An April 2020 report issued by The Apparel Coalition concludes, henceforth, transparency will be highly relevant for all industry stakeholders. The industry will leverage sustainability through technology to drive innovation across design, supply chain management, and new business models.

In Australia, the coalition adopted the Better Cotton Initiative, a mass balance system which tracks the trade of cotton produced under BCI determined practices and allows it to be used with conventional cottons, so long as they are used in equal proportions. This platform reaches over 10,000 supply chain participants, whilst supporting sustainable farming practices in developing countries.

The coalition is also using various methods to trace cotton back to the farm level. There are traceability technologies currently being used in Australia, Oritain and Fibre Trace which provide different methods for retailers to trace and verify the raw cotton that makes up the yarn and fabric they are sourcing. BCI is itself launching a project to explore a traceability system and the planning phase is underway.

In Australia, its MyBMP program covers 10 key areas farm operations and includes online self-assessment mechanisms and practical tools and auditing processes to ensure that Australian cotton is produced according to best practice. MyBMP underpins our BCI registration and is an excellent opportunity to promote our social license to operate; the reach can expand beyond proving to ourselves and our legislature that we are a responsible agricultural industry.