text: World Cotton Day: The importance of using responsibly sourced cotton - North-American Association Uniform Manufacturers And Distributors - NAUMD
  The United Nations proclaimed World Cotton Day to be celebrated every year on 7th October to raise awareness of the importance of using responsibly sourced cotton, the 'white gold' grown in more than 100 countries representing a vital source of fiber and food for least developed and developing countries.
  Providing income for more than 250 million people around the globe and employing around 7% of labor in developing countries, cotton is the "largest profitable non-food crop" on earth according to the WWF. Due to all the negative effects its production has on the environment, more and more textile manufacturers are opting for responsibly sourced cotton for their garment factories.
  A number of brands have come under pressure to make their supply chains and business models more sustainable after a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) revealed that the fashion industry produced 10 percent global carbon dioxide emissions and used approximately 1.5 trillion liters of water annually.
  Additionally, recent reports about forced labor cotton practices in Xinjiang, China, has pushed many retailers to stop using the Chinese product for a more responsibly sourced cotton, generating boycotts to brands like Adidas, H&M, Nike, Puma and Zara in the Asian country.
  Carrington Textiles, for example, provides customers cotton from the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) for a more environmentally friendly alternative, organic cotton, or recycled cotton to support a circular economy so the cotton can 'live again'. The company's suppliers -and their suppliers- adhere to a code of conduct based on the UN Global Compact. That way they ensure they don't use cotton from geographies where it's well known that harsh and unethical practices are utilized in cotton farming. Most their suppliers also carry 3rd party accreditation such as SA8000, GOTS, or OekoTex STeP where there is an audit performed on working conditions.
  About Carrington Textiles:
  Celebrating 130 years in 2021, Carrington Textiles is one of Europe's largest textile suppliers to the workwear market. With bases in the UK, mainland Europe and Asia, Carrington Textiles supports many of the world's largest employers in sectors including heavy industry, hospitality, defense and health.
  Formed in Lancashire, United Kingdom, in 1891, the company continues to lead the industry in textiles for personal protective equipment. Carrington Textiles' current product range includes sustainable, workwear, flame retardant, waterproof and defense fabrics, with properties that include anti-viral, antistatic, high visibility, water repellency as well as protection against chemical splash, electric arc and ultraviolet radiation.
  Operating in 81 countries and with a wide international network of sales representatives, customers include: NHS, McDonalds, BUPA, TATA Steel, Shell, Coca Cola, Airbus, Jaguar Land Rover, BP, Arcelor Mittal to name a few.