Better Cotton publishes 2030 impact targets

Better Cotton, the world’s leading sustainability initiative for cotton, has confirmed four new Impact Targets as part of its 2030 strategy - covering Soil Health, Women’s Empowerment, Pesticides, and Sustainable Livelihoods.

Better Cotton is on a mission to help cotton communities survive and thrive, whilst also protecting and restoring the environment. The Impact Targets form part of Better Cotton’s 2030 Strategy and will "help drive environmental and social improvements" for millions of farm workers.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) recent Synthesis Report warned that every increment of global warming results in rapidly escalating climate hazards.

IPCC Chair, Hoesung Lee, said: "Mainstreaming effective and equitable climate action will not only reduce losses and damages for nature and people, it will also provide wider benefits."

With more than 22 million tonnes of cotton produced annually, it is one of the world’s most important renewable resources. The sector’s development has the potential to reduce poverty, simultaneously promoting sustainability and equality.

The four impact Impact Targets are as follows:

•  Sustainable Livelihoods – Sustainably increase the income of two million cotton workers.
•  Soil Health – Ensure 100% of Better Cotton farmers have improved the health of their soil.
• Women’s Empowerment – Reach one million women in cotton with programmes and resources that promote equality.
• Pesticides – Reduce the use and risk of synthetic pesticides applied by Better Cotton farmers by at least 50%.

Alan McClay, CEO of Better Cotton, added: "Our new Impact Targets will allow us to continue taking measurable steps to support more sustainable cotton production. Pushing further towards regenerative and climate-smart agriculture, we can ensure cotton farmers and farm workers are equipped to address their environmental impact, futureproof their operations and adapt to the often unpredictable effects of global warming.

"Better Cotton continues to train an ever-growing global community on more sustainable farming practices. The Impact Targets will improve conditions across more than just cotton production, reaching beyond farming communities to benefit their landscapes, supply chains and ultimately consumers."