Better Cotton warns that some Brazil licences could be revoked
Cotton sustainability initiative Better Cotton has said it welcomes the contribution campaign groups, including Earthsight, can make towards highlighting “areas for additional scrutiny” in the global cotton supply chain.
On April 11, Earthsight published allegations that cotton from producers in Brazil has links to deforestation, land-grabbing and violence against indigenous communities. In response, Better Cotton said it would conduct an independent audit of the “highly concerning issues raised”.
Cotton from the farms concerned has come onto the global market with certification under the Responsible Brazilian Cotton (ABR) programme. This programme is run by Brazilian cotton producers’ association Abrapa and operates under a benchmarking agreement with Better Cotton.
Better Cotton said it would work on the audit with Abrapa, which owns the ABR programme and is its main partner in the South American country. “If there is evidence that the farms do not comply with requirements of the Better Cotton standard,” it said, “their licences will be suspended or revoked.”
It insisted that its standard is designed “to stop land with high conservation values from being converted to cotton farming”. It also said the standard aims to prevent any land from being converted without the consent of local communities.
“Consumers and the brands that supply them must have confidence that the cotton in their clothing is produced responsibly,” the organisation concluded. “We will continue to work with farmers, governments, and the industry at large to lift standards in Brazil and around the world.”
