Why manage cotton sustainably

Introduction

sustainable

The need to manage the impacts of cotton

Managing reputational risk and integrating sustainability into the cotton supply chain is ever more important. There are many efficiencies to be gained across global supply chains, and new opportunities to engage with consumers around responsible practices.

Overall, 16% of the world's pesticides are used in growing cotton; it can take up to 2,600 litres of water to make one t-shirt and hazardous chemicals used can cause adverse effects such as acute poisoning. In India there are over 4 million small holder farmers who produce cotton on less than one hectare, and farmers often run up huge debts to purchase pesticides and fertilizers in order to protect their crops

Cotton is a commodity crop in demand and will need increasing management in the future, and when securing sustainable sources of cotton. Cotton supply chains vary greatly by country as cotton makes its journey from farmer to ginner to retailer, and many stakeholders are involved.

Sustainability makes perfect business sense, and securing a sustainable and transparent supply in the future is vital.