Press release
Under embargo until 00.01 24 March
CottonConnect’s Impact Report 2024 highlights significant potential CO2 eq. emissions saving from sustainable agricultural practices as programmes continue to expand to new territories
Latest results show CottonConnect continuing to drive improvements in the sustainable cotton supply chain, as it expands its programmes into new geographies to meet increased sustainability targets across the wider textile industry.
24 March – Today, CottonConnect, a pioneering social enterprise in textile supply chains, publishes its Impact Report 2024, which revealed significant CO2 eq. emissions saving potential and reduced water use via its sustainable agricultural practices.
A stand-out highlight from the report is from the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) which analysed how the outcomes of the sustainable agricultural practices in the REEL Cotton Programme directly translated into reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The LCA study identified that reduced use of chemical fertilisers, water consumption and new irrigation methods by farmers contributed to a 35% saving potential in CO2 equivalent. Key achievements from 2023-24 for the REEL Cotton Programme include:
- 21.4% reduction in chemical pesticide use
- 17.5% decrease in chemical fertiliser application
- 21.9% reduction in water usage
These improvements contribute to protecting environmental ecosystems. The resulting reduction in input costs, combined with improved yields, can also increase income for cotton farmers.
CottonConnect continued to expand its regenerative agriculture initiatives, launching the REEL Regenerative Centre of Excellence across multiple markets. The programme has successfully trained over 250,000 farmers in regenerative practices, leading to significant environmental benefits. The results from a REEL Regenerative programme in India included a 41% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with control farms. With a longstanding commitment to farmer education and training, CottonConnect has now trained over 800,000 farmers.
Impact Report 2024 includes, for the first time, programme results from Türkiye, following expansion into the region.
Dedicated to gender and social equality for over a decade, CottonConnect’s Women in Cotton programme has been empowering women to take charge of their agricultural practices, lead climate action, and drive sustainability and resilience within their communities. In 2023-24 alone, over 270,000 women participated in the programme – learning foundational literacy, numeracy, and health and safety practices.
Additionally, the Women Climate Change Ambassadors Programme trained over 1,200 women farmers in climate-adaptive farming techniques, such as reduced chemical fertiliser and pesticide use, without decreasing their yields or profits.
CottonConnect continues to make progress in improving farmer livelihoods and aiding global brands to source more fairly and sustainably by creating more robust, resilient and successful raw material supply chains. To date, the organisation has already achieved its 2025 target of 100% traceability for REEL Cotton, reinforcing its commitment to transparency and sustainability in the cotton supply chain.
Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect comments,
“We have seen first-hand the impact of climate change on some of the most vulnerable in the supply chain, and the time for action has never been more urgent. We now have data that shows the significant potential of our farm level programs in climate change mitigation. We hope to encourage and help others in the textile industry to work on increasing responsible production by supporting smallholder farmers in adopting our REEL practices.”
ENDS
Please see the full Impact Report here: https://www.cottonconnect.org/impact-report-2024
For any enquiries information, please contact:
Romilly Stone [email protected]
About CottonConnect
CottonConnect is a pioneering social enterprise that is reimagining the future for supply chains. With headquarters in London and on-the-ground teams around the world, we help improve the sustainability of global textile supply chains, enabling producers and raw material farmers to work more responsibly and enjoy better livelihoods. Our work helps brands to access more sustainable cotton and other natural fibres, creating a more transparent and resilient supply chain that will continue to deliver the best cotton, now and in the future. At CottonConnect, we believe in helping brands, suppliers and farmers develop and maintain partnerships that are truly transformational. For more information, please visit www.cottonconnect.org.