Gateway for Forced Labor Turkmen Cotton to Global Supply Chains

As consumers, we often rely on the notion that products sourced from certain nations are sustainable and ethically produced. However, recent revelations expose a stark reality - the global textile industry is tainted with forced labor and ethical concerns that demand our immediate attention.

This new report sheds light on the disturbing reality of ongoing forced labor and corruption in Turkmenistan's cotton harvest. The findings expose a significant risk for global brands and retailers, as Turkmen cotton, tainted by forced labor, may unknowingly enter their supply chains through suppliers in countries like #Turkey, #Pakistan, and #Italy. Another stark reminder that the global supply chain is not as clean as it may seem, and we must acknowledge the uncomfortable truth that some of the largest suppliers are deeply entrenched in countries with a track record of human rights violations.

Using schemes like Better Cotton and Aid by Trade Foundation alone cannot effectively address the risk of using cotton produced with state-imposed forced labor, such as in Turkmenistan or the Uyghur Region in China. These schemes must incorporate physical traceability requirements for cotton grown on licensed farms to mitigate this risk. The current "mass balance" system employed by these schemes lacks full traceability within the global supply chain.

For instance, cotton labeled as "Better Cotton" may still contain cotton or cotton products originating from Turkmenistan, as substitution or mixing can occur during spinning or fabric production stages. This poses a significant risk for producers and suppliers using cotton inputs from Turkmenistan, even if they are members of Better Cotton.

To ensure the elimination of forced labor cotton from global supply chains, licensing and certification schemes must implement physical #traceability measures for licensed cotton. This will prevent cotton originating from Turkmenistan from being falsely labeled as licensed cotton, providing greater assurance to brands and stakeholders.

Let's confront the elephant in the room and discuss ethical sourcing and the misperceptions surrounding certain countries as responsible sourcing destinations. Shouting about recycling, regenerative and social responsibility is no longer enough; we must address human rights abuses and uphold import ban legislation and ethical sourcing obligations.

This is a wake-up call to redefine responsible sourcing and to hold brands and their suppliers accountable for their sustainability and ethical claims. By fostering transparency, supporting fair trade practices, and utilizing supply chain traceability technology such as Oritain to verify the origin of your cotton, we can reshape the textile industry and establish sustainable and ethical sourcing as the norm.

I invite you to share your thoughts and experiences with traceability claims of your suppliers. In this crucial moment, we must leverage traceability tools to verify material origins and prevent inadvertent sourcing of forced labor cotton. Through transparency, stronger enforcement of due diligence laws, and demanding ethical practices, we can make a significant impact within our industry.

#Traceability #EthicalSourcing #SupplyChainTransparency #ForcedLaborAwareness #sustainablefashion #responsibledenim #cotton

For further inquiries regarding to this report, please reach out to Raluca Dumitrescu , Cotton Campaign Coordinator at [email protected].???

The?Cotton Campaign is a?coalition of human and labor rights NGOs, independent trade unions, brand and retail associations, responsible investor organizations, supply chain transparency groups, and academic partners united to end forced labor and promote decent work for cotton workers in Central Asia.