Better Cotton is expanding its reach into Egypt with a new strategic partnership designed to protect and improve the sustainability and quality of Egyptian cotton while guaranteeing the safety of the country’s working farmers.
In collaboration with the Cotton Egypt Association (CEA), Better Cotton will help implement sustainable farming techniques, train farmers in best practices and support them in efforts to comply with rigorous environmental and social regulations. Better Cotton, the world’s largest cotton sustainability initiative, will also help farmers reduce their use of water and harmful chemical pesticides and improve soil health, in an effort to make Egypt’s cotton crop more sustainable and resilient.
Related Stories
Egypt’s cotton production for the 2022/23 market year was estimated at 320,000 bales, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s forecast published in April 2022.
The new partnership will further help CEA increase market access for members’ cotton by maximizing engagement with Better Cotton’s extensive global market network including brands, retailers and textile mills working in the sustainable cotton category. This is intended to ensure a greater return for farmers and support the Egyptian textile industry as a whole.
This new agreement between Better Cotton and the CEA is an extension of a program first launched in 2020 by the Egyptian Cotton Project, that was implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).
Khaled Schuman, executive director of CEA, welcomed this next step forward in the partnership. “By combining our expertise and resources, we can drive positive change in Egyptian cotton farming practices and secure a sustainable future for our industry,” he said. “This collaboration aligns perfectly with our vision to globally authenticate the legacy of Egyptian cotton.”
Alan McClay, CEO of Better Cotton, said he looked forward to assisting the Egyptian cotton community and seeing it thrive in the future. “Our renewed strategic partnership with Cotton Egypt Association will allow us to build on our work to make cotton farming in the country a more climate resilient, environmentally friendly and responsible activity,” he said.
Egyptian cotton is known for its quality, softness and durability that makes it a symbol of luxury in the textile industry. It has however been threatened in recent years by climate change, drought and changing market demands which have all had an adverse effect on the health of the sector. It is hoped that the move toward sustainability and ethically produced textiles will reverse that trend.
