This is my first serious attempt at blogging in what is intended to be a regular feature on themes related to organic textiles and fou furnishings: organic cost and price premiums, certification, benefits, quality, sustainability, supply chain transparency, social justice and the environment to name a few. The aim of the blog is to be exploratory – please feedback your organic perceptions, questions and comments – as well as topical.
In this credit crunch, the first theme of foublog had to be organic costs and price premiums.
From blogs to the bioscience industry, the FT to the UK Soil Association, there is a growing debate on the costs and benefits of organic agriculture - versus other crop forms - and how the associated costs of going organic translate into a premium priced product on the shelves, which consumers are also questioning the benefits of.
Whilst the debate is focused on food, cotton is an agricultural crop, dependent on a global production system which has also been subject to questions and debate in terms of its transparency and impact. The organic cotton production system does have transparent benefits along the supply chain - the ideal organic cotton model is driven by the aim of providing environmental, economic and social benefits - which add cost.
The real costs along the organic cotton supply chain relate to certification, at all stages, to provide an assurance to all of ‘green’ quality and integrity without any ‘greenwash’. The cost and price premium for organic cotton products can be illustrated in a cotton T-shirt. Documented studies highlight that the cotton raw material in a T-shirt accounts for only a small proportion of the retail price at 7.9%, or an extra 15p on a £7 T-shirt if only the absolute cost is added on. A small cost for organic cotton. The greatest proportion of value goes to the end retailer and using conventional retail pricing, a multiplier effect further increases the cost of organic along the supply chain to the final price.
But what of the cost and value to the end consumer? With regard to cost, many organic textile retailers will look to absorb much of the cost of certification to ensure a competitive product, in terms of price and performance. Value relates to the quality and durability of a product, not just price. The quality of cotton, in bed linen as in T-shirts, comes down heavily on thread count, weaves and finishes and is generally reflected in the price. Fou Furnishings ® bed linen is certified 100% organic cotton, independently tested against standard performance measures for cotton, as well as traceability and the absence of toxins. Our original, organic cotton range is available in three qualities: organic essentials, percale and premium for different bedrooms and budgets. Our 475 organic Egyptian cotton range, elisabetta, is made from the finest organic cotton fibre and finishing we could source and the bed linen was described by New Consumer as ‘beautiful, durable and ooze(ing) quality’.
The benefits of certified organic cotton are much quoted: the absence of pesticides, chemical fertilisers or toxins which affect growers’ health and income, allergy sufferers and the environment; and the presence of economic and social assurances that working conditions and payments are fair. More about the benefits of organic cotton in a future blog.
Choosing organic cotton isn’t just a change in bed linen, but a change in attitude and one which is about value, not just in ethics, but also lasting value for money.
Now going through the process of adding on to technorati.com xgmeahj73p and social media sites.
Tags: Bed linen, Bedding, Organic, Organic Cotton, organic textiles
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Thanks for article. Everytime like to read you.
Not sure that this is true:), but thanks for a post.
AlexAxe
AlexAxe
Thanks for your comment. Do you have any acessible local sources of information on organic cotton? Seem to be getting quite a few hits from your part of the world
That was a nice read.
great article. thanks!
great article. thanks!
great article. thanks!
That was a nice read.
great article. thanks!
That was a nice read.
That was a nice read.
Nicely written article
Nicely written article
Nicely written article
Nicely written article
Thanks guys, good info.
Thanks guys, good info.
great article. thanks!
Will keep adding to. After hols
Thanks
S
Hi,
Ugh, I liked! So clear and positively.
Hello
I like Your website. It is interesting. Do You have RSS I would add to my favorites.
Let me know when it will be ready. Kee it UP.
See You around Szczecin Hotele
I will get set up in the next few weeks and drop you a line to confirm.
Best
Stephanie
Cool site, love the info.
This blog rocks! I gotta say, that I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks,
Thanks much for that wonderful blog post.
Great site…keep up the good work. I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks,
A definite great read…
-Bill-Bartmann
I don’t know If I said it already but …I’m so glad I found this site…Keep up the good work I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say GREAT blog. Thanks,
A definite great read..
-Bill-Bartmann
Hey, I found your blog while searching on Google your post looks very interesting for me. I will add a backlink and bookmark your site. Keep up the good work!
Thanks
Had a brief look at your site. Quick question, just wondered re: your interest in organic.
Best regards
Stephanie
Hey, great blog…but I don’t understand how to add your site in my rss reader. Can you Help me, please
There’s good info here. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog. Keep up the good work mate!
Thanks for comments. Appreciated. Will get nack to blogging as soonas Xmas range put to bed.
Best regards
Stephanie
Will get sorted and email back. Newbie blogger.
Best regards
I usually don’t post on Blogs but ya forced me to, great info.. excellent! … I’ll add a backlink and bookmark your site.
Thanks very much for comments. Greatly appreciated. Just working up to next posting!
I‘m sure many of you are like me and one of the first things you do in the morning is head here and check out the new post. Along with seeing the new posts, I’m also always checking out the blog roll rss feed and watching them grow, or shrink sometimes. In one of my past …but all in all excellent site. Keep it up!
Just wanted to drop you a line to say, I enjoy reading your site. I thought about starting a blog myself but don’t have the time.
Oh well maybe one day….
hi. I review you site
Good stuff, bookmarked for further reading.
Thanks for the comments. More posts to come soon.
I only want to say thank you! for all the great info found on your blog, even helped me with my job recently
keep it up!
How so?
Stephanie
Cheers for the useful article - I had fun reading it! I always enjoy looking at your blog.
Thanks for this info. Additional discussions similar to this topic can be found at the World’s Largest Forum.
Many of guys write about this matter but you said some true words!!
Only want to say your article is as tonishing. The clarity in your post is simply striking and i can assume you are an expert on this field. Well with your permission allow me to grab your rss feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the ac complished work
[...] Organic cotton, not just a change in bed linen [...]
How’s things,
Am fairly new to this community + just Had the urge to introduce myself and say “hello”.
Laters!!!
Athena
Maine Camping
These tips are so true