Investigation reveals cotton used by popular fashion brands grown on stolen and deforested land

  • Cotton used by H&M and Zara linked to illegal deforestation
  • Investigation finds that certified cotton was grown on stolen and deforested land in Brazil
  • Better Cotton certification process criticized for conflict of interest
  • Both H&M and Zara deny the allegations
  • Brazil is the second largest cotton exporter and expected to become the largest by 2030
  • Cerrado, where the cotton is grown, has lost half of its native vegetation to agribusiness
  • Deforestation in the Cerrado generates as much carbon as the annual emissions of 50 million cars
  • Horita Group’s cotton plantation found to be one of the largest areas of land grabbed in Brazilian history
  • SLC accused of violating its own zero-deforestation policy
  • Inditex, parent company of Zara, takes allegations seriously

A year-long investigation by nonprofit Earthsight has found that cotton used by H&M and Zara is linked to illegal deforestation in Brazil. The investigation revealed that fiber certified by ethical supply chain organization Better Cotton was grown on "stolen" and "deforested" land in the country. Better Cotton certifies Brazilian cotton based on assessments by a national cotton producers’ association, which Earthsight criticized as a "serious conflict of interest." Both H&M and Zara have denied the allegations. Brazil is the world’s second largest cotton exporter and is expected to become the largest by 2030. The investigation noted that almost all of Brazil’s cotton is grown in the Cerrado, a natural savanna that has lost half of its native vegetation to agribusiness. Deforestation in the Cerrado generates as much carbon as the annual emissions of 50 million cars. The report also highlighted the Horita Group’s cotton plantation, which was found to be one of the largest areas of land grabbed in Brazilian history. The plantation has faced fines for environmental violations and allegations of corruption. SLC, another supplier, has been accused of violating its own zero-deforestation policy. Inditex, the parent company of Zara, stated that it takes the allegations seriously.

Factuality Level: 3
Factuality Justification: The article contains a mix of relevant and irrelevant information, with some details that are tangential to the main topic. It includes allegations and investigations without clear conclusions, which can be misleading. The article also lacks in-depth analysis and verification of the claims made by Earthsight and the companies involved.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides detailed information about the certification process of Brazilian cotton, the concerns raised by Earthsight, and the environmental and social issues related to cotton production in Brazil. It includes specific examples of violations by cotton producers and mentions the response from Better Cotton and Inditex. The article stays on topic and supports its claims with examples and data. However, it could benefit from more in-depth analysis of the broader implications of these issues and potential solutions.
Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Rating Justification: The article does not pertain to financial topics and does not describe any extreme events.

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