While the explosive water and carbon footprint of these products has been a known reality, an even darker side is slowly coming to light. Recently, investigative reports have put the spotlight back on
Earthsight traced the journey of 816,000 tons of cotton from Brazil to major fashion brands. This cotton, primarily grown in the ecologically vital Cerrado savanna, allegedly leaves a path of devastation. Companies like SLC Agrícola, a major exporter, are accused of clearing vast swathes of native vegetation — an area equivalent to 40,000 soccer fields in just 12 years!
What’s even more concerning is that this deforestation has doubled in recent years, jeopardising the Cerrado's biodiversity. The report also claims that the local communities are being pushed off their land along with deforestation. The
Many of the farms implicated in the report hold "Better Cotton" certifications, designed to ensure ethical production. But Earthsight claims that this system is failing. Cotton linked to deforestation and land grabbing ended up in clothes destined for major brands, highlighting the limitations of current certification processes.
The report has sent shockwaves through the fashion industry. H&M and Zara, implicated brands, have expressed concern and vowed to work with Better Cotton for increased transparency and stricter standards.
What sticks out as strange is that Zara owner Inditex had already vowed to look into recycling and using cotton from sustainably farmed crops to reduce its
Fortunately, Earthsight is pushing for a more systemic solution. They call for stricter regulations in Europe, the cotton's final destination, to hold companies accountable and decouple fashion from environmental and human rights violations.
Consumers also have the power to drive change! Educating ourselves about the perils of