Menderes Tekstil and Better Cotton

Menderes Tekstil is leading the way again in using BCI certificated cotton, namely “Better Cotton”, which was produced in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.  Carrying out a studious work on economic, ecological and social sustainability subjects, Menderes Tekstil, contributes to environmental values and improvement of social aspects of those who take part in the production during the production process of the agricultural output.

Whilst different paths are followed in many sectors in order to raise economic, ecological and social criteria, with the participation of international textile companies Better Cotton Initiative-BCI was formed for the millions of farmers around the world to produce quality cotton in healthier conditions.

BCI  is entering its sixth harvest year with 8% mark of global cotton production in 2014 just 5 years after its first harvest, bringing benefits to close to 1.2 million farmers globally;

BCI completed major breakthroughs in Brazil, Australia, Turkey, Mozambique and the USA, with continued growth and success in China, India, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. In 2015, it is expected see production also in Kenya and Senegal;

As at 31st December 2014 BCI had 470 fully approved members, with another 122 in the application process

Founded in Turkey within the scope of BCI, Turkey’s Good Cotton Practices Association   (IPUD) signed  a strategic partnership agreement with BCI. With the signing of the agreement IPUD commit to taking significant leadership in the implementation of the Better Cotton standard amongst Turkish cotton industry actors. With the membership of “The International Cotton Association (ICA)”, IPUD has asserted its recognition in the international arena.

Good Cotton Practices Association (IPUD) pursues the goal of making cotton production in Turkey better for those who grow cotton, for the environment where cotton grows and for the future of the sector. The establishment of IPUD has reinvigorated existing efforts to make cotton production in Turkey sustainable in environmental, economic and social terms by locally producing licensed ‘Better Cotton’.

Better Cotton production in the world was  900.000 tons in 2013 and 1.900.000 tons in 2014. BCI projects that the better cotton production will reach to 2 million 600 thousand tones in 2015.

Being a cotton version of good farming practice which comprises the traceable, controllable and disciplinable concepts, Better Cotton practice obliges cotton farmers to produce in compliance with the 6 main sustainability criteria of BCI.

2015 Annual Membership Workshop will be held in Istanbul on 9-10 June, 2015, to celebrate BCI’s five year "anniversary" of Better Cotton harvests, and to inspire members for the next five years of mainstreaming.  

Looking forward, BCI’s key areas of focus in 2015, will be to improve retailer uptake and ensure the market for Better Cotton is growing and dynamic, delivering benefits to all involved, from farm to shop, aligned with this BCI will of course keep up the work to ensure the Better Cotton supply is diverse and readily available and that BCI operates in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

Having taken its place on this platform since the date BCI was founded, Menderes Tekstil has carried out studies on production in Turkey of the Better Cotton that has BCI license.

Menderes was the first in Agean to put the new application into practice and started this practice on an individual basis upon the request of its customers even before IPUD was established in Turkey.

Menderes Tekstil always places a priority on environmentally friendly production.