Better Cotton is the world’s leading sustainability initiative for cotton. Our mission is to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment.
In just over 10 years we have become the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme. Our mission: to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment.
Better Cotton is grown in 22 countries around the world and accounts for 22% of global cotton production. In the 2022-23 cotton season, 2.13 million licensed Better Cotton Farmers grew 5.47 million tonnes of Better Cotton.
Today Better Cotton has more than 2,700 members, reflecting the breadth and diversity of the industry. Members of a global community that understands the mutual benefits of sustainable cotton farming. The moment you join, you become part of this too.
The founding premise of Better Cotton is that a healthy sustainable future for cotton and the people that farm it is in the interests of everyone connected with it.
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By Eva Benavidez Clayton, Director of Communications at Better Cotton
One of the most common misconceptions about cotton is that it is a ‘thirsty crop’, a plant that requires a large amount of water to grow when compared to other crops. In reality, cotton is an inherently heat and drought-tolerant crop, and not a proportionately high consumer of irrigation water when compared to rice, wheat, maize, soybeans and fodder crops.
In celebration of World Water Day, taking place today, March 22, 2023, let’s explore the facts about cotton’s relationship with water, taking a look at the crucial role of water stewardship in the production of Better Cotton, and the steps we must take to combat water scarcity and pollution.
Data from the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) shows that, to produce 1kg of lint, roughly equivalent to one T-shirt and a pair of jeans, cotton globally uses 1,931 litres of irrigation water and 6,003 litres of rainwater on average. Relative to other crops, this is not a disproportionately high quantity.
It’s also important to state that the data from ICAC is a global average and the amount of water consumed greatly differs per region. For example, in the US, cotton farmers in the southeast use 234 litres of irrigated water per kilogram of cotton on average whereas farmers in the west use 3,272 litres, demonstrating the importance of focusing on the local and regional context.
However, as highlighted by Transformers Foundation, we must equally recognise that global averages also fail to capture impact, and do not indicate whether water is sustainably managed on a case-by-case basis.
Labelling cotton ’thirsty’ in isolation from its growing context is therefore misleading. Cotton grown in water-stressed regions can contribute to water management challenges, but local climate, poor irrigation systems, poverty, and failure of governance are also contributing factors.
We must also remember that in approximately half of the regions where it produced, cotton is entirely rainfed. The other half require some sort of irrigation, and as freshwater becomes an increasingly scarce and precious resource, it is critical that we use it more sustainably.
Poor irrigation practices, or poor water management more generally, can have devastating, long-term effects on farming activities, on the whole water basin’s environment, and on the broader communities who share its water resources. This impact is not limited to the quantity of water available, but also the quality of the water, due to the use of agrochemicals such as pesticides and fertilisers.
By implementing sustainable farming practices, farmers can learn how to use water efficiently on both rainfed and irrigated farms to achieve greater yields and consume and pollute less water. This not only contributes to more sustainable water use but also helps farmers improve their livelihoods and build resilience to climate change — something that will become increasingly important as pressure on water supply intensifies.
The Better Cotton Principles and Criteria provides farmers with a comprehensive framework for using water in a way that improves yields while conserving resources for them and their community. To find out more, head to this link.
After the earthquake of 6 February hit Turkey, Syria and surrounding regions at a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale, the Turkish province of Hatay was struck with an additional magnitude 6.4 earthquake on 20 February, causing further devastation across the region. The death toll in Turkey and Syria now stands at over 50,000, with 14 million people impacted in Turkey and estimates suggesting that up to 5 million people in Syria may have been made homeless.
These are regions where many Better Cotton Farmers and supply chain members are located, and we are continuing to communicate with members and stakeholders on the ground about the impacts of the disaster and the progress of relief efforts. Together with our Strategic Partner in Turkey, IPUD (İyi Pamuk Uygulamaları Derneği – the Good Cotton Practices Association), we are committed to continuing efforts to support sustainability in the cotton sector while communities recover and rebuild.
Alan McClay, CEO of Better Cotton, commented: “The large scale of destruction and devastation has become apparent since the first earthquake on 6 February. Many of our partners and stakeholders are directly affected, as are our own colleagues in the region. We are helping to channel our support through disaster relief organisations for the immediate, most pressing needs.”
Better Cotton will provide relief from contractual obligations to partners and members in the longer term as reconstruction gets underway. We are also supporting those organisations working hard to keep the supply flows running by ensuring access to the Better Cotton Platform.
