Sustainable Cotton Group Improves Tracking for Retailers
Sustainability Group Enhances Supply Chain Transparency
Swiss-based sustainability group Better Cotton has announced new features for a platform used by major retailers to trace materials in their supply chains. The platform, which is utilized by retailers including Walmart and Marks and Spencer, will now allow them to track the origin and trade history of cotton down to the individual farm level. This enhanced functionality provides retailers with greater transparency and ensures they know exactly where their cotton comes from.
Promoting Better Practices in the Fashion Industry
Better Cotton, a collaboration between companies and nonprofits like the World Wildlife Fund, aims to support improved practices in areas such as water and soil stewardship, as well as better working standards. With a global network of 2.2 million farmers, accounting for 22% of global cotton production, Better Cotton plays a key role in promoting sustainability in the fashion industry.
Addressing Consumer Demands for Ethical Products
Fashion retailers are increasingly under pressure from consumers and activist groups to sell products with less environmental impact and ensure safe labor conditions. By providing greater visibility into the cotton supply chain, Better Cotton enables retailers to make more informed decisions and work closely with their suppliers.
Traceability Efforts and Concerns
Marks and Spencer’s head of materials and sustainability, Katharine Beacham, expressed enthusiasm for the new functionality, highlighting its potential to track cotton at scale. Better Cotton has recently suspended licensing for cotton sourced from China’s Xinjiang province due to human rights concerns and audit difficulties. This decision reflects the ongoing efforts by Western retailers to address such issues.
With these enhancements to its platform, Better Cotton is empowering retailers to make sustainable choices, promoting transparency, and driving positive change in the fashion industry.
