Retail agent IKEA is aiming to secure 100 per cent cotton from more sustainable sources by the end of 2015 as it looks to broaden its impact and make sustainable cotton a mainstream commodity. IKEA has increased the use of sustainably sourced cotton in its products to 72 per cent, up from 34 per cent in 2012.
Cotton is one of the most important raw materials for IKEA, and it works actively to promote better cotton growing methods. IKEA wants the cotton used in IKEA products to be produced in a sustainable manner, taking into consideration both people and the environment. Conventional cotton growing and processing consumes large amounts of water and chemicals. Together with WWF, IKEA is actively involved in developing better cotton cultivation practices to increase the volume of cotton produced in an environmentally friendly way.
The IKEA and WWF cotton projects are based on hands-on training in the field. Farmers see and experience the benefits of changing the way they grow cotton, and successful farmers act as inspiration to others. IKEA's partnership with WWF has been pivotal in promoting Better Cotton, and the two organisations are now planning to scale up sustainable cotton production to make Better Cotton a mainstream, affordable commodity.
www.ikea.com/ms/en_GB/about_ikea/our_responsibility/cotton/
