Responsibly sourced Better Cotton made up 7.6% of global cotton production in 2014, new figures show, extending its reach to 20 countries worldwide and helping to reduce the amount of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers used. 

The data, from the 2014 annual harvest report produced by the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), revealed the number of farmers participating in the programme is up 79% on 2013, accounting for 1.2m farmers. 

BCI farmers produced 2m metric tonnes of Better Cotton lint, an 118% increase on the prior year, with Better Cotton grown in 20 countries worldwide last year, five more than in 2013.

Drilling down to individual country achievements, Pakistan used 15% less pesticide, 19% less synthetic fertiliser, 18% less water and increased its profits by 46% as compared to comparison farmers.

In China, where for the last three years the government has been stockpiling cotton, around 6,458 farmers earned a Better Cotton licence, up from 6,000 in 2013. the farmers achieved an 11% higher yield than comparison farmers, and used 16% less water for irrigation and 16% less pesticide.

“We’re extremely proud of everything we achieved in 2014,” the BCI said. “Most notably the yearΆs results confirmed the underlying premise of our model: higher yields, reduced inputs of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, resulting in much higher income for our farmers. As the 2015 season continues, weΆre making strong progress towards establishing Better Cotton as a more sustainable mainstream commodity.”

The Better Cotton Initiative stewards the global standards for Better Cotton, and brings together cottonΆs complex supply chain, from farmers to retailers. Its members include hundreds of top textile and retail companies around the world.

Click here to read the full report.