Sustainability Resources

  • Featured Resource:
    Cotton Resources
    Cotton LEADS℠ Partners by Country


    Cotton LEADS partners include 716 manufacturers, brands and retailers who recognize the need to advance the supply and use of responsibly produced cotton through international and national efforts. These partners commit to the five core principles of the program and support the use of cottons from the Cotton LEADS program in their supply chains.

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  • Cotton Resources
    The #TRUTH about cotton’s water consumption


    The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) breaks down one of the most commonly heard myths about cotton: Cotton is a thirsty crop.

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  • Cotton Resources
    The #TRUTH about the Aral Sea


    Cotton is often incorrectly blamed for draining the Aral Sea and destroying the local ecosystem.

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  • Cotton Resources
    The #TRUTH about cotton waste


    When thinking about the cotton plant, most people only think about the cotton fiber. But there is so much more that comes from the cotton plant.

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  • Cotton Resources
    The #TRUTH about cotton and poverty alleviation


    Cotton is produced around the world in developed countries that use mechanical harvesting as well as developing countries that harvest without advanced technologies.

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  • Cotton Resources
    Cotton Biodegradability in Water – Webinar


    Fabrics (both natural and synthetic) shed microfibers which enter into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Research shows synthetic fibers contribute to plastic pollution in the earth’s water supply by shedding microplastics into waterways when laundered.

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  • Cotton Resources
    Cotton’s Biodegradeability – Webinar


    The biodegradability of raw materials – both natural and synthetic – is an important topic throughout the supply chain. With the rise of production in the fashion industry, demand for man-made fibers, like polyester, has nearly doubled in the last 15 years (Environmental Health Perspectives). What’s more, it takes polyester much longer to biodegrade compared to cotton. How much faster does cotton break down? Cotton Incorporated breaks down this question and others in this recorded webinar. Hear from expert researchers as they explore recent studies on the biodegradability of the cotton fiber in both natural and activated soil environments.

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  • Cotton Resources
    Cotton LEADS Annual Report 2017


    Cotton LEADS partners and founding organizations work collectively to increase sustainability awareness and change throughout the cotton supply chain. Over 500 partners join the program and the journey towards continuous improvement.

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  • Cotton Resources
    U.S. Cotton Ten Year Sustainability Goals


    Commitment and innovation define U.S. cotton production. For the next decade and beyond, U.S. cotton producers and industry organizations are setting new environmental targets to keep pushing the frontier of sustainability and leading the worldwide effort in responsible cotton production. The target areas and goals were established using science-based evaluations, including key performance indicators (KPIs) for producing each pound of cotton and pathways to achieve them.

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  • Cotton Resources
    A World of Ideas: Technologies for Sustainable Cotton Textile Manufacturing – Volume II


    In 2009, Cotton Incorporated published A World of Ideas: Technologies for Sustainable Cotton Textile Manufacturing, which identified practical and effective technologies for reducing the the use of water, energy, and chemicals (WEC) in cotton textile processing. This booklet updates and adds to our list of proven commercial technologies that can help reduce the WEC footprint in textile manufacturing.

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  • Cotton Resources
    The Life Cycle Inventory and Life Cycle Assessment of Cotton Fiber and Fabric – 2016


    An up-to-date, cradle-to-grave examination of cotton’s environmental impacts directs our efforts and helps our partners better understand their environmental footprint.

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