The True Origin Of Cotton | Investigative Documentary

Video Description

The True Origin Of Cotton - In recent years, increasing numbers of brands have committed to selling “ethical” cotton. The ‘Better Cotton Initiative’ pledges to make cotton greener and ensure a better deal for producers. But as we see, in the spinning room, this cotton gets mixed together with ‘normal’ cotton… The True Origin Of Cotton (2017) Director: Sandrine Rigaud Genre: Documentary Country: France Language: English Also Known As: Cash Investigation: The Cost of Cotton Synopsis: It’s the soft, natural fabric associated with high quality and versatility. Used to make everything from jeans and t-shirts to tarpaulins, oil and cattle feed, it powers a 37 billion euros a year industry. But is cotton really as pure as it seems? Claims of forced labour, pollution, and even slavery have stained its wholesome reputation, creating a market for ’ethical, responsible’ cotton. In this investigation, we follow the production chain to find out how cotton is really made and examine the claims of the ethical cotton labels. We start in Uzbekistan, where cotton is the main cash crop. A dictatorship whose people are forcibly sent to the fields at harvest every year. In 2012, reports that children as young as 9 were being forced to pick cotton led to a global campaign to stop clothing suppliers buying Uzbek cotton. We meet the brave human rights activists who dare to denounce the system. Then, onto the spinning mills of Bangladesh, where workers live in prison-like conditions, to the indifference of contractors. 00:00 – Inside the Global Cotton Trade An investigation begins into the hidden side of the clothing industry, tracing cotton from the fields to global fashion brands. 02:00 – Uzbekistan: Forced Labor and State Control In one of the world’s largest cotton producers, activists expose forced labor, state pressure, and the risks of documenting human rights abuses. 09:30 – Arrests, Intimidation and Political Silence Journalists and activists face detention and interrogation as authorities attempt to silence criticism of the cotton harvest system. 16:30 – Europe’s Dilemma: Trade vs Human Rights Despite warnings from NGOs, European institutions maintain trade relations, prioritizing diplomacy and economic interests. 19:00 – The Global Fashion Boycott Major international brands publicly distance themselves from Uzbek cotton, yet supply chains remain opaque and complex. 20:00 – Hidden Camera in the Supply Chain Undercover as buyers, the investigation follows cotton through traders and intermediaries across multiple countries. 25:30 – Bangladesh: Inside the Spinning Mills Factories supplying major Western brands reveal murky sourcing practices and questionable working conditions. 33:00 – Labels, Loopholes and Origin Manipulation Country-of-origin labeling and documentation gaps allow cotton sources to be obscured or blended undetected. 41:30 – The “Better Cotton” Initiative Green labels promise ethical production, but investigators uncover structural weaknesses in certification and traceability. 47:00 – India and the Shift from Organic to Better Cotton Farmers explain why many abandoned organic cotton in favor of the more flexible Better Cotton system. 50:00 – Confronting the Certification System Faced with footage of labor concerns, Better Cotton representatives struggle to address accountability within their supply chain. 55:00 – The Cost of Cheap Fashion The investigation concludes by questioning whether ethical sourcing claims can truly guarantee human rights protection in a globalized textile industry. SUPPORT US! ✘ Membership - https://bit.ly/3q5XPBh MORE DOCS! ► Gold: https://bit.ly/2IRZ0OA ► World Economy: https://bit.ly/36QlhEM ► All Playlists: https://bit.ly/3lOiCll #cotton #documentaries #economy COPYRIGHT: All of the films published by us are legally licensed. We have acquired the rights (at least for specific territories) from the rightholders by contract. If you have questions please send an email to: info[at]moconomy.tv, Moconomy GmbH, www.moconomy.tv.