Promising Start to BCI Sustainability Project in U.S.
December 19, 2014 Twenty-two farms in four states produced more than 26 million pounds of cotton lint in the first year of a pilot project in the U.S. by the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI).
BCI’s Better Cotton Standard System focuses on sustainable cotton production based on environmental, social and economic elements. These elements work together to help ensure the exchange of good practices and to encourage collective action to establish Better Cotton as a sustainable mainstream commodity.
The 2014 pilot program included farms in Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico and California. Each participating farm completed a self-assessment and hosted an on-farm visit by independent, third party verifiers to confirm they meet BCI’s criteria for environmental stewardship and working conditions.
All participants who completed the process are now licensed to sell Better Cotton to participating merchants.
Cheryl Luther of Black Oak Gin in northeastern Arkansas guided three farmers through the licensing process. “I was skeptical at first,” she said. “I’ve been a sustainability proponent for years, and I understood the brands want transparency and verification, but I thought the process and paperwork would be a burden. In the end, though, it was simple and easy to gather.”
Cannon Michael, owner of Bowles Farming Company in California’s San Joaquin Valley, said, “We take pride in the way we treat our employees, care for the environment and strive to improve. I think this opportunity to ‘prove up’ against independent standards and verification is good for us and our customers.”
Bowles is one of six participating farms that are members of Supima, the U.S. pima cotton marketing association. “We’re on board for very practical business reasons,” said Jesse Curlee, Supima president. “British retailer Marks & Spencer is a key customer for us. They’re also a BCI member and sourcing Better Cotton is a key component of their corporate sustainability strategy.”
In West Texas, twelve members of the Hart Producers Coop Gin participated in the project. Gin manager Todd Straley said, ‘We see this as a great way to stay ahead of the curve, being responsive to changing market expectations and demonstrating our growers’ commitment to sustainability and continual improvement.”
CEO of BCI Patrick Laine added, “We’re delighted with the collaboration and efforts of cotton growers in the U.S. to bring U.S. Better Cotton to the supply chain. This responds to a request of many global brands.
“The first volumes of U.S. Better Cotton to reach the market were purchased immediately – and we intend to satisfy that demand in coming years by expanding the supply. This is an extremely positive start, and we look forward to working with more U.S. farmers on continually improving practices that are directly relevant to their businesses.”
BCI has been working in other cotton growing regions of the world since 2010 to promote measurable and continuing improvements for the environment, farming communities, and their economies.
Source – Better Cotton Initiative
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