The new Organic Cotton Circular

01.04.2005, Norbert Reintjes

The new "Organic Cotton Circular" aims at improving the communication in the (Organic) Cotton textile sector and wants to establish a resource of up-to-date and background information. The Organic Cotton Circular, published quarterly by PAN Germany in cooperation with Helvetas, covers issues related to organic cotton production, processing and marketing.

Since more than two decades the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) lobbies for sustainable alternatives to dangerous pesticides. One of the aims of PAN Germany is to reduce the use of pesticides in cotton production. This is most consequently realised by extending production of organic cotton. Therefore PAN Germany fosters production and use of organic cotton in various ways.

It is a long way from the organic cotton field to the final product in the consumer's hands. A wide range of actors from manifold sectors are involved in the processes. Information about the developments in the different parts of the chain are scattered and not always easily available.

In this situation PAN Germany initiated the publication of the Organic Cotton Circular. It gives up-to-date information covering the entire sector of organic cotton. The newsletter covers e.g. developments in organic cotton projects or news on certification, processing and marketing. Business news are included as well as scientific notes. Although not exclusive, the regional scope of the newsletter focuses on Europe and Africa. The circular will be spread quarterly via email. Additionally the contributions will be filed in a searchable database on the PAN Germany websites (under construction). Readers can select between an English, a French and a German version.

With this newsletter we offer a forum to the stakeholder in the organic cotton sector that enables them on one hand to spread information via the Organic Cotton Circular and on the other hand receive valuable information. PAN Germany offers the service to edit the information, if necessary to translate it into the languages mentioned above, to spread and to file the documents in a database. Helvetas and our partners in our organic cotton network help gathering interesting information and promoting the Circular. Financial support is kindly granted by EuropeAid, Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ, D), Norddeutsche Stiftung für Umwelt und Entwicklung (NUE, D) and Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft (SECO, CH).

We hope the Circular is helpful for you, provides you with interesting information and above all stimulates cooperation and fruitful discussions. The Organic Cotton Circular furthermore wants to set positive signals and motivate and support the reader to move forward the concept of organic cotton in his/her environment.

Further information: http://www.organiccottoneurope.net/newsletter.htm

Author: Norbert Reintjes, PAN Germany; Germany; norbert.reintjes@pan-germany.org; www.pan-germany.org and www.organiccottoneurope.net

taken from: Organic Cotton Circular, issue 1-2005

published: 04/2005