Our Supply Chain: From Cradle to Grave

Below are some of the key measures we’ve taken to ensure that the clothing we produce is as ethical as possible. This is only the start for us and we will add to this list as we change and improve our business processes to ensure we are as ethical as possible.

The Cotton

When we first started thinking about setting up Cause + Affect this was the most important thing to get right. Our cotton comes from the Vasudha Cotton Project. The project has its roots in the village of Karhi, about 80 kms from Indore city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. When the project began in 1998 it covered 4000 acres. Today it is covers a total 22,000 acres of farmland.

Experts such as agricultural scientists and technical consultants regularly monitor farming activities and guide the farmers on complete waste management, recycling and adopting better farming practices. They train the farmers on preparing natural fertilizers, human and animal health care and pest management. Garments made from breathable and extra absorbent Vasudha cotton are extremely soft and comfortable in feel, and free from any allergic/harmful toxic chemical residue. Vasudha farmers use biologically-based growing systems to raise healthier cotton & food crops, benefiting both their families and the environment.

The Manufacturer

Having organic cotton is great but unless it is manufactured into clothing under good, safe labour conditions then the garments cannot be considered to be free from exploitation. Our manufacturer fully meets the ethical standards we demand from a supplier.

From their farming project to workplace conditions and their charity involvement, they show a commitment to the environment, workers and community that we believe is unmatched by any garment supplier in India, or perhaps world-wide. They have been certified by numerous agencies, including Skal, Fair Trade Labelling Organisation (FLO), ISO 9001:2000, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, WRAP, and the Soil Association.

The Printing

Our t-shirts are made from certified organic fair-trade cotton but we haven’t stopped there. In our determination to supply truly ethical clothing we knew we needed to use an eco friendly print process to display our designs on our clothing including the use of organic inks. Our printers are the only company to have been accredited by The Soil Association as the first UK textile printer to gain organic status and they are now licensed as the sole supplier of authentic organic print in the UK.

The Packaging

Our belief has always been that we can produce stylish authentic clothing without having to sacrifice our ethical beliefs. This extends to our packaging. Each t-shirt is shipped in a 100% recycled and 100% recyclable pillow box that protects the t-shirt during transit but also makes a visual impact each time you receive one of our tees.

In addition, we use biodegradable eco-polyjackets to protect this pillow box and provide security for the customer during shipping. Please do your bit for the environment by reusing or recycling these items.

eBusiness

Most businesses waste tonnes of paper due to unnecessary printing of documents. Here at Cause + Affect we are striving to become an eBusiness. We’ve worked with our suppliers to ensure they only provide us with eInvoices, our customers will receive emails confirming their purchase rather than paper invoices and all our administration documents will be kept on our computer rather than being unnecessarily printed and stored in files.

Recycling

We are committed to recycling as much of our waste as possible. This may take a little more time and a little extra care but it is imperative that everyone does their bit to help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill sites.

Electricity

The burning of fossil fuels is one of the largest contributors to climate change. So we’ve changed our energy provider to Ecotricity. They provide energy from renewable sources such as wind turbines that have a significantly reduced carbon footprint and therefore less impact on the environment.

Banking

We use the Co-Operative bank for all our banking needs. Today, they are the only high street bank that gives customers a say in how their money is used and which encourages their input into the ongoing development of its Ethical Policy.