PRESS RELEASE
Swedish fashion chains in unique partnership for sustainable cotton production
2011-06-08
Swedish fashion chains in unique partnership for sustainable cotton production
The Swedish fashion chain stores, KappAhl, Lindex and MQ, have launched a unique partnership to accelerate the development of cotton production practices that are more beneficial to the environment and the people who grow the crops.
“By working together we are able to exert pressure so that development moves faster and in the right direction. Cotton is our most important raw material and its cultivation affects a lot of people,” say the fashion chains in a joint statement.
The three fashion chains are members of Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), the global not-for-profit membership association that works to make cotton cultivation and production more sustainable. As members of the BCI, the companies are jointly driving a project that will stimulate this development. The partner they have chosen for the project is Cotton Connect and they will be implementing the BCI’s development programme. The objective of the project, which will be based in the province of Gujarat in India, is to educate the local farmers and increase the availability of sustainably produced cotton.
“A sustainable approach is the foundation of every successful company. We assume responsibility for the people and the environment and we want to play an active role in developing the countries in which we operate,” say the fashion chains.
BETTER COTTON INITIATIVE (BCI)
Cotton is one of the most widely grown crops on our planet. It is produced by many millions of small-scale growers and has a major social and financial impact. The non-profit organisation, BCI, teaches sustainable growing practices to cotton farmers, i.e. how to use less water, chemicals and fertilisers in cotton production. The BCI also works to improve social conditions for the cotton growers. As much as 29,000 litres of water are required to grow one kilo of cotton lint. One kilo of cotton lint is enough to make about three t-shirts. India accounts for 14% of the world’s total cotton production and 70 million Indians earn their livelihood from the crop. The objectives of the BCI are to:
· Reduce the use of insecticides, fertilisers and water.
· Increase knowledge about soil and biological diversity.
· Improve working conditions for cotton growers.
· Improve the sharing of information and knowledge between growers.
As members of the Better Cotton Initiative, KappAhl, Lindex and MQ have so far helped 68,000 farmers to produce cotton in a more sustainable way.
For more information, please contact:
Eva Kindgren, CSR Manager at KappAhl.
Tel. +46 (0)31-771 55 08 Email: eva.kindgren@kappahl.com
Charlotte Högberg, Head of Communications at KappAhl.
Tel. +46 (0)31-771 56 31 Email: charlotte.hogberg@kappahl.com
Sara Winroth, CSR Coordinator at Lindex
Tel. +46 (0)31-739 50 28. Email: sara.winroth@lindex.com
Kaisa Lyckdal, Press Relations Manager at Lindex
Tel. +46 (0)31-739 50 60. Email: kaisa.lyckdal@lindex.com
Magnus Carlsson CSR Manager (Production) at MQ
Tel. +46 (0)31-388 82 07. Email: magnus.carlsson@mq.se
Jennie Ahlgren, IR Manager at MQ
Tel. +46 (0)31-388 84 11. Email: jennie.ahlgren@mq.se
KappAhl is a leading fashion chain with 370 stores and 4,800 employees in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland and the Czech Republic. KappAhl sells affordable fashion to a wide range of consumers – women, men and children – with a particular focus on women in the 30 to 50 age group with families. All garments are created by the company’s own designers. In 1999, KappAhl was the first fashion chain to receive environmental management standard certification. KappAhl’s sales for the 2009/2010 financial year totaled SEK 5.1 billion and its operating income amounted to SEK 551 million. KappAhl is listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm. For further information, please visit www.kappahl.com.
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