PROGRAMS :: Sustainable Cotton Project

The Sustainable Cotton Project (SCP) was founded in 1996 to expand and disseminate knowledge about alternatives to chemical farming systems in cotton, and to promote their use in the textile and apparel industry. As a private non-profit group (501c) working under the direction of the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, SCP is dedicated to helping build bridges between cotton farmers, manufacturers and consumers.

The project has two major focuses: a BASIC (Biological Agricultural Systems in Cotton) Program that works directly with growers; and a Developing Demand Program that encourages major apparel companies to use U.S. organic or our own BASIC cotton .

Direct results of this marketing effort include:

• 44 companies are now either using organic cotton or actively preparing to launch organic cotton blending programs,
• the economic viability of organic cotton has been scientifically demonstrated,
• dozens of farmers have been taught to use organic and reduced-spray techniques.

Download the BASIC Cotton Manual! PDF 900k

The BASIC program walks farmers step-by-step through the transition from conventional to more biological techniques. It also offers farmers tested methods for reducing or eliminating certain farm chemicals and increasing sustainability.

Using regular field day events and farmer mentor programs, BASIC outreach activities guide and educate growers through a program designed to save them hundreds of dollars and help them stay economically viable while protecting local ecosystems and human health.

Highlights of the BASIC Program:

In 2004, BASIC had 40 enrolled fields, which totalled 2,500 acres. BASIC influence is increasing since together these growers farmed more than 17,000 acres in three cotton growing regions of Fresno, Madera and Merced counties.

Highlights of the Developing Demand program include:

• As a direct result of project efforts, organic cotton is becoming widely accepted in the apparel industry, where some of the industry's most important players (including the largest yarn spinner in the US (Parkdale Mills) and the largest in Europe (Franzonni, Nike and Armani) are using organic cotton.
• We continue to have influence over the next generation of fashion designers through work with top design schools. The Academy of Art College, for example, has created a major in Sustainable Design and the Royal College of Art, and several others now include information on organic cotton in their curricula and encourage their students to use organic cotton fabric in their graduating shows.
• SCP hosts yearly farm tours that provide information for companies conducting internal education and educating their supply chains about the reason for incorporating organic cotton into their products.