News from sector

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) Supply Chain Manager is responsible for coordinating, through the Better Cotton Fast Track Program (BCFTP), BCI retailer/brand commitments for procurement of Better Cotton with the supply creation of Better Cotton bales in the BCI focus regions (Brazil, India, Pakistan and West & Central Africa) and beyond. This is an essential role in ensuring that the market linkage – connecting supply with demand – of Better Cotton is realised and involves working with ginners, retailers, suppliers, traders to enable the sustainable trade of Better Cotton. The BCI Supply Chain Manager is expected to work very closely with the Cotton Program Manager, based in the Netherlands.

Application deadline: May 20.  Download the job despription.

IDH, IKEA, Levi's, M&S, H&M, ECOM, Rabobank, Solidaridad and WWF start a six year Fast Track programme to transform the cotton market and make sustainable cotton a commercially viable commodity. ‘ We are very excited about this programme’, says Guido Verijke, Deputy Business Area Manager Textiles of IKEA: 'IDH can provide the push and opportunity to make it work at a large scale because of their front runner demand driven programme’.
Out of 30 M tons global production this programme will ensure production of 1 M tons by 2015 reducing significantly the footprint of cotton production and improve the lives of hundred thousands of very poor farmers. Both funders and the private sector will invest at least 20 M euro in the next five years.
Part of the programme is a highly innovative Fast Track Fund established by IDH, ICCO and Rabobank to match private investments in BCI cotton production.

IKEA, M&S, H&M and Levi's in Colombo (Sri Lanka) discussed in February with their major suppliers from Bangladesh, India, China and Pakistan how to integrate Better Cotton standards into their supply chains. 'This seminar is an important first step in communicating the details of Better Cotton to our South Asian supply chain partners’, says Sean Cady, Director Environmental, Health & Safety, Levi Strauss & Co: We are proud to be among the brands sharing our passion for this project and creating a shared commitment to making cotton agriculture more sustainable.'