About Cotton Sustainability

• Overview
• Responsible Economic Development
• U.S. Cotton
• Cotton vs. Other Fibers
• Manufacturing
• Recycling
• Frequently Asked Questions

U.S. Cotton

Cotton Incorporated is a U.S.-based organization that leads the global cotton industry by providing research and information on best practices to all members of the world cotton community. Our leadership extends through all aspects of the global supply chain, from growers, to processors and manufacturers.

The U.S. is among the first adopters of the new technologies that are driving environmental improvement, such as biotech varieties, integrated pest management strategies, conservation tillage, water optimization strategies, etc. While the U.S. is our primary focus, ultimately, our efforts and the new information and methods we develop are disseminated to the rest of the world.

• U.S. agriculture is governed by a stringent regulatory system which ensures food and fiber safety. U.S. cotton is regulated as a food crop.
• U.S. cotton has a track record of continuous improvement, with respect to water, pesticides, habitat, soil preservation