The Australian cotton industry has a long-standing commitment to sustainability, a journey that began in 1991 when it became the first in Australian agriculture to independently assess its environmental impact. This marked the beginning of a continuous effort to improve how cotton is grown, recognising the importance of being responsible stewards of the land and resources.
Our journey to date
Since that initial assessment, the industry has made steady progress in enhancing its sustainability practices. This includes better management of water resources, improvements in soil health, and the adoption of more efficient farming techniques. However, the industry acknowledges that sustainability is a complex and ongoing process. There is always more to learn and more to achieve.
We recognise the importance of engaging with stakeholders throughout the supply chain—from growers and researchers to spinners, brands and consumers.
Our Australian Cotton Sustainability Reference Group (ACSRG) facilitates a two-way dialogue between the cotton industry and its stakeholders.
PLANET. PEOPLE. PADDOCK. delivers value to Australia and to cotton farmers in four ways:
The Australian cotton industry, the first in Australian agriculture to independently assess its environmental impact in 1991, has been working to improve its sustainability ever since. A sustainability update is released annually to describe risks and opportunities, strategy, performance and governance. An Excel data pack is published with each annual update to transparently provide links to data sources, explanations of methodologies, and assumptions for all data.