Sustainable Cotton Project

The Sustainable Cotton Project is a non-profit organization located in California's Central Valley, the world's most productive agricultural region, the Sustainable Cotton Project (SCP) focuses on the production and use of cotton, one of the most widely grown and chemical-intensive crops in the world. Since 1996, SCP has brought farmers, manufacturers, and consumers together. SCP's guiding philosophy of "cooperation for a change" fosters information-sharing among these groups to develop a Cleaner Cotton™ industry. SCP provides growers with information about biological farming techniques and educates the public about the importance of reducing chemical use in fiber and food production and supporting local farmers. Because of cotton's versatility, it is used for many food and fiber products, making it one of the most widely traded commodities on earth. Yet the simple act of growing and harvesting one pound of cotton fiber to make a T-shirt takes a toll on the earth’s air, water, and soil, and has significant impacts on the health of people in cotton growing areas. Cotton cultivation uses approximately 11% of the world’s pesticides, though it is grown on just 2.4% of the world’s arable land12. Some of these chemicals are classified as toxic or carcinogenic by the U.S. In developing countries, where regulations are less stringent, the negative impacts are more severe. SCP’s programs encourage the production and demand for California grown Cleaner Cotton™. PRODUCTION: The BASIC program focuses directly on farm issues. SCP helps farmers develop a working knowledge of practices that reduce chemical use that can be successfully and economically applied to cotton. DEMAND: The Cleaner Cotton™ Campaign helps manufacturers develop strategies to incorporate Cleaner Cotton™ and organic cotton fibers into existing products. Manufacturer demand is essential to increasing market opportunities for farmer’s growing Cleaner Cotton™ and organic cotton.