Cotton’s Sustainability
March 4, 2009 For the last few years, some retailers and commercial apparel brands have been using the words “sustainable” and “organic cotton” interchangeably. Using these terms synonymously is not only incorrect, but sends a very negative message to consumers about modern cotton production – which could potentially reduce consumer demand for cotton. Proactively reacting to this developing negative scenario, Cotton Incorporated has produced a comprehensive DVD and related question-and-answer sheet to “set-the-record-straight” with accurate information about cotton and how truly sustainable it is as a commodity.
We feel that this issue is so important that we have chosen to dedicate our 2006 Annual Report to the message of cotton’s sustainability. We are doing this to protect U.S. cotton’s well-established reputation and related demand with consumers. We are not only taking this message to media, we are taking it to many important stops along cotton’s pipeline.
Moving forward, the aspect of sustainability will be integrated into all Cotton Incorporated-created research and promotion projects. As the research and promotion company representing U.S. cotton, we will remain vigilant in our efforts to relate the positive message of cotton’s sustainability to every audience that has an influence on demand for and profitability of cotton.
Cotton Incorporated’s Annual Report
Cotton Incorporated produces a company annual report each year. In addition to summarizing research and promotion highlights, the annual report includes updates on company initiatives and projects.
It also includes a message from President & CEO J. Berrye Worsham and a message from Cotton Incorporated’s current producer Chairman, as well as reports on various departmental activities.
With the current level of attention being given to sustainability by retailers, brands and manufacturers, it was decided that the 2006 Cotton Incorporated Annual Report be dedicated to the theme of sustainability. Cotton Incorporated’s 2006 Annual Report will be distributed again this year at the National Cotton Council’s Annual Meeting which was held in Austin, TX, in late January. Cotton Incorporated urges you to read, keep and reference your annual report throughout the year.
The annual report also contains a complete directory of Cotton Incorporated officers, committees, board members and the regions they represent.
High Speed Camera
Cotton Incorporated’s Fiber Processing department recently purchased a high-speed digital camera capable of capturing 8,000 frames-per-second and it’s already paying research dividends.
Currently on loan to the AMS Cotton Ginning Research Lab in Mesilla Park, NM, the camera is being used to obtain images of lint cleaner cylinders (and grid bars) spinning at 1,000 revolutions-per-minute.
“The movement, actions and physics that occur in ginning are very similar to the actions of opening and cleaning lines operated in today’s textile mills,” explains David Clapp, director of fiber processing, Cotton Incorporated. “Although the pepper trash particles eliminated by the cleaning lines in a textile mill are small in comparison to the larger trash taken out during the ginning process, the findings that can be discovered by using this camera will ultimately benefit cotton processing in general. It’s fiber, and at Cotton Incorporated, we are fiber people.”
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