As our Members and non-Member BCP Suppliers focus on business continuity, we hope that these actions are helpful and allow them the flexibility to continue working if they are able to do so. Better Cotton has issued a derogation for organisations in Turkey in relation to the Better Cotton Chain of Custody Guidelines version 1.4 – this information is available on the Better Cotton Platform.
Better Cotton Members across the world have rallied to support the victims of the earthquakes, providing both financial and physical aid to those affected by the disaster. We would like to highlight some of their relief activities below.
Mavi, which is headquartered in Istanbul, has converted its Vancouver warehouse into a donation point, collecting aid for delivery to victims in the disaster areas. So far, more than 500 aid parcels containing clothing, tents and food, have been dispatched. In addition, the company has made monetary donations to AFAD and AHBAP and delivered winter clothing to the affected region through the Red Crescent.
The IKEA Foundation has committed €10 million to emergency relief efforts. The grant funds 5,000 Relief Housing Units to support the most vulnerable people left without a home in freezing temperatures.
Inditex, the parent company of Zara, has donated €3 million to the Red Crescent to support humanitarian relief efforts in the aftermath of the earthquakes. Its donation will be used to cover the basic needs of the victims.
DECATHLON has set up a €1 million solidarity fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation. This fund will provide financial aid to NGOs that are actively involved in helping and supporting affected populations.
H&M Group has donated US$100,000 to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) in response to the humanitarian needs in the impacted area, as well as providing winter garments to victims of the earthquakes. Additionally, the H&M Foundation has donated US$250,000 to the Red Cross/Red Crescent and US$250,000 to Save the Children.
Fast Retailing has donated €1 million to provide emergency humanitarian aid, whilst supplying 40,000 items of winter clothing to the UNHCR refugee relief agency.
If you would like to provide support to the organisations contributing to relief efforts in the regions affected by the earthquakes, please consider donating to the organisations below. If you have an ongoing relief campaign that you’d like us to highlight, please get in touch at [email protected].
Photo Credit: Better Cotton/Vibhor Yadav Location: Kodinar, Gujarat, India. 2019. Description: A farmers hands holding freshly-picked cotton.
A new study from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), exploring voluntary sustainability standards in the cotton sector in South Asia, has encouraged the region’s cotton sector to accelerate its adoption of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) such as Better Cotton.
IISD’s mapping of VSS criteria and market potential found that initiatives operating in the region, including Better Cotton and Fairtrade, can help address issues around pest management, water stewardship, and farmers’ incomes. These three issues all fall under Better Cotton’s key impact areas, alongside soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity & land use and climate change.
The report, produced as part of IISD’s ‘State of Sustainability Initiatives’ research, focused on the cotton sector in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, countries where cotton represents a crucial sector. It noted that various studies have shown that the implementation of VSSs’ requirements, such as the Better Cotton Principles and Criteria, has led to improvements in agrochemical use, water conservation, and the incomes of South Asian cotton farmers.
The report also highlighted the potential for growth in the region. From 2008 to 2018, South Asia contributed around 30% to global cotton lint production, and the report found significant market potential for VSSs operating in the cotton sector, estimating that Better Cotton alone has the potential to further expand cotton lint by 5.8 million tonnes based on 2018 South Asian production figures.
To read the full report, head to the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s website.
Photo Credit: Marc Plus Filmes Eireli/Carlos Rudney Arguelho Mattoso Location: SLC Pamplona, Goiás, Brazil, 2023. Description: Dr Paul Grundy (left) and Dr Peter Ellsworth (right).
From 28 February to 2 March 2023, Better Cotton held a workshop in collaboration with ABRAPA, the Brazilian Association of Cotton Producers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is an ecosystem approach to crop protection that combines different management practices into a strategy for growing healthy crops.
Taking place in Brasilia, the workshop brought together a range of international experts, with presentations and discussions on the latest research and best practices. It also included a field trip to a farm to look at the different ways pest management is executed on a large-scale farming system, including both the successes and challenges.
During the workshop, we sat down with Dr Peter Ellsworth, Professor of Entomology and Extension IPM Specialist at the University of Arizona and Dr Paul Grundy, Technical Lead for IPM at CottonInfo in Australia to talk about their experiences and expertise in IPM.
