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Primark Announces Fivefold Increase In Its Sustainable Cotton Program

Primark has announced a significant expansion of its Sustainable Cotton Program, with plans to train more than 160,000 independent cotton farmers in sustainable farming methods across three of its key sourcing countries by the end of 2022. The move increases the number of farmers enrolled in the program to more than five times the current size. The expansion marks an important part of the retailer’s ongoing commitment to minimizing its impact on the environment and bringing more sustainably-sourced cotton to customers at affordable prices.

  • 160,000 cotton farmers to be trained in more environmentally-friendly farming methods by the end of 2022

  • Programme extends into China for the first time, enrolling thousands more farmers in India and Pakistan to bring even more sustainable cotton, traced from farm to store, to Primark customers

August 28th, 2019

Primark has announced a significant expansion of its Sustainable Cotton Program, with plans to train more than 160,000 independent cotton farmers in sustainable farming methods across three of its key sourcing countries by the end of 2022. The move increases the number of farmers enrolled in the program to more than five times the current size. The expansion marks an important part of the retailer’s ongoing commitment to minimizing its impact on the environment and bringing more sustainably-sourced cotton to customers at affordable prices.

Cotton is the main natural fiber used to make many Primark products – from pajamas, T-shirts and jeans, to babywear, bedding and towels. Cotton is often grown by farmers in rural communities in countries including India, China and Pakistan, where knowledge of environmentally-friendly farming methods is limited. Since 2013, Primark has been working with agricultural experts CottonConnect and local partners to train female farmers in India to use less water and chemicals. By starting at the very beginning of the supply chain, the cotton can be directly traced from cotton field through manufacture to delivery to Primark’s stores. This gives the retailer and its customers complete confidence in the source of the sustainable cotton used, its environmentally friendly credentials, and the positive impact on farmers’ livelihoods.

In a major step forward, the program has now expanded into China – one of the largest cotton-growing countries in the world and a key sourcing location for Primark. Primark is working with CottonConnect, along with their implementation partner the Heping Cotton Farmers’ Cooperative, to introduce over 80,000 independent cotton farmers in China to the program. Additional male and female farmers will also be enrolled into Primark’s existing programs in India and Pakistan, so that by 2022, more than 160,000 farmers will be equipped with the knowledge and means to grow cotton using more natural farming methods.

Each farmer that goes through the three-year program is trained in the most appropriate farming techniques for their land, from seed selection, sowing, soil, water, pesticide and pest management, to picking, fiber quality, grading and storage of the harvested cotton. As well as minimizing environmental impact, the program greatly improves the livelihoods’ of the cotton farmers through increased income, achieved by increasing their cotton yields as well as helping to save on input costs including water, chemical fertilizer and pesticide use. In Pakistan, where the program launched just last year, those who have completed their first year of training have seen a yield increase of 11.2% and a 12.9% reduction in input costs, resulting in an average profit increase of 26.8%. Many of the farmers have used their increased profits to invest in equipment for their farms, educate their children or improve their housing and lifestyle

The program’s expansion comes amid growing demand from customers for sustainable cotton products at affordable prices. Primark first introduced sustainably sourced cotton from the program into one of its most popular product lines, women’s pajamas, under its Primark Cares initiative in 2017. More than 14 million pajama sets have since been sold, in addition to 3 million pairs of jeans, and six million duvet covers and towels made with sustainable cotton tracked through the program at no extra cost to the customer. The expansion into China and increased farmer numbers will enable Primark to move one step closer to its long-term ambition of using 100% sustainably sourced cotton throughout its entire range of products.

Alison Ward, CEO at CottonConnect, said:

“We’re delighted to continue our work with Primark as part of this industry-leading program to train more cotton farmers in sustainable farming methods. Not only are we materially changing the lives of farmers and their families in rural cotton communities, but by working closely with Primark and their supply chain partners we've been able to trace the cotton all the way from the farm into products – a challenging but important step towards increased supply chain transparency. We see huge potential among the farming community in China, and we look forward to working in close collaboration with our local implementation partner the Heping Cotton Farmers' Cooperative to develop a program that meets the needs of local cotton farmers.”

Katharine Stewart, Ethical Trade and Environmental Sustainability Director at Primark, said:

“As a leading international retailer, we know that many people rely on us for great quality cotton products at affordable prices. Cotton is one of our most important fibers and, like other retailers, we rely on farmers working in rural communities around the world. Improving the long-term sustainability of how that cotton is grown has therefore been a key priority for some time. What’s particularly exciting for us is that we can be confident our cotton has been grown in an environmentally-friendly way, because we’ve been able to track it all the way from farm to store.

“By extending the program into another major cotton-sourcing country, we’ll be able to offer our customers even more products made from sustainable cotton – all at the Primark prices our customers know and love.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

About the Primark Sustainable Cotton Program

The Primark Sustainable Cotton Program first launched in 2013 in India – one of the main countries Primark sources from. Through a partnership with agricultural experts CottonConnect and the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Primark supported the training of female farmers in sustainable farming methods to increase the farmers’ cotton yields and profits.

Following the expansion of the program into Pakistan last year, more than 28,000 farmers were enrolled in the training across both countries. The 2019 expansion of the Primark Sustainable Cotton Program will see more than 160,000 independent cotton farmers trained in sustainable farming methods across India, Pakistan and China by the end of 2022.

The impact of the program is demonstrated in the average results from the first group of 1,251 farmers in India, who participated in the program from 2013-2016. Over the three years, this first group of female farmers saw:

  • An average profit increase of almost 200% and an increase in yield of almost 10%

  • A reduction of input costs by 15.8% (e.g. by reducing chemical pesticide and fertilizer use, buying seeds collectively with other farmers, and a reduction in additional labor costs)

  • A 24.7% reduction in the use of chemical fertilizer and a 50.3% reduction of chemical pesticide use, indicating that environmentally sustainable farming methods are being adopted

  • A 4% water usage decrease, revealing sustainable water efficiency practices in action

About Primark

Primark is an international retailer that offers high quality fashion, beauty and homeware at the best possible prices. First established in Dublin in 1969, we employ 75,000 people and have 373 stores, with over 15 million square foot of selling space in 12 countries: The Republic of Ireland, the UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, France, the US, Italy and Slovenia.

People often ask how we can offer great products while keeping prices so low. It’s because we run Primark a little differently than other businesses. We do very little advertising, so no big TV ads. We only sell our products in stores – so no online shopping or delivery network. And we're always saving on the small stuff – like basic hangers and price tags – to keep costs low. So we're able to pass those savings right on to the customer for lower prices. And while we work hard to keep our prices as low as possible, we never compromise on the standards we expect.

It matters to us, and our customers, that our products are made in factories where workers’ rights and the environment are respected. We don’t own any factories – we source from our suppliers’ factories along with many other global retail brands. So we've built a team of over 110 ethical and environmental sustainability specialists who work in our key sourcing countries to make sure the factories we source from meet our strict code of conduct, based on the UN’s International Labor Organization standards. That code covers everything from working conditions to wages.

About Primark Cares

The Primark Cares initiative is a clear and committed statement to our customers, employees, partners and suppliers that we take our responsibility as a large retailer seriously. It’s a reminder that we’re always investing in ways to support the people who make our clothes and to protect the environment. Primark Cares labels can be found on a wide range of products in our stores.  https://corporate.primark.com/en-us

About CottonConnect

CottonConnect was created in 2009 and aims to deliver a market-driven approach that provides opportunities for retailers and brands, as well as farmers, to simultaneously expand economic opportunity, reduce poverty and protect the environment. For more information, visit www.cottonconnect.org.

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