IMPORTANT: This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders. Other applicants need not apply.
Cotton, in one form or another, is used by nearly every person on the planet. It is a $12 billion industry that employs around 300 million people in the production stages alone. Cotton can be a water-intensive and pest-sensitive crop, and is often grown in semi-arid and water scarce areas. Its cultivation represents over 2.4% of global arable land, involving about 30 million farmers. Cotton is produced in more than 65 countries worldwide, a majority of which are classified as developing countries. The economies of some developing countries and the livelihoods of millions of farmers and their families are dependent on cotton production. Approximately 80% of people involved in cotton production are on small farms. In this respect cotton is different from other value chains, where a greater proportion of people working in the sector are involved in large scale production.
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) aims to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future.
For the last two years, BCI has been working with organisations from across the cotton supply chain and beyond to facilitate a solution. Based on existing research and best practice, ‘Better Cotton’ complements, not competes with, existing initiatives such as Fairtrade and organic cotton, providing a wider solution for the mainstream cotton industry.
Retailers and brands currently supporting the BCI, such as adidas, Gap, H&M, Levi and IKEA, use more than 1 million metric tonnes of cotton lint per year. By working with these companies, along with other cotton actors around the world the BCI will increase demand for the production of more sustainably grown cotton.
BCI’s long term objectives are:
1. To demonstrate the inherent benefits of better cotton production, particularly the financial profitability
2. To reduce the impact of water and pesticide use on human and environmental health
3. To improve soil health and biodiversity
4. To promote Decent Work for farming communities and cotton farm workers
5. To facilitate global knowledge exchange on more sustainable cotton production
How will it work?
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) seeks to address the global significant environmental, social and economic impacts of cotton production, by meeting its long term objectives through three key strategic approaches:
• Going mainstream: growing ‘Better Cotton’ on a global scale, building on existing good work; focusing on globally significant impacts; involving stakeholders from across the supply chain and beyond.
• Enabling farmers: building the capacity of farmers and cotton farm workers; increasing profitability, productivity, and quality without a fixed premium; facilitating a link to the market.
• Demonstrating real change: measuring the positive impact of growing ‘Better Cotton’ on people and the environment; encouraging progress to grow cotton better and better; not another certification or labelling scheme.
BCI is currently governed by a Steering Committee of global organizations including, producer organizations, trade & industry organizations, civil society, and international institutions. Current members of the Steering Committee are adidas, Gap Inc., H&M, ICCO, IFAP, IFC, IKEA, Organic Exchange, Oxfam, Pesticide Action Network UK, and WWF. The Steering Committee, Advisory Committee, Regional Working Groups, Support Team members and other experts have been working towards developing a workable ‘Better Cotton’ System.
The ‘Better Cotton’ System
The ‘Better Cotton’ System will include global Production Principles with minimum requirements and further progress requirements; globally and locally promoted Enabling Mechanisms; a Swiss membership association with rules of participation (fees, rights, and obligations); a global fund for smallholder farm support with eligibility criteria; a link to the market in the form of an identifiable 100% ‘Better Cotton’ bale; an information management system with multiple user interfaces; assessment mechanisms that exclude the use of accredited auditing and have a strong focus on encouraging progress and measuring impact; tools and rules for messaging and communication about results and impact at farm level, smallholder farm support, and traceability.
BCI Production Principles and Enabling Mechanisms – Version 1.0
Production Principles
-Better Cotton is produced by farmers who minimize the harmful impact of crop protection practices
-Better Cotton is produced by farmers who use water efficiently and care for the availability of water
-Better Cotton is produced by farmers who care for the health of the soil
-Better Cotton is produced by farmers who conserve natural habitats
-Better Cotton is produced by farmers who care for and preserve the quality of the fibre
-BCI promotes Decent Work
Enabling Mechanisms
-BCI enables knowledge sharing and skills development
-BCI enables effective producer organisation
-BCI enables equitable access to responsible financial services
http://www.bettercotton.org/pics/JD_BCI%20Regional%20Coordinator_Africa_final.pdf