Let’s start with some definitions – can you explain to me what a biopesticide is?
Dr Peter Ellsworth: In terms of what most people think, it just means a biologically derived pesticide. A pesticide is just something that kills a pest. What a lot of people don’t understand is that a pest is only an organism out of place or out of time. So that could be a weed, it could be a virus, a bacterium, an insect or a mite.
Dr Paul Grundy: I’d describe it as a pathogenic organism that you can spray for the control of a pest. It will be either a virus, fungus or a bacterium. A key advantage is that many biopesticides have a narrow target range and can work well within an IPM program.
What about beneficials, natural enemies and cultural controls?
Dr Peter Ellsworth: When it comes to natural enemies and beneficials, there’s a little nuance there. A natural enemy would be usually some arthropod that feeds on other arthropods, but it could include the pathogens that naturally kill our insects. A beneficial includes all natural enemies, but also includes our pollinators and other organisms that have value in our system.
Dr Paul Grundy: Cultural controls are a range of things. It could be something as simple as an agreed sowing or crop end date. Essentially, it can be anything that entails a crop management tactic that disadvantages a pest.
Peter, can you explain the Arizona scouting and monitoring method that you developed?
Dr Peter Ellsworth: Sure – it’s just counting! But it’s about knowing where to count. In the case of Bemisia whiteflies, you have an animal that can colonise any part of the plant. It can be anywhere on any of the hundreds of leaves on the plant. So, years ago, we did studies to figure out exactly which leaf is most representative of the overall distribution of whitefly adults on the plant. Then we did the same thing for the eggs and nymphs.
Basically, the method is about counting down to the fifth leaf from the top of the plant, turning it over, and when there are three or more adult whiteflies on this leaf, classifying it as ‘infested.’ You also count large nymphs – you detach the leaf, turn it over and you look at a disc the size of a US quarter, using magnifying loupes that we have outfitted with a properly sized template, and if there’s one nymph in that area it’s infested. You tally these two counts up, and when you have a certain number of infested leaves and infested leaf discs, you know if it’s time to spray.
You’re from Australia and the US, which mainly have large cotton farms – but when it comes to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for smallholders, how much is transferable?
Dr Paul Grundy: Conceptually, it’s the same thing. Pest management is a people business, so the principles for IPM are just as applicable on a small scale as they are on a large scale. There are obviously different logistical scales associated, but the principles are very similar.
Dr Peter Ellsworth: Yeah, the principles I would say are identical. But there are a couple of notable things that change what a smallholder can do. One of them is area-wide factors. Unless the smallholder is terribly well connected with their community and many, many other smallholders cooperate, they don’t have the ecological landscape engineering opportunities that Mato Grosso has. Large farms can do very specific things around isolation, crop placement and timing and sequencing that a smallholder just wouldn’t be able to take advantage of. These area-wide approaches represent important prevention or avoidance tactics that reduce pest pressures on your cotton crop.
The other thing is the hazards. It depends on the smallholder, but for the most part, some of the safety procedures and equipment aren’t necessarily available there, so the stakes are so much higher.
What’s more important in IPM, people or technology – and how do you think about data and its importance in IPM?
Dr Peter Ellsworth: There’s no reason for IPM without people because we define what a pest is. I always say no bug was born to be bad, we make it bad. We place value on specific things in our world, whether that’s agricultural production, or having a mosquito-free home, or running a non-rat-infested restaurant.
Dr Paul Grundy: From a technology and research perspective, we use data to understand and describe what’s going on and to determine whether what we’re putting in place is successful or otherwise. So, if we look at pesticide use data and then we look at pest resistance testing data, often you can match those to data sets up to understand on-farm changes. Typically, a change in resistance will more than reflect a change in chemical use patterns, which is why it’s important to have that on-farm data. We have a saying in Australia which is “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”.
How important is international collaboration in IPM?
Dr Paul Grundy: I’ve learned a lot from international collaboration. For example, in preparation for the possibility that Begomoviruses might enter Australia following the spread of its vector, the silver leaf whitefly in the mid-2000’s, we assembled a team that went to Pakistan to learn what we could from those with experience and form connections with people who we would be able to talk to should this problem emerge in Australia. That since came around full circle through Better Cotton – with my subsequent involvement with Pakistan researchers who have wanted to learn from us how to better implement IPM. The exchange of information is always valuable in both directions.
