SAN FRANCISCO – The Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN) has called on more retailers to sign its 'Cotton Pledge' to avoid sourcing cotton from Uzbekistan. Tesco, the world's second largest retailer, has become the latest company to sign the pledge, joining the likes of Puma, Inditex and Adidas. The annual International Uzbek Cotton and Textile Fair takes place this week.
"Tesco was one of the first retailers to ban the use of Uzbek cotton in the supply chain in 2007, and we are now very proud to be a signatory to the Cotton Pledge," said Giles Bolton, responsible sourcing director for Tesco. "Eliminating cotton picked with forced labour is a critical step in the responsible sourcing process, and this, as well as eradicating other human rights abuses buried deep in global supply chains requires concerted and coordinated efforts."
