ALMATY -- The future is looking brighter for Uzbekistan's cotton industry, after a coalition of pressure groups lifted a global boycott that lasted over a decade and was joined by the likes of Adidas and H&M.
The Cotton Campaign last week ended the boycott following the release of a report that found no cases of government-imposed forced labor in last year's harvest. "After encouraging hundreds of companies to avoid Uzbek cotton over the past 12 years, we're happy to announce the time has come to lift the Uzbek Cotton Pledge," Patricia Jurewicz, CEO of the Responsible Sourcing Network and Cotton Campaign co-founder, said in a news release.