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Inditex cotton certifier says no evidence of Brazil farms breaching standards

A group which certifies sustainability and working practice requirements on cotton utilized by Zara owner Inditex stated on Tuesday an independent audit had discovered no breaches by 3 Brazilian farms implicated by an NGO of deforestation and landgrabbing.

The accusations by Earthsight versus Better Cotton had raised concerns for companies such as Inditex and H&M. after the NGO stated they were utilizing some cotton from the. farms, bought through suppliers in Asia, in their items.

Inditex had asked Geneva-based Better Cotton, the world's. largest certifier of more sustainably farmed cotton, for clarity. on its accreditation process and development on its traceability. practices, in reaction to info got from Earthsight.

Fast fashion retailers face pressure from consumers and. activists to offer products with less environmental impact.

Better Cotton, which was created by business and numerous. non-profit groups including the World Wildlife Fund, states it. aims to support improved practices in areas such as water and. soil stewardship and to promote better working standards.

The group stated that an independent audit by advisory company. Peterson found that three farms in the state of Bahia, which. were certified to sell Better Cotton, had actually not breached its. requirements and would not be suspended.

Inditex declined to discuss the outcomes of the audit,. which were released by Better Cotton on Tuesday.

H&M informed it remains in close dialogue with Better Cotton. to follow the results of the investigation and gain more. understanding of its action plan.

Together with other brand name members, we are engaging with. Better Cotton in conversations to further enhance their. basic, H&M said.

Better Cotton said the audit by Peterson had actually concluded that. a review of satellite images verified that the 3 farms had. not added to logging since a minimum of 2008.

Alan McClay, Better Cotton's chief executive, informed . that the audit discovered no proof of non-compliance by the three. farms and no legal cases involving them considering that 2008.

Better Cotton stated it was now considering carrying out. direct due diligence on large business owners of cotton farms. provided the larger impact of these organizations.

We have a chance and probably a commitment now to. boost that due diligence and to strengthen it, said McClay,. including that some business might be at danger of losing their. licences if they do not keep up with developing standards.

Better Cotton's tactical partner in Brazil offered the farms. their cotton certification, which the group acknowledges as an. comparable standard, he said. Brazil contributes about 40% of. the cotton certified by Better Cotton.

The focus of the investigation was on farms owned by SLC. Agricola and Horita Group companies, Better Cotton said.

SLC Agricola told it stays totally offered to. team up with any brand-new verification that may be required.

Horita Group welcomed the result of the Peterson audit,. which it stated was in response to unproven allegations.

We agree with the audit's conclusion and are open to. carry out the enhancements that have been proposed. We continue. to pursue transparency, the primary worth of governance that. we accept in our group, Horita said in an emailed declaration.

Abrapa, the Brazilian Cotton Growers Association, said in a. statement it is reviewing with Better Cotton the auditor's. ideas to help make standards more robust and increase the. dependability of certification.