C&A launches campaign to draw attention to the shortage of organic cotton

"We're taking Bio Cotton every person, every day", is the objective and also the name of the most recent C&A campaign for promoting the use of organic cotton. To encourage the purchase of products made from organic cotton, but also to draw attention to the shortage of this same product, the clothing brand has released a brochure on this raw material.

The booklet explains the additional value and current challenges in the production of organic cotton and indicates opportunities for organisations involved in the global supply chain, as well as the particular responsibility of the garment industry in maximize the use of organic cotton.

Following this environmental concern, the C&A establish as a goal for all of its cotton from sustainable production by the year 2020. "Companies can make a difference, not only in producer countries as well as sales markets, to alert its customers to the theme of organic cotton. Our experience tells us that it is possible to realize, meet demand and make a profit ", indicates in a statement Thorsten Rolfes, director of corporate communications for Europe.

Currently, the C&A is the largest buyer of organic cotton, having sold more than 100 million products made with the material in fiscal year 2013. The percentage of organic cotton used in clothing the brand, given the totality of cotton, is 38%.

About 75% of organic cotton processed by the company, grown without the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers, comes from agricultural projects that are supported by C&A-near 60 thousand Indian farmers benefiting from these projects.

The scarcity of organic cotton

Despite the growing demand for organic cotton by international markets, global production of this matter is decreasing. Compared with the total output of cotton on a global scale, the cultivation of biological variant is only 1%.

Organic cotton production increased until 2011. However, after this year, the yield of crops subsequently decreased by 8%. Even though, at the same time, 50% of the producing countries have increased production of organic cotton. According to C&A, the reasons for the decrease of production relate to the "lack of knowledge with regard to organic farming methods and a lack of cooperation between the communities."

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Caixa Geral de Depósitos adheres to the 10 principles of the Global Compact

Caixa Geral de Depósitos just signed a commitment with the United Nations Global Compact, the UN (United Nations), the largest voluntary corporate responsibility initiative in the world.

"This membership stems from the CGD commitment to work towards continuous implementation of the ten principles which that organization advocates", explains the Portuguese institution in a statement.

The Global Impact is an initiative that proposes strategic policies for companies undertaking to align its business with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour practices, environmental protection and anti-corruption.

These principles derive from the Universal Declaration of human rights, the Declaration of Principles of the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme.

By subscribing to these principles, CGD will integrate and collaborate actively in Portuguese network, as well as in the Global Compact networks that exist in the countries where it has operations with relevant impact on society, economy and environment â€" and therefore contribute to the development of local communities.

"This bond strengthens the CGD commitment to Corporate Sustainability Program, allowing you to assign a practicality and greater reach to the values and principles that we advocate for the group," concluded the institution.

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Norwegian fisherman finds vibrator in cod (with video)

The news is as unusual as worrisome. A Norwegian fisherman found a vibrator inside the stomach of a cod in Norway. Bjørn Frilund explained to The site that he was "amazed" by the discovery, but believes he has an answer to this event.

"Fish eat all sorts of different things. And this vibrator is orange and it looks like your food. We have octopi on Norway, multicolored thought he was eating one of them, "explained Frilund, of 64 years.

"I've never seen anything like this, it was completely unexpected," continued the Norwegian fisherman, which explains why the subject should have been thrown out by a passenger on one of the cruises that passes in the Barents Sea.

Frilund discovered the vibrator â€" a wireless object and with a small electric motor â€" on April 7, but the news just now reached the international press.

Despite the unusual, this news is so worrisome as expected. Is not a Virgin: every year, thousands of animals â€" and not only â€" die due to ingestion of plastic and articles wrongly placed in their habitat.

According to Paula Sobral, the Portuguese Association of Marine Trash â€" an entity created in November â€" the swabs are more residues found on the beaches in Portugal. Remember that episode of the green economy.

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Ecover laundry detergent produces from algae oil

Soon it will be possible to wash the clothes with detergents produced from algae oil, a more sustainable alternative to Palm oil, which is used today in most detergents.

The new laundry detergent cleaner was produced by Ecover, a company that produces and markets more sustainable cleaning products as part of the brand's commitment to replace the use of palm oil.

Palm oil is widely used in cleaning products and in food industry and is one of the causes of deforestation, once the rainforests and peat areas are replaced by palm plantations, particularly in Southeast Asia. Deforestation, in turn, increases carbon emissions and threatens biodiversity, especially orangutans.

"The algae oils have a high value of functionality and a lot smaller ecological footprint than most tropical oils such as palm oil, which makes them ideal for products for the home, where the tropical oils are widely used. The research carried out, it was discovered that algae are able to produce one of the most pure and clean oils available, "says Dirk Develter, director of the Department of research and development of Ecover, in a statement.

Already in 2009, the Ecover replaced, in its range of cleaning products, surfactants from Palm oil rapeseed alternatives with origin in Europe. Currently, the tropical oils (coconut and Palm) are currently the main sources of all surfactants, after crude oil.

Initially, 7% of the ingredients of the new Ecover detergent will be produced based on seaweed, and the aim is to increase its presence as the algal oil is being studied and developed.

The product should be launched on the European market â€" and in Portugal â€" at the end of 2014. In the domestic market will be possible to find in the new detergent, as well as other products from Ecover, Jumbo stores, El Corte Inglés, Supermarkets and other specialty shops Panache Biological, referred to the Ecover in notified.

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The forest engineer that transforms the furniture of our grandparents in contemporary objects (with video)

When inherited several pieces of furniture from his grandmother, Paula Jorge decided to restore them and put them in your own home. At the time, realized he had to broaden their knowledge on the subject, and sought a way to do it.

The successive successes of restoration took on later in 2009, launching the project Workshop of the garbage, which restores furniture in a small annex of his house, at Estoril. The example, of rest, of which I spoke in the first episode of the green economy, with the brand Once Upon a Trash or in episode 217, with the Skiff.

"The pieces are coming mainly from the trash. Gather them together to containers. However, in recent years I have noticed that people leave fewer things next to the garbage, I find it difficult to find them, "explained Paula Jorge to the green economy.

This forest engineer decided to turn to the business of junk and the stuffing of houses, allowing raw materials to work with. In addition to restoration of furniture, Paula transforms other old parts in new products â€" wardrobe cabinets transformed into television, cabinets or doors which are now dressing. To broaden their skills, the workshop of Garbage made partnerships with a Carpenter, a Glazier and an upholsterer.

"I do a lot of night tables and chairs. See also coffee tables, bathroom cabinets, kitchen cabinets, chests or trunks, "continued Paula George. Other services requested by clients who want to recover antique furniture. Some of the deals are made on the blog and Facebook page of the workshop of the trash, but it's especially in fairs that the brand has won more interested.

The shop sells garbage between two to three pieces per month. "There is the need for containment of expenditure of money, and the reuse of parts that we have in the House, which passed from grandmother to mother, and who have a history. There are those who want to continue this story or make it contemporary, "he explained. See all the latest episode of the green economy.

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Shops of CTT will receive textbooks used

The 623 stores of CTT will start receiving textbooks used, the institution announced on its website. "CTT will open your network, free of charge, to all Portuguese who wish to donate textbooks for reuse. To do this, just go to any of the 623 stores of CTT, ask for the packaging, depositing her books and deliver it to Reuse ", explains the institution.

The Reuse Movement is the partner of CTT on this project and adds more than 150 banks of books scattered throughout the country. These banks support the parents and students in obtaining textbooks at no cost. "CTT see your Association for this initiative within the framework of social responsibility and corporate citizenship as a form of one of the largest networks in the country â€" the postal network â€" take an active role as an element of the community," continued the institution.

Books fundraiser campaign coincides with the approaching end of the current academic year, which should mean a "significant collection of textbooks". All who wish additional information must be taken to a shop of CTT or consult the website of the Reuse Movement.

This news gets a special dimension, to the Green Savers, because they are dozens emails we have received every month from people who want to donate their schoolbooks. Now, they have the answer to the question that has long made us.

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Oikos search Coordinator for Mozambique

The OGN for the Portuguese development Oikos seeks a Country Coordinator for Mozambique, a person who will be responsible for all aspects related to the management of Oikos and its institutional and legal representation in this country.

According to the Green Savers Mozambique, citing the Organization's own website, the Country Coordinator is responsible for the program of Oikos nationally and represents the organization before local authorities, agencies, donors and partners. It is also responsible for the strategic management and financial maximum of organization and management of human resources of the country, which includes engineers and project administrator. All this work is developed in conjunction with headquarters.

See the announcement on the site of Oikos.

In addition to the application, which can be made by filling in a form on the website of the Organization, the applicant must send the updated CV and a motivation letter. The deadline of nomination is the day April 25. The Oikos does not inform what the remuneration provided for.

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