Research and lessons

In the “Governance for the Circular Economy” report, Origame explores the conditions and dynamics for governance with global thought leaders and circular economy innovators. 

Together, with our partner Fashion for Good, we asked the systems change research institute, DRIFT, to develop a study the root causes of persistent problems in the fashion industry and to identify the potential patterns, pressures and levers related to transformative change. 

The 2018 Organic Cotton Market Report from Textile Exchange is filled with data and analytics, alongside the ever-popular country roundups and bite-sized, yet totally inspiring, stories from the organic field. 

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CottonUP a practical guide to sourcing more sustainable cotton. The guide was created with the vision of a cotton industry that is a force for good for workers, and the environment along the entire supply chain 

The C&A Foundation commissioned Impactt – a consultancy specialising in ethical trade, human rights, and labour standards – to look at the socio-environmental impact of the dramatic growth of Myanmar's garment industry.

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New research from Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) has explored the impact of Myanmar's labour dispute resolution system, as the country continues to open its borders to international supply chains. The system was established in 2012 to protect and enforce the rights and obligations of workers and employers across industries, and has been used to good effect in the garment sector. 

Cotton supports around 100 million rural families across the globe; it provides employment and income, and the garment industry depends on it. But cotton has its problems: it has been associated with everything from forced and child labour to pesticide poisoning of farmers and their families and environmental pollution. A number of high profile initiatives are tackling the problems, but there is still much to do and data is sketchy.

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An estimated 75 million people are now employed by the apparel industry. It's a number that has almost quadrupled in the last 15 years. With this exponential growth, the not-so-hidden costs of fashion too have increased. But while critics say that changing company behaviour simply isn't profitable, social innovators are proving that there are imaginative and practical ways to get factories and brands on board.

• Download the Final Report Global Humanitarian Partnership Evaluation (PDF - 6 kb)
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This combined report is the result of two studies commissioned by C&A Foundation on cotton farming in Madhya Pradesh, India. The American Institutes for Research (AIR) and its partner Outline India designed and conducted a social impact assessment, while Thinkstep India focused on an environmental impact assessment. 

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