We all want to be able to sleep easy knowing that we are doing all we can to tackle the climate crisis and do the right thing for people and planet. Choosing Fairtrade bedding is one thing we can do to take a stand against exploitation of people and Mother Nature.
Sleep Organic offers only 100% Fairtrade cotton bedding. All of our cotton bedding is made from 100% organic cotton which is grown, harvested, processed and packed sustainably and ethically. It adheres to strict international Fairtrade standards, and bears the Fairtrade label – a mark you can trust.
What is Fairtrade?
Fairtrade is a global movement which aims to overhaul the global trade network and rid it of the injustices which plague farmers, workers and ecosystems around the world. Fair Trade seeks to ensure that farmers and workers are treated fairly, and have safe working conditions. All Fairtrade bedding, like other Fairtrade products, must be socially and economically fair and environmentally responsible.
Cotton is an area of particular concern for those trying to create a fairer system. Growing and processing cotton is a huge industry, which generates vast wealth on a global scale. Unfortunately, those working on the front lines of cotton production rarely see much of that capital. They often, especially in lower-income nations where cotton is grown, experience a range of poverty and social injustice related issues.
Water usage and water waste, pollution and human harm due to pesticides and insecticides commonly used in cotton production, wealth disparities and social injustices such as child and forced labour are just some of the many reasons why things have to change – and why buying Fairtrade bedding is the sustainable solution.
What You Can Expect From Fairtrade Bedding
Buying Fairtrade bedding is one thing we can all do to make sure we are part of the solution and not part of the problem. In order to be Fairtrade certified, bedding must meet the Fairtrade standards. This means that you can expect that:
- Producers and growers receive prices for their cotton which cover their average costs of sustainable production.
- Fairtrade companies have paid a premium on top, which producers and growers can use to enhance social, economic and environmental development in their area. (As a Fairtrade registered brand, Sleep Organic pays 1.7% of product cost to Fairtrade on all sales.)
- Growers and producers have access to pre-financing where this is required.
- The products you purchase with the Fairtrade label will be grown in an eco-friendly, sustainable way, without detrimentally impacting the lives of those involved in the industry or surrounding communities.
How Buying Fairtrade Bedding Promotes Sustainable Farming Practices
By paying fair prices and the Fairtrade premium, Fairtrade helps farmers develop stable, secure, sustainable cotton farming practices. Fairtrade works with 19 producer organisations growing Fairtrade cotton in seven different countries. So, when consumers buy Fairtrade cotton bedding, they are part of a system which represents tangible improvements for almost 45,576 cotton farmers in some of the world's poorest regions.Farmers who are more socially and economically secure are able to make the right choices when it comes to land management and how they farm. They are able not only to improve their own lives but also have the freedom to take on more eco-friendly, sustainable farming practices.
Fairtrade bedding is sustainable, transparent, equitable and ethical. So choosing sustainable Fairtrade cotton bedding for your home really is the only way to make sure that your good night's sleep does not come at too great a cost.
While Fairtrade cotton farmers are held to standards which require minimal use of pesticides, herbicides etc, it is important to note that Fairtrade is not the same thing as organic. Some Fairtrade farmers are fully organic – but not all. So when choosing Fairtrade bedding, it is also a good idea to look for certified organic bedding too.
All Sleep Organic's luxury cotton bedding is not only Fairtrade but also certified organic (GOTS 100% Organic). So you can rest easy knowing that you have made the best possible choice for you and our wider world.
Nisa Shah, co-founder Sleep Organic