they run active monitoring programmes in accordance with standards advocated by the International Labour Organisation, the Ethical Trading Initiative and other international bodies.
Since 2006 they have had a transparent manufacturing supply chain which has been independently audited by the non-profit NGO the ‘Fair Wear Foundation’. The Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) exists to promote fair labour conditions in the garment industry worldwide.
Safe and healthy working conditions
In ‘developed countries’ we often don’t realise the types of conditions which workers in other countries must endure in order to make a living or often just to survive.
If we can afford to go and buy an item of clothing ‘just because we like it’ then surely we can make sure that it has been manufactured by people who have done so in a safe and hygienic working environment where effective measures have been taken to prevent accidents and damage to health resulting from, or related to, the work. Where risk factors in the work situation have been minimised insofar as reasonably possible and physical violence, threats of physical violence, unusual punishments or disciplinary measures and sexual or other forms of intimidation by the employer are strictly forbidden.
Payment of a living wage
That the people who produce our clothing have been paid wages and benefits for a standard working week which at least match the legal minimum standards or the standards that are common for the branch of industry, and will always be adequate to meet the basic needs of those workers and their families and will provide a certain amount of disposable income. Where deductions from wages for disciplinary purposes are not permitted and deductions from wages for other purposes will only take place insofar as legally permitted and where employees are to be informed clearly and adequately regarding their wage specifications, including the basic wage and the period over which it is paid.
No discrimination against employees, no excessive work hours
Where employees are employed in businesses where recruitment policy, wage policy, access to training, promotion policy, termination of employment, pensions and all other aspects of labour relations are conducted on the basis of equal opportunities, regardless of race, colour, religion, political orientation, trade union membership, nationality, social background, disabilities or handicaps.
Where the hours of work correspond to the prevailing laws and standards for the branch of industry in which they work and in no case will they be obliged to work more than 48 hours per week on a regular basis, and that they will be given at least one day off in every 7-day period. Where if they do any overtime that it will be done on a voluntary basis and will not amount to more than 12 hours per week. That is will not be called for on a regular basis and will always be matched by additional compensation.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
Wind turbines are the primary source of energy used in the production of the plain t-shirts, these provide a continuous source of renewable electricity needed during manufacture.
Climate Neutral means that the carbon emissions generated from the production their production are reduced to that of pre-industrials levels, this is possible through the use of renewable energy, such as solar power and wind turbines, instead of using fossil fuels.
As well as the above, further steps are taken regarding water usage, transportation, washing and drying and sustainability to make the Earth Positive range a real step forward in organic clothing.
Why choose organic cotton?
Cotton, the most valuable non-food agricultural product, is labelled as the world’s “dirtiest” crop.
Vomiting, paralysis, incontinence, coma, seizures and death are some of the many side effects suffered by farmers and children in the developing world who are routinely exposed to pesticides, many of which are banned or restricted for use in the West.
Steve Trent, Director of Environmental Justice Foundation, says “With no less than 99% of the world’s cotton farmers living in the developing world, the pesticides are applied in fields where illiteracy is high and safety awareness is low, putting both the environment and lives at risk”. He adds “The dangers faced by poor illiterate children and farmers, to keep our clothes cheap, is unacceptable”.
Useful link on this subject: www.aboutorganiccotton.org
Carbon footprinting
The carbon footprinting of a product is the total amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) which are emitted as part of a product’s manufacture, distribution, use and disposal. They are so called because they trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere and keep the planet warm. The main gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide.
Want to know what I do with the blank t-shirts after I get them?
Click here …to see them with the Mindful Productivity art printed on them