Irish textile retailer Primark has announced a major expansion of its sustainable cotton sourcing programme. According to this, 275,000 farmers are to be trained in more sustainable cultivation methods by 2023. This means an increase of 80 percent; 150,000 farmers in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan have been trained so far, 80 percent of them women.
“Our sustainable cotton program plays an integral part in our long-term vision to make more sustainable clothing affordable for everyone. More than half of our clothing is made from cotton. By continuing to increase the number of farmers, we can meet our commitment that by 2027 all the cotton in our clothing will be organic, recycled or sourced from our program,” said Lynne Walker, director of Primark Cares, in a statement.
The share of sustainable cotton is to increase to 60 percent
Currently, more than a quarter (27 percent) of the cotton used in Primark apparel comes from the program, which can be traced from the farmer’s village to the store. The expansion is intended to increase this share to 60 percent. Currently, only 4 percent of clothing manufactured is made from organic cotton and 2 percent from recycled cotton.
Primark developed the program itself and started the first pilot project in India in collaboration with the agricultural experts from Cotton Connect and the grassroots organization Self-Employed Women’s Association in 2013. It has since been expanded to Pakistan and Bangladesh with the expertise of local market partners.
“We are delighted to continue our longstanding partnership with Primark, working together on the largest program of its kind by a single retailer in fashion. Any program of this scale is complex, but by working closely with Primark and local partners, we are confident we can support Primark’s ambitions and support the livelihoods of thousands of farmers,” adds Cotton Connect CEO Alison Ward .
Farmers are trained to use fewer chemical pesticides and fertilizers and use less water, reducing input costs and improving their profits. In addition, the impact on the environment is reduced, cotton procurement changes and the living conditions of the farmers improve. The program has already trained nearly 150,000 small farmers, 80 percent of whom are women.
“This program is a testament to how long-term investments in farmers can help build financial resilience for themselves, their families and communities. It is incredible to see how far this program has come from 2013 when we started with around 1,200 women cotton farmers in India, to where it is today, improving the livelihoods of more and more farmers across India,” confirms Reema Nanavaty, Head of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) and RUDI (Rural Urban Distribution Network).