Dr Peter Ellsworth: I’ve worked a lot in northern Mexico. Sometimes people say, “You’re in US cotton, why are you helping Mexican growers?” I say that they’re our neighbours and any problem they have could be ours. They jointly eradicated boll weevil and pink bollworm with us, for example. They’re important partners in business and in everything.
Some people asked the same question about why I’m coming to Brazil, but I don’t look at the cotton industry in terms of competitors. I do think as an industry worldwide, there are many more ties that bind than separate.
Photo Credit: Better Cotton, Ashvini Shandi. Location: Hingla, Maharashtra, India. Description: Manisha during her field visits to Better Cotton farmers.
While women play a pivotal role in the cotton sector across the world, they are frequently held back by many forms of discrimination, leading to underrepresentation in decision-making, lower wages, less access to resources, limited mobility, increased threats of violence and other serious challenges.
Gender discrimination is a key issue in the cotton sector, which is why ensuring that all workers enjoy decent working conditions, with fair pay and equal opportunities for learning and progression, is a top priority for Better Cotton, laid out in our Principles and Criteria.
This year, in recognition of International Women’s Day, we want to celebrate those building workplaces where women can thrive. In order to do so, we spoke with Manisha Giri, a Producer Unit Manager (PUM) from India. Manisha has been driving change through her Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO), an organisation that helps members to save costs, achieve fairer prices for their cotton, and develop new ways to boost their income. We sat down with her to learn about her experiences.
Please could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Manisha Giri, I am 28 years old, and I live in Palodi, a village in the Indian state of Maharashtra. I have been working as a PUM with Better Cotton since 2021, having completed a BSc in Agriculture at the VNMKV University in Parbhani.
As a PUM, my responsibilities include planning, data monitoring, and solving challenges faced by Field Facilitators (FFs). I have oversight on FF training sessions, which are provided to both cotton farmers and cotton workers. I also cross-check with farmers and workers whether minimum wages are being duly paid, whether workers are being forced to work by farmers, whether they are facing any sort of discrimination, and whether there is any pay parity based on gender.
Do you feel like your workplace allows women to thrive?
When I joined, I wasn’t confident, I was always nervous and I questioned myself, as it is a big project. To help me, the Programme Partner team constantly gave examples of the many female Better Cotton staff members in the India team in order to motivate me. They always said that once women are determined to do something, they end up achieving it. When I see women around me fulfilling their personal responsibilities whilst working at a high level, it really motivates me.
What is your proudest achievement?
Getting women together and starting a FPO with them is something I am very proud of. This was a big achievement for me, as gathering women for training and collective action in villages is very difficult. Sometimes, even though the woman wants to participate, their families or husbands don’t allow them.
What other challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
We realised that organic carbon in our area was fast depleting and farmers had no livestock anymore, so we zeroed in on making compost for farmers in the FPO. We decided to start with vermicomposting, allowing us to promote sustainable agriculture. Now, 300 female Better Cotton farmers are working with the FPO, and we have reached a point where the demand is so high that we are falling short of vermi beds.
Photo credit: Better Cotton, Punam Ghatul. Location: Hingla, Maharashtra, India. Description: Picking is one of the most labour-intensive activities, done mostly by women. Manisha with farmers and workers are here engaged in this activity.
What did you learn from this experience?
As a working woman, I have my own identity even though when I am back home, I continue to take care of my family. I want women to go beyond being recognised as someone’s wife – perhaps eventually men will be recognised as someone’s husband.
What changes do you hope to see in the next ten years?
With the entrepreneurial training sessions that are being conducted, I had set myself a target of getting 32 entrepreneurs trained, and setting up five businesses. However, I have already achieved my three-year target in one year, setting up 30 businesses.
In the next ten years, I expect that people will use exclusively vermicompost, and we will contribute to slowing down climate change. Due to the decreased use of chemical pesticides and increased use of biopesticides, farmers will get increased yield with less expenditure.
I predict that we will have more female staff, and I envision women playing an integral part in decision-making. Women will come to us with ideas to expand their businesses, and they will become independent entrepreneurs.
Photo credit: Better Cotton, Vitthal Siral. Location: Hingla, Maharashtra, India. Description: Manisha with a field facilitator, conducting a training session with farmers on field.
