Egyptian Cotton worker in the field. © Cotton Egypt Association

Cotton Egypt Association, as part of a renewed drive to increase product sustainability and improve conditions for the Egyptian Cotton supply chain workers, has announced a partnership with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) under the framework of The Egyptian Cotton Project to cooperate on the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) pilot launch for the first time in Egypt.

“CEA is dedicated to creating a sustainable supply chain which supports the welfare of both the workers and the environment,” said Khaled Schuman, executive director of the Cotton Egypt Association. “The partnership with UNIDO to support the BCI pilot project is one of several initiatives we will be exploring in 2019, as we continue to bring the brand and the values of the world’s finest cotton to meet the expectations of a modern consumer.”

The BCI is the largest cotton sustainability programme in the world, educating farmers and granting the BCI standard to those who meet rigorous levels of sustainable production and employee welfare. Currently the organisation licenses 1.3million farms in 21 countries and aims to secure the sector’s future by bringing 30% of global production up to BCI standard by 2020.

The project will coordinate with a pool of stakeholders to implement the pilot BCI programme for Egyptian Cotton, promoting the production of Egypt’s White Gold in a way that cares for the environment and the farmers who grow it.

The sustainability drive is the latest move from Cotton Egypt Association to modernise and cement the Egyptian Cotton brand as the world’s most luxurious cotton. It follows initiatives, such as the recent introduction of a rigorous new accreditation process in partnership with Bureau Veritas, which uses DNA technology to root out counterfeit goods.

Consumer recognition of the brand remains high, a recent US survey showed Egyptian Cotton was also the name most people associated with quality and were prepared to pay a premium for, ahead of Pima cotton, Turkish cotton and Supima.

“The pilot project’s vision is to pilot the BCI standard system in Egypt, through a multi stakeholder programme jointly coordinated by UNIDO, relevant governmental entities, farmers’ cooperatives, cotton-textile associations and local/international private sector stakeholders,” said a UNIDO spokesman.

In December last year, the Egyptian government has appointed an official steering committee to safeguard the future of the Egyptian Cotton brand. It will be responsible for the licensing and promotion of Egyptian Cotton globally, as well as policing the integrity of the supply chain to ensure full compliance, traceability and transparency.

www.cottonegyptassociation.com