Since its launch in October 2013, the Cotton LEADS program has acquired more than 100 retailers, brands and manufacturers as partners.
The program emphasizes national capabilities of the cotton industries in Australia and the United States, along with its commitment to continual improvement, research and best practices. Combined, cotton production in these countries accounts for approximately 17% of global cotton production. The Cotton LEADS program continues to gain interest among textile businesses committed to responsible sourcing, including the American brand Brooks Brothers.
“The founding members of Cotton LEADS program, including Cotton Australia, the National Cotton Council, Cotton Council Intl. and Cotton Inc., are gratified that so many businesses around the world recognize the ongoing environmental gains made by cotton growers in Australia and the United States,” said Mark Messura, senior vice president of global supply chain marketing at Cotton Inc.
The program’s partners recognize the principles of the Cotton LEADS program and encourage its efforts toward responsible cotton production and continual improvement. They acknowledge that Cotton LEADS cotton, grown under the regulatory environments of Australia and the United States, helps to meet their objectives for responsible sourcing criteria.
The program also emphasizes the environmental gains achieved at a national level within the two current member nations, as well as the national oversight and national capabilities of the cotton industries in the two countries.
For more information, visit cottonleads.org. — L.M.