Read more about Better Cotton’s work on women’s empowerment:
Photo Credit: Better Cotton/Eva Benavidez Clayton Location: SLC Pamplona, Goiás, Brazil, 2023. Description: Dr Peter Ellsworth demonstrates how to sample and monitor leaves for pests, with Dr Paul Grundy (second from left) and Better Cotton employees João Rocha (centre) and Fábio Antônio Carneiro (far left).
Better Cotton today announces an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) workshop organised in collaboration with ABRAPA, the Brazilian Association of Cotton Producers. Taking place in Brasilia, Brazil, from 28 February to 2 March, the workshop will bring sector experts together to discuss IPM, with the aim of sharing research and innovative initiatives regarding the control of pests and diseases in the cotton crop.
Spread across three days, the workshop will gather national experts on IPM in Brazil and showcase international and national best practices related to reducing the use of chemical pesticides. This will include sessions from Dr Paul Grundy, Technical Lead for IPM at CottonInfo in Australia, who will present a case study on reducing synthetic pesticide use, and Dr Peter Ellsworth, Professor of Entomology at the University of Arizona, who will put forward IPM strategy recommendations for Brazilian producers. National best practices will be presented and discussed by representatives from Embrapa, state-based cotton grower associations, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock, and research institutions.
The event will include a field visit to SLC, a Better Cotton and ABRAPA-licensed farm which has seen success in adopting IPM practices, including the use of biological pest control and other alternatives to synthetic pesticides to treat its cotton plants. Experts from Better Cotton and ABRAPA will also give presentations, as participants come together to look at both the challenges and the opportunities for Brazilian producers.
ABRAPA has been Better Cotton’s Strategic Partner since 2013, when its own sustainable cotton certification programme (ABR) was successfully benchmarked against the Better Cotton Standard System – BCSS. Today, 84% of Brazilian large farms participate in both certifications and Brazil is currently the largest producer of Better Cotton, representing approximately 42% of global production.
In a tropical climate with intense pest pressure, in particular from the boll weevil pest, and with a longer agronomic cycle than other crops (up to 200 days in some available varieties), Brazilian cotton farmers face a real challenge in reducing their use of pesticides to protect their crops. The ABR programme works to meet this challenge, promoting research, field training in IPM and labour and environmental care. The workshop will enable participants to discuss a roadmap for a national Brazilian IPM strategy, strengthening the ABR and the international partnership with Better Cotton.
2023 marks the tenth anniversary of our partnership with ABRAPA, during which time we have worked together to identify and promote good practices and bring greater benefits to cotton producers, workers, and the environment. One of the key challenges we face in making the cotton sector more sustainable for all is minimising the harmful impact of crop protection, which is why events like this workshop are so integral to our work. I look forward to collaborating with Better Cotton’s partners in Brazil to deliver technical recommendations on Integrated Pest Management.
Alan McClay, CEO, Better Cotton
Alexandre Schenkel, President of ABRAPA and cotton grower, noted that given the natural climate and soil conditions in Brazil, which does not have harsh winters or other factors that break the cycle of pests and diseases, the use of pesticides within an IPM model is a key sustainability issue.
Brazilian cotton producers are rational in the use of these inputs, which, in fact, represent the largest portion of their agricultural costs. Each day, we are adding other technologies to our IPM, with a great emphasis on biological solutions.
Alexandre Schenkel, President, ABRAPA
He also stated that finding sustainable solutions to protect cotton crops and fostering the adoption of better agricultural practices are top priorities for ABRAPA, highlighted in the ABR programme.
ABR has been increasingly recognised by markets, governments and society and, this year it completes a decade of benchmarking with Better Cotton, the global leader in licensing responsibly produced cotton.
Alexandre Schenkel, President, ABRAPA
To find out more about Better Cotton’s work in Brazil, head to this link.
Despite a challenging economic environment, Better Cotton saw a significant increase in support in 2022 as it welcomed 410 new members, a record for Better Cotton. Today, Better Cotton is proud to count more than 2,500 members representing the entire cotton sector as part of our community.
74 of the 410 new members are Retailer and Brand Members, who play a vital role in creating demand for more sustainable cotton. The new Retailer and Brand Members come from 22 countries – such as Poland, Greece, South Korea, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and more – highlighting the organisation’s global reach and the demand for change across the cotton sector. In 2022, the Better Cotton sourced by 307 Retailer and Brand Members represented 10.5% of world cotton, demonstrating the relevance of the Better Cotton approach to systemic change.
