Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) and The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) signed an agreement to implement sustainable processes in cotton production in Pakistan.
APTMA will be the implementing agency within Pakistan to promote the BCI programme.
Production of Better Cotton in Pakistan has increased from 163,000 metric tons in 2013 to 293,000 metric tons in 2014.
“This is a clear indicator that supply and demand for BCI cotton is increasing rapidly in Pakistan,” APTMA Chairman SM Tanveer said.
He said the agreement would supplement efforts to mainstream production and consumption of BCI cotton in Pakistan.
According to Tanveer, it would also help to a great extent, achieve sustainability targets and hike global market access for Pakistani textile products
BCI helps in adopting and growing cotton in a more sustainable manner and its principles include crop protection, conservation of water, soil and habitat care and maintaining fibre quality.
Global retailers like Marks & Spencer, Adidas, H&M, Levi’s, Nike and Ikea have set targets to achieve 100 per cent Better Cotton in their supply chains by 2020.
Other apparel retailers like Lindex, Walmart, Bestseller, Hemtex, Migros, VF, Sainsbury’s, Inditex and MQ too are implementing measures to make BCI conditional for future purchases.
In concluding, Tanveer urged all Pakistani textile sector stakeholders to expedite work for reaching 100 per cent production and consumption of better cotton. (AR)
