PhytoGen, Cotton Inc. Partner for Blue Jeans Go Green Program
January 8, 2019 PhytoGen, the U.S. cottonseed brand of Corteva Agriscience, is partnering with Cotton Incorporated’s Blue Jeans Go Green denim recycling program to help bring cotton’s sustainability message full circle.
PhytoGen is the first cottonseed partner with the Blue Jeans Go Green program to organize denim collection drives in targeted cotton-producing communities. By recycling worn denim into housing insulation, the Blue Jeans Go Green program keeps textile waste out of landfills and helps with building efforts in communities around the country.
PhytoGen will be collecting used denim at various events throughout 2019.
“The collaboration with PhytoGen illustrates the full circle of U.S. cotton sustainability,” says Stacey Gorman, Director of Communications for The Cotton Board. “New seed technologies and the commitment of U.S. cotton growers continue to make sustainable production gains, while the Blue Jeans Go Green denim recycling program addresses end-of-product-life sustainability.”
To raise awareness for the program, PhytoGen and Corteva Agriscience first hosted internal denim drives at their corporate offices and seed production locations. The internal drives took place last November, collecting over 2,000 pieces of denim. And the PhytoGen effort is just getting started.
“We are thrilled to partner with Cotton Incorporated and Blue Jeans Go Green to essentially bring cotton full circle,” says Derek Racca, PhytoGen Brand Manager. “This program helps the communities in which we and our customers live and work by keeping denim out of landfills, as well as playing a role in donating insulation to charities such as Habitat for Humanity.”
“The U.S. cotton industry is a proud one, composed of passionate growers who recognize the limitless potential of one of America’s most cherished crops. The Blue Jeans Go Green program is a great way to connect with the cotton growing community and give them a way to divert textile waste from landfills,” says Gorman.
Since its inception in 2006, the Blue Jeans Go Green program has collected more than 2 million pieces of denim and upcycled over 3.9 million square feet of insulation. Over 40 Habitat for Humanity affiliates have received denim insulation, and more than 1,000 tons of textile waste have been diverted from landfills.
With the support of the National FFA Foundation and local FFA chapters, PhytoGen is coordinating denim collection drives across the Cotton Belt in early 2019. In addition to collection at local cotton grower meetings, PhytoGen denim drop-off locations will be at:
- World Ag Expo, Feb. 12-14, Tulare, CA
- Mid-South Farm & Gin Show, March 1-2, Memphis, TN
- Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association tradeshow, April 4-5, Lubbock, TX
- Sunbelt Field Day, July 25, Moultrie, GA
“PhytoGen is proud to partner with the Blue Jeans Go Green program in the continuing effort to help communities – and FFA chapters – thrive,” says Racca. “Whether it’s denim jeans, jackets, shirts or skirts, every piece of denim makes a difference.”
Corporate partnerships with the Blue Jeans Go Green program predominately have been with retailers and brands who offer a sales incentive for recycling used denim. Past partners include Wrangler, Gap, American Eagle, J. Crew and Madewell.
For more information, visit BlueJeansGoGreen.org.
Based on information provided by The Cotton Board
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