Marks and Spencer's move towards Fairtrade clothing

[Meg]

I think this is a great idea and am really interested in the move for commercial companies to do this sort of thing. From The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.co.uk)

Marks & Spencer is to cut its T-shirts and socks from a more conscientious cloth by launching a Fairtrade clothing range as part of an ethical product drive.
Its "Look behind the label" campaign is being launched this week, backed by research showing that ethical and health issues are becoming important factors in consumers' buying decisions.
All Marks & Spencer stores will be decked out with slogans and images referring to the new campaign. The messages include "We're committed to reducing salt faster than you can say sodium chloride" and "It's not just our green dyes that won't harm the environment". A national press campaign is also being organised.
Stuart Rose, chief executive of M&S, said the retailer had been "hiding its light under a bushel" by not trumpeting its ethical approach to business earlier.
"It's a radical change for us to talk about it but, in terms of sourcing of products, we have been doing this for many years," he said. Mr Rose said the range of clothing was limited to T-shirts and socks because Fairtrade cotton was a fledgling product that could not meet large orders.
"It's partly because there is such a small supply," he said. "I liken it to what we did with organic fruit and vegetables when we could not get the supply at first. We will assess the impact [of Fairtrade clothing] on customers and see how much they like it."
Marks & Spencer backed the campaign launch with a YouGov poll showing that consumers were becoming increasingly conscientious.
Nearly a third of those surveyed said they had decided against buying an item of clothing because of concerns over where it came from or how it was made. According to the survey, 59% had avoided buying some foods for the same reason. On food, 72% said they were concerned about depletion of fish stocks, an issue addressed by M&S through its sustainable sourcing policy.
The company has already taken action to reduce the salt in its food after the Food Standards Agency made salt levels a high-profile public health issue. The retailer has taken 250 tonnes of salt out of its food products over the past year, including a 15% reduction of salt in its sandwiches.
Harriet Lamb, executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation, said buying the new M&S clothing range would create a "brighter future" for Indian cotton farmers. Under the Fairtrade system, farmers get a fair price for their product, with a "Fairtrade premium" that is invested in their community. "Fairtrade aims to start a new trend by guaranteeing disadvantaged farmers a fair and stable price, including a premium to invest in long-term farm development as well as social projects in their local communities," she said.

 

[*sayan]

Interesting statistics.
thanks meg

 

[arlekindearrabal]

wow this is great... thx meg

 

[fab_fifties_fille]

very interesting Meg, I look forward to them bringing this into effect. If anyone has ever been into the cafe's inside M&S you may have noticed that all the coffee and tea they sell there are fairtrade...

They say almost a 3rd of people have decided against buying an item of clothing due to concerns of it's origin. I think this would further increase once there are more options on the high street...personally I don't like the idea of buying stuff that has been made in sweatshops etc...but I feel like generally I don't have much of a choice, because I hardly ever know where things come from, but if more high street stores start taking this kind of step I'd certainly be choosier...and try to buy from fair trade

 

[helena]

M&S is hopefully on the 'up'

 

[fab_fifties_fille]

lets hope so helena, I think it has been ever since the campaign with Erin O'connor / twiggy etc...I feel they're now more successfully tapping into the mindset of their consumers.

 

[tott]

It's really great that a big company is going the fair trade route...

Let's hope it's a huge success and sets an example others will follow!

 

[susie_bubble]

Yay for M&S - a very astute move for them I think after their rollercoaster fashion retail ride.

 

[Spacemiu]

Thats great!

 

[softgrey]

smells like a trend in the air with all these companies doing fair trade...
i guess the consumer does have a louder voice with their wallets...


$$$ speaks louder than words...
if this boosts sales...you can bet others will follow suit....

*say thank you to mr bono and company for proving that it could be profitable...with EDUN....
...

*thx meg-good news...

 

[amal]

thanks meg

 

[sea of stitches]

Sounds good about the clothes, but they don't actually have that much organic food, so I hope it goes better than that has.

 

[Lena]

It's really great that a big company is going the fair trade route...

Let's hope it's a huge success and sets an example others will follow!

absolutely..

i'll certainly support m&s for what they try to bring on
ethical production goes well with ethical consumer support