This week marks the 40th observance of Earth Day. It also happens to mark the fortieth anniversary of Cotton Incorporated. Established in 1970 as the research and marketing company for the cotton industry, Cotton Incorporated has been a staunch advocate of reducing the amount of chemicals and natural resources required to bring cotton products to market. In a video message on the company’s CottonToday Web site , Cotton Incorporated President and CEO J. Berrye Worsham explains, “In the last 40 years, we have dramatically increased yields, and that means that we are not bringing any more land into production. At the same time, we have reduced the amount of pesticides and other chemicals used in cotton production by 50%, as well as reduced the amount of water that goes into growing cotton.” Environmental gains such as these are crucial to future generations.
Committed to sustainability, the organizers of Earth Day have raised global awareness of environmental issues over the past forty years. Sharing their goal of continued sustainability, Cotton Incorporated has actively encouraged environmental gains in all aspects of cotton production as a means of not only sustaining the industry, but also the planet.
By reducing chemical inputs; consuming less energy, land and water; the cost of production is reduced while the benefit to the environment is increased. This common sense approach continues to guide the sustainability strategies of the modern cotton industry.
In addition, the long-standing industry is also exploring innovative uses for the entire cotton plant, and calling attention to visionary new ways to use cotton. These include the introduction of a natural alternative to synthetic packing material, housing insulation made from recycled blue jeans and edible cottonseed.
Check out this video to learn more~!