September 21-25, 2009: International Congress on Organic Cotton in Interlaken, Switzerland

The International Congress on Organic Cotton 'From Fashion to Sustainability' is organized as part of the UN Year of Natural Fibers 2009. The congress is coordinated by Helvetas in collaboration with international partners and takes place September 21-25, 2009, in Interlaken, Switzerland.

The International Congress on Organic Cotton takes place in conjunction of the Organic Exchange’s annual meeting provides a unique platform for stakeholders from the whole textile value chain to discuss and learn about burning issues, innovations and challenges in the organic and fair trade cotton markets. This international forum provides an opportunity to network with existing players as well as newcomers to the sector, to establish new partnerships and to discuss business-oriented solutions in the context of current global trends.

Target groups are the cotton producing, processing, trading or retail sector, NGOs, service provider working in the field of sustainable textile value chains, government institutions or labeling and auditing organisations.

The congress topics will link into key global issues such as the world economic crisis, the food crisis, climate change and the growing need for companies and governments to manage risk and quality. One of the key questions at the congress - in which appears in its very title - is how to enhance companies’ and governments’ long-term commitment to a sustainable cotton sector rather than simply regarding sustainability as a fashionable and short-term trend.

The conference is organised by Helvetas, a Swiss private organisation for development co-operation. The Organic Exchange is the main partner. Further partners are IMO control, International Trade Centre ITC, and Max Havelaar.

Contact

Helvetas
Swiss Association for International Cooperation
Organic & Fairtrade Competence Centre
Weinbergstr. 22a
8021 Zurich - Switzerland
conference(at)helvetas.org

Congress Homepage

http://www.fashiontosustainability.org/helvetas/

Further information

Information about organic cotton at the Helvetas homepage.
Press release of the Organic Exchange of March 31, 2009: Global Organic Cotton Market Hits $3.2 Billion in 2008, New Organic Exchange Report Shows
The 2009 edition of 'The World of Organic Agriculture' contains a chapter on organic cotton, co-authored by Organic Exchange expert Simon Ferrigno.