I'm inspired to start this week by seeing another news item reporting the oft-repeated but usually unsubstantiated claim that organic cotton must always use a lot of water. This kind of simplistic reporting of non-existent 'facts', this time by a company promoting an ecological product, helps no one and reflects badly on all of us working for sustainable textiles.

Water use and its impacts depend on whether production is rain-fed, irrigated, what kind of irrigation, what chemicals are sent through the agricultural system and into the public water system, and many other factors.

Using a wrong fact to promote a commercial product. Hmm. The UK Advertising Standards Agency did take a vew on this issue, but not every country does. But claims should be substanstiated and complaints can be upheld and offenders held to account.

The issues is discussed here: www.ethicalcorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=6053

In other news, we learn that Indian scientists have found a way to use earthworms to make compost from textiles sludge.
http://blog.taragana.com/n/indian-scientists-find-earthworms-can-be-used-to-produce-compost-from-textile-sludge-112438/