I’m sure many people would be interested to hear that last year UK consumers spent more than £5 million on fairtrade cotton goods. Pretty amazing considering its a new product in the ethical market.

Action Aid has released an indepth report that explores the supply chain of clothing sold in UK supermarkets, namely Asda, Tesco’s, Sainsbury’s and M&S. The report highlights the purchaisng power of the supermarket giants and the poverty workers in third world countries endure so consumers in the west can continue to buy cheap clothing.

Take a read of the findings from the Action Aid report

http://www.actionaid.org.uk/doc_lib/actionaid_who_pays_report.pdf

Asda was the first of the big names to go green. The Leeds-based grocer took its lead from its US owner, Wal-Mart. It has committed $500m (£250) to the project and aims to be 100% supplied by renewable energy, create zero waste, help restore balance to climate systems, reduce greeenhouse emissions and cut dependence on oil. Asda has also announced that it would be testing bag-free check-outs. Shoppers who do not accept carriers will be given vouchers offering “green goodies for schools”.Â

Tesco unveiled a 10-point “community plan” last year designed to give itself a “good neighbour” image. It included plans to errect wind turbines, organise running events and buy more local food. It has since pledged to put a “carbon calorie count” on its ranges and started awarding loyalty card points to shoppers who did not take carrier bags. It has pledged to increase prices paid to UK dairy farmers and last week unveiled a plan to cut packaging by 25% within three years.

Sainsbury claims it has always been environmentally aware. It opened its first ecologically-friendly store in 1999. Last week it announced it was banning carriers for a day and would offer shoppers reusable bags instead - including one designed by Anya Hindmarch. Yesterday it unveiled a plan to convert 20% of its home delivery vans to electricity.

M&S has unveiled Plan A - an initiative to make the business carbon neutral by 2012. It has replaced all its tea and coffee with Fairtrade ranges and sells a wide ranges of Fairtrade cotton clothing.

Source: The Guardian Monday April 23rd