We are delighted to have 410 new members joining Better Cotton during 2022, showing recognition of the importance of Better Cotton’s approach to achieving transformation in the sector. These new members demonstrate their support for our efforts and commitment to our mission.
Paula Lum Young Bautil, Director of Membership and Supply Chain, Better Cotton
Members fall within five key categories: civil society, producer organisations, suppliers and manufacturers, retailers and brands and associate members. No matter the category, members are aligned on the benefits of sustainable farming and are committed to the Better Cotton vision of a world where more sustainable cotton is the norm and farming communities thrive.
Below, read what a few of these new members think about joining Better Cotton:
Through our social purpose platform, Mission Every One, Macy’s, Inc. is committed to creating a more equitable and sustainable future for all. Better Cotton’s mission of promoting better standards and practices within the cotton industry is integral to our goal of achieving 100% preferred materials in our private brands by 2030.
Macy’s US
JCPenney is firmly committed to providing high-quality, affordable and responsibly sourced products for our customers. As a proud member of Better Cotton, we hope to drive industry-wide sustainable practices that improve lives and livelihoods around the world and further our mission of serving America’s diverse, working families. Our partnership with Better Cotton will better enable us to meet our customers’ expectations and deliver on our sustainable fiber goals.
JCPenney, US
Joining Better Cotton was important to Officeworks to promote responsible sourcing and help transform the global cotton industry, both from a human rights and an environmental perspective. As part of our People and Planet Positive 2025 commitments, we are committed to sourcing goods and services in more sustainable and responsible ways, including sourcing 100% of our cotton as Better Cotton, organic cotton, Australian cotton or recycled cotton for our Officeworks private label products by 2025.
Officeworks, Australia
As part of our All Blue sustainability strategy, we aim to expand our sustainable product collection and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. At Mavi, we prioritise not harming nature during production and ensuring that all of our All Blue design choices are sustainable. Our Better Cotton membership will help to raise awareness among our customers and within our own ecosystem. Better Cotton, with its social and environmental benefits, is included in Mavi’s definition of sustainable cotton and supports Mavi’s sustainability goals.
Better Cotton today announces that both Liz Hershfield, Senior Vice President, and Head of Sustainability at J.Crew Group and SVP of Sourcing at Madewell, and Kevin Quinlan, Independent Member, have been appointed to the Better Cotton Council. As new members, they will be involved in shaping the organisation’s policy that supports cotton communities to survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment.
Liz brings nearly 30 years’ experience in sustainability, supply chains and operations across the apparel industry for both start-ups and globally established brands. She initially joined J.Crew Group as SVP of Sourcing and Sustainability at Madewell in 2019. Under her leadership, she has led the company’s initiatives in regenerative agriculture and resale, and helped ensure sustainability is incorporated across all aspects of the J.Crew Group’s brand.
Kevin has worked within senior policy, finance, corporate and operational roles for the past 30+ years. He is currently the Scottish Government’s Director of Environment and Forestry overseeing efforts to protect the environment, increase biodiversity and address climate change-related issues. In joining the Council, he will occupy an independent seat not affiliated with his work in government.
It brings me great pleasure to welcome Liz and Kevin to the Better Cotton Council as they bring a great deal of experience and expertise to our ranks. We look forward to working with them and I’ve no doubt that they’ll be hugely influential in advancing the organisation’s work.
Alan McClay, CEO, Better Cotton
The Better Cotton Council sits at the centre of the organisation and is responsible for its strategic direction. Council members represent brands, retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, producers, and civil society across the cotton industry.
Throughout my 30-year career, I have always been passionate about advancing sustainability in the fashion and apparel sectors. As more and more brands seek to integrate responsible farming and sourcing initiatives into their supply chains, I believe the opportunities to educate and instil best practices have never been greater. It is an honour to be joining the Better Cotton Council at this very exciting time, and I look forward to working hard to drive meaningful, long-term change in how companies source sustainably-grown cotton.
Liz Hershfield, Senior Vice President of Sourcing, Madewell, and Head of Sustainability, J.Crew Group
Better Cotton’s mission aligns to my values and reinforces two of my passions for change. Firstly, over twenty years of international development work with Oxfam and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to enable rural markets to work better for low-income people. Secondly, it resonates strongly with the sustainability policy issues that we grapple with daily to ensure human prosperity in harmony with nature.
