Green Credentials

Targetting Sustainable Production

T-Rex Clothing in association with its supply partner Continental Clothing Company is actively supporting the growth and expansion of organic cotton farming. An increasing number of its products is certified organic. Furthermore, new product lines are being introduced that contain organic-in-conversion cotton, thus helping conventional cotton farmers in the crucial period of transition to organic agriculture. Continental Clothing Co. is licensed by the Soil Association and the Control Union, to supply fully certified organic products in accordance with the Global Organic Textile Standard.The Company also holds a licence to use the Soil Association Organic Standard logo on products that meet the organic standard criteria. All the certified products that are sold 'unprocessed', that is without printing, can carry the logo. Garments that are printed according to the organic standard can also carry the organic standard logo at the point of sale.

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

The aim of these standards is to define requirements to ensure organic status of textiles, from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing up to labelling in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer.Approved are natural fibres that are certified organic and fibres from conversion period certified according to recognised international or national standards and certified by any IFOAM accredited or internationally recognised (according to ISO 65) certifier.The following social criteria currently apply to the textile processing level only. As far as a practical quality assurance system for the farm level will be in place, these social criteria also apply for the farm level.- Employment is freely chosen
- There is no forced or bonded labour
- Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected
- Working conditions are safe and hygienic
- Child labour must not be used
- Living wages
- Working hours are not excessive
- No discrimination is practised
- Regular employment is provided
- Harsh or inhumane treatment is prohibitedRead the full standard here (http://www.global-standard.org/the-standard/)Why choose Organic Cotton?Cotton, the most valuable non-food agricultural product, is labelled as the world's “dirtiest” crop.Vomiting, paralysis, incontinence, coma, seizures and death are some of the many side effects suffered by farmers and children in the developing world who are routinely exposed to pesticides, many of which are banned or restricted in use in the West.Steve Trent, Director of Environmental Justice Foundation, says “With no less than 99% of the world’s cotton farmers living in the developing world, the pesticides are applied in fields where illiteracy is high and safety awareness is low, putting both the environment and lives at risk”. He adds “The dangers faced by poor illiterate children and farmers, to keep our clothes cheap, is unacceptable”.Useful links on this subject:www.aboutorganiccotton.orgwww.pan-uk.orgwww.ejfoundation.orgwww.organicexchange.org

We all have a right to a safe and healthy work environment, a living wage, a legally binding contract. We all have a right to be free from discrimination and harassment, to join - or not to join - a labour union, to choose our work freely. We all have a right to fair and reasonable working hours. And our children have a right to go to school. T-Rex Clothing is conjunction with its supplier Continental Clothing Company has adopted a Zero Tolerance policy with regard to the following minimum social responsibility criteria: No use of child labour No use of forced labour Safe and healthy working conditions Legal labour contracts Payment of living wage Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining No discrimination against employees No excessive hours of work
These are in addition to other compliance certifications, such as SA8000, BSCI, SAFE, GOTS, etc.Ethical Manufacturing & Justice for WorkersPressure to produce quickly increasing quantities of cheap textiles has led the apparel industry to allow some of the most unethical trade practices on the planet, worst examples include child labour - bonded child labour, excessive working hours – twelve hours a day – seven days a week, unsafe, unhygienic working conditions.

EarthPositive

The Low Carbon Footprint Apparel

100% Organic & 90% Reduced CO2

The carbon footprint has been calculated in accordance with BSI PAS2050 methodology, and certified by the Carbon Trust.The 90% reduction has been achieved by a combination of low-impact organic farming, efficiency in manufacturing and transportation, and the use of renewable energy instead of the fossil fuel based grid electricity.It has been calculated that a single EarthPositive T-shirt saves around 7 kilograms of CO2, whereas a hooded sweatshirt saves up to 28 kgs of greenhouse gases.These are actual reductions achieved in the manufacturing, without any carbon offsetting.

Click here to see the CO2 values.

Carbon Footprinting

The Carbon Footprint of a product is the total the amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases emitted as part of a product's manufacture, distribution, use and disposal. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are so called because they trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere and keep the planet warm. The main gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide.In January 2008, Continental Clothing Co. became the first brand in the world to calculate the carbon footprint and place the Carbon Reduction Label on textile products.As a Business-to-Business supplier of ready-to-print apparel, we have calculated the carbon footprint of all the products in the EarthPositive range from the cotton field, through processing, manufacturing, transport, up to the point of our distribution warehouses.

Fair Labour Conditions

The Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) exists to promote fair labour conditions in the garment industry worldwide. The Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) works to improve labour conditions in the garment industry. By affiliating to FWF, we at T-Rex have committed ourselves to implementing and maintaining a Code of Conduct designed specifically for the garment industry..
FWF is governed by the following organisations: Modint (business association for manufacturers and distributors of fashion, interior design, carpets and textiles) CBW-MITEX (business association for retailers of interior design, fashion, shoes and sportswear) FNV Bondgenoten (federation of trade unions - service industry) CNV Dienstenbond (Christian trade union - service industry) Clean Clothes Campaign
Together with the Ethical Trading Initiative, the Fair Labor Association, Social Accountability International, the Workers Rights Consortium and the Clean Clothes Campaign, FWF participated in the Joint Initiative for Corporate Accountability and Workers’ Rights. 
You can find out more about the International Labour Organisation, its work and the international labour conventions by visiting www.ilo.org

No use of child labour

No use is made of child labour. Employees must have completed their period of compulsory education and must be at least 15 years old. Any form of slavery or comparable practices such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage, serfdom and forced or compulsory labour are out of the question. Children [in the age group 15-18] may not perform any work that, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm their health, safety or morals. Conventions 138 and 182 No use of forced labour
No use will be made of forced labour; this includes forced labour to redeem a debt of work by jail prisoners. Conventions 29 and 105Safe and healthy working conditions
Measures will be taken to ensure a safe and hygienic working environment, taking into account the available knowledge in the branch of industry and possible specific risks. Effective measures will be taken to prevent accidents and damage to health resulting from, or related to, the work. Risk factors in the work situation are to be minimised insofar as reasonably possible. Physical violence, threats of physical violence, unusual punishments or disciplinary measures and sexual or other forms of intimidation by the employer are strictly forbidden. Convention 155