BASF has expanded its e3 Sustainable Cotton Program to brands, retailers, mills and other value fiber value chain companies. As per Home Textiles Today, these parties can now contribute to the funds that will be distributed to e3 Sustainable Cotton farmers in addition to the $2.50 per bale premium provided by BASF.

The program, launched in February, was first joined by Vidalia Mills and General Standard. It currently uses most of its cotton for making apparels and denim. Currently, most of the cotton in the program is being used for apparel and denim brands like Rag & Bone which is designing an e3 denim line that will focus its marketing around the Louisiana farms that sell their e3 cotton to Vidalia Mills. Wrangler has already launched the Wrangler Rooted denim collection, made with 100 per cent sustainable cotton from Alabama and features the farmer’s signature on the inner pocket.

BASF expects more brands to join this program that has so far enrolled 660 cotton growers. The company commits to track eight sustainability measures on cotton farms, including their irrigation and water use, pesticide management and usage, soil conservation and fertility management, energy use and conservation, work health and safety, identity preservation and soil carbon.