The first standard for cotton sustainability, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), and Cotton made in Africa have just positioned themselves on carbon neutrality. BCI yesterday launched its 2030 strategy which includes a climate change mitigation target to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions per tonne of BCI cotton produced by 50% by 2030.

While BCI-certified production represents 23% of world cotton production in 2020, Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) where the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) has partnered with the German NGO atmosfair to set up the CmiA Carbon Neutral initiative to have a more climate-friendly supply chain. The objective is to gradually reduce and compose greenhouse gas emissions at each stage, from production to cotton ginning. AbTF provides an example of the progressive use of solar panels in ginning factories.