Kevin Quinlan, Independent Member
Read more about the Better Cotton Council and Governance here.
We are pleased to announce that registration for the 2023 Better Cotton Conference is now open!
The conference will be hosted in a hybrid format with both virtual and in-person options for you to choose from. Join us as we bring the global cotton community together once again.
Date: 21-22 June 2023 Location: Felix Meritis, Amsterdam, Netherlands or join us online
Register now and take advantage of our exclusive early-bird ticket prices.
Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders and experts to explore the most salient issues in sustainable cotton production such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, traceability, livelihoods and regenerative agriculture.
In addition, we’re delighted to host a Welcome Reception in the evening of Tuesday 20 June and a Conference Networking Dinner on Wednesday 21 June.
Don’t wait – early bird registration ends on Wednesday 15 March. Register now and be a part of the 2023 Better Cotton Conference. We look forward to seeing you there!
At the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) meeting in India this week, the organisation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Better Cotton as it develops a carbon insetting framework to promote and incentivise sustainable agricultural practices.
Better Cotton first outlined its ambitions to establish an insetting mechanism at last year’s CGI meeting in New York.
Hillary Clinton with Better Cotton’s Chief Operating Officer, Lena Staafgard
At its most recent outing, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Better Cotton’s Chief Operating Officer, Lena Staafgard discussed the wealth of opportunities across India whilst acknowledging that farmers must be rewarded for delivering on Better Cotton’s climate mitigation targets.
Already, Better Cotton’s network in India has greatly benefitted from adopting more sustainable practices. In the 2020-21 growing season, for example, Better Cotton farmers reported on average 9% higher yields, 18% higher profits, and 21% lower emissions than their conventional cotton growing counterparts.
Still, underpinned by its comprehensive supply chain traceability system that’s scheduled to launch at the end of this year, Better Cotton believes insetting mechanisms can accelerate environmental and social progress, supporting smallholder livelihoods across its network.
In theory, the insetting mechanism would incentivise farmers to produce more sustainable cotton by facilitating the trade of insetting credits and offering rewards based on each operation’s credentials and continued progress.
Until now, it has been impossible to build a carbon insetting mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the cotton supply chain at scale due to a lack of traceability.
Farmer centricity is a key pillar of Better Cotton’s work, and this solution ties into the 2030 Strategy, which lays the foundation for a strong response to climate threats within the cotton value chain, and mobilises action for change with farmers, field partners and members.
Right now, Better Cotton is piloting its traceability system in the Gujarat and Maharashtra states.
With enhanced supply chain visibility, brands will learn more about where the cotton they source comes from and therefore be better positioned to reward sustainable practices via farmer repayments that incentivise further on-field improvements.
The CGI meeting in India – led by Secretary Hillary Clinton – was a huge success for Better Cotton as it conveyed its aspirations for further progress within the cotton sector.
It is obvious that by coming together with other commitment makers there is scope for more impact.
Lena Staafgard, Chief Operating Officer, Better Cotton
In the early hours of Monday, 6 February, the Gaziantep province in south-eastern Turkey was hit by one of the strongest earthquakes of the century, registering a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale. This was followed by a series of aftershocks, with the largest registering a magnitude of 7.5, roughly nine hours later. The earthquakes caused extensive damage in Turkey and northern Syria. As rescue efforts continue in both countries, the number of confirmed deaths is expected to increase, with the current death toll surpassing 12,000.
The impact on the populations concerned, including those engaged in cotton production and processing, has been devastating. Better Cotton Farmers and Programme Partners are among the victims, and many Members – including ginners, spinners and traders – are based in the affected areas.
Better Cotton extends its deepest expression of sympathy, solidarity, and support to the victims and to the cotton growing and processing communities in Turkey and Syria and to the staff of our partners in the region, including IPUD, the Good Cotton Practices Association, our Strategic Partner in Turkey.
We are gathering information on the extent of the impact on Better Cotton farming communities and will be able to share more information with our members and stakeholders in the coming weeks. Better Cotton is looking at ways to support the Better Cotton community in affected areas.
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We’ve updated our Data Privacy Policy
These updates are intended to reflect changes to the Better Cotton Platform’s default sharing settings and data use in our Audit management system.
You don’t need to do anything to accept these changes – they’re effective from today, 2 April 2025.
You can read the full text by visiting our Data Privacy Policy page.
