Better Cotton, the world's largest cotton sustainability initiative, has pledged its commitment to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Sustainability Pledge. This open-source initiative provides policy recommendations and standards to authenticate sustainability claims in the industry.
The aim is to create a Community of Practice focused on traceability and transparency, crucial elements for promoting sustainability and circularity. By endorsing legitimate tools and projects that enhance supply chain traceability, the pledge benefits policymakers, companies, workers, and consumers alike.
Better Cotton joins over 90 businesses, including Inditex, Vivienne Westwood, WWF, Retraced, and FibreTrace, in committing to the pledge. Better Cotton's Traceability Solution, developed as part of its 2030 Strategy, allows Retailer and Brand Members to verify the origin of Physical Better Cotton in their products.
It also facilitates farmers and suppliers in accessing regulated international value chains, supporting livelihoods in cotton farming communities. Extensive consultation with stakeholders, including suppliers, members, and industry consultants, has shaped the development of Better Cotton's Traceability Solution.
The solution's phased roll-out will enable supply chain actors to comply with chain of custody requirements for traceability by 2025. This initiative is particularly relevant in the fashion and textile sectors, where regulatory pressure is mounting to combat greenwashing.
Better Cotton's forthcoming Traceability Solution will establish the provenance and lifecycle of cotton, starting at the country level and aiming to enhance data granularity in the future.
