Fing, the environment and ethics

Organic Cotton
In searching for garments for Fing, we were amazed by what we found out, about farming practises, the use of pesticides and chemicals and the long term effects of cotton farming on the ecology of vast areas. We share some of this information with you here, because we all should know the full cost of production not just the price of an item.

It is a fact that the traditional methods of textile manufacturer and printing processes utilise a strong cocktail of toxic, often carcinogenic chemicals to produce an end product. These chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers have an appalling cost on the health of workers, and is responsible not only for hundreds of deaths each year but also long term health issues, not to mention the destruction of eco systems and the contamination of large tracks of farming land, and yet cotton is one of the most produced and traded commodities in the world. It is traded and produced in more than 50 nations, and more than 3% of the worlds agricultural land is used in its production. It is a big business, and unfortunately we discovered an incredibly destructive one.

Research shows that to produce the 5 kilos of cotton required to make 10 T shirts 1.5 kilos of fertilizers and pesticides are used. This intensive farming has a terrible effect on the land, air, soil, water quality and the health of those exposed to it. Some of the chemicals and pesticides rate among the most toxic available in America and its safe to assume worse may be used in less regulated markets. The sustainable Cotton Project, www.sustainablecotton.org is an invaluable source of information on cotton production, and campaigns for increased organic cotton production and its use, if you would like more info.

By contrast organic production is free of all toxins. Land is farmed with traditional rotation methods. The benefits are not just the absence of chemicals, but the enrichment of soil, better water retention and an increase in habitat for wildlife. You can make a difference, show your support for organic cotton, it is only by increasing demand that we will increase the number of Australian and overseas growers prepared to change to better practices.

Fair Trade
At Fing we also support the idea of Ethical Fair Trade. This ensures that all stages from the crop planting through to you receiving your garment, everyone involved in the process has been fairly treated and not been forced to work in an unregulated labor market without fair wages.

Our Footprint
Fing has sought to minimise it's own environmental impact, and our goal is to eventually be carbon neutral.

In the future we hope to move into premises using only renewable energy sources, and even now have elected to pay a green tariff for our power use.

Packaging of our products is minimal, and the printing process we use employs water based pigment inks and needs no washing out with strong chemicals.

Fing hopes you will support these causes, we believe strongly that if we wait for politicians and big business to change they never will, it is only when enough consumers create a market that the top end will be forced to make changes, and acknowledge the obvious benefits to be had from organic production..