H&M stops cotton buying from Ethiopia’s Omo Valley

H&M announced on January 19 it was halting the use of cotton from Ethiopia’s Omo Valley, after allegations of “landgrabbing” in the area.

H&M’s decision follows a similar decision a week earlier by Germany’s Tchibo. With limited cotton availability claimed by Ethiopian media to be part of the reason for the slow development of Ethiopia’s widely touted, but under-performing, garment industry, the decisions are likely to delay even further the date Ethiopia’s targets for garment exports is met.