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PROMOTA
Going green
PROMOTA, the Promotional Merchandise Trade Association,
looks into the ethical and environmentally friendly production
of promotional clothing.
F
rom chocolate to clothing and from bags to materials and fabrics which are already in
pens, the promotional merchandise industry existence, but are re-used to avoid waste.
has been subject to the ‘green factor’ over Recycling is very eco-friendly, as the environmental
recent years. The phrases sustainable, ethical, fair impact of recycling worn-out polyester into new
trade and organic are prominent throughout the polyester fibre, for example, is significantly lower
industry, suggesting that there is a definite passion than making that same fibre from scratch.
to ensure that the environmental and ethical It is positive to see that more and more companies
impact is being taken into consideration. are becoming aware of the need to be ethically
In terms of promotional clothing, green is certainly and environmentally sound, and are asking
the new black, as this is one of the industry areas questions such as “What has this been made
which is focusing on environmental and ethical from?”, “Who has made this?” and “Where has
impact of products. Many clothing products on the this been made?”
market today are made from cotton, which However, despite this awareness and a
from the outset may seem harmless major effort to keep manufacturing
but actually poses threats to the within the UK, only a small
environment. proportion of clothes are
It is not widely known that actually manufactured here. July 13 saw one of PROMOTA’s social
cotton is very difficult to grow, Instead, mainly due to cost, highlights of the year. The PROMOTA Sparks
meaning that farmers end up using companies prefer to John Francome charity golf day was held at the
large amounts import clothes from Camberley Heath Golf Club in Surrey.
fertilisers and chemicals countries where labour Sparks is a truly worthwhile UK charity and by
to produce it. The expenses are low and aiding medical research specifically for children,
Organic Trade workers have fewer funds raised by Sparks have changed the lives
Association reports on rights. of thousands of UK children and their families
its website that cotton It is in this sense for the better.
uses more than ten per that sadly, the The Golf Day is always a well-supported event
cent of the world's clothing industry is and is a great opportunity for PROMOTA
pesticides, a quarter of the notorious for its poor members to meet up outside of the office. This
world's insecticides and more treatment of workers year we had 22 teams and as always, each
insecticides than any other abroad, and there have been team had a celebrity allocated to it. We had
single crop. many high-profile cases which top names, including Kris Akabusi, Ronnie
While this does not impact on the end put ethical manufacturing, or lack Corbett and Matthew Le Tissier play alongside
user in the finished product, the use of such there of, into the spotlight. PROMOTA members, which made the day even
chemicals does endanger the health and safety of Despite some horror stories, it is not all bad news more special.
cotton farmers and workers. Pesticides also and the promotional merchandise industry is I am always so delighted with the huge
threaten the surrounding environment, depleting quickly coming round to the idea of ethical and amount of support we receive for this event. I
wildlife, impoverishing soil and poisoning water environmentally friendly trading. Companies are would like to say a huge thank you to all of
systems, suggesting that cotton as a material is starting to put in place codes of conduct to ensure our many sponsors who helped make the day
not as ‘friendly’ as it is first assumed. that best practice is met and others are working the success it was. Without their support, along
Organic cotton however is considered to be one of with manufacturers who are members of the with all of those who contributed, we would
the most sustainable fibres for textile production. Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI), which aims to change not have been able to raise more than
It avoids chemicals, it is GM-free and it uses less the way companies do business. £10,000, which is so vital to ongoing research
water. It is an all round better option for people Many promotional clothing companies now also at Sparks.
and for the environment during the farming have their own company lead factories in countries Log on to www.sparks.org.uk for further
process. Cotton, hemp, bamboo, ramie, linen, and such as India and China, to ensure that ethical information and remember everything you do
silk can all be produced organically – as can wool, and environmental standards are not only met, but really does make a difference.
cashmere and alpaca. maintained and exceeded. As an industry, it is
Alongside organic farming, recycling is also important for us to see this type of progression Rod Duncan
becoming a major factor of the promotional through, to ensure that our reputation for being
clothing industry. Recycled clothes are made from innovative and forward thinking remains.
| 52 | September 2009 www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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