Many of the largest brands and retailers in the US have recognized the climate risks associated with emissions in their value chain and have joined the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. This charter aims to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
While the fashion industry has made efforts to improve sustainability in areas such as supply chain and waste management, its relationship with farming and natural material production has been relatively overlooked. This is surprising considering the significant impact that natural material production, such as cotton, has on the environment. Each year, over 26 million tonnes of cotton is produced for the textile and apparel industries.
To address the environmental impact of cotton production, the US government has launched the US Climate Smart Cotton Program. This program provides technical and financial assistance to 1,650 US cotton growers, covering 1.2 million acres of arable land, which represents 10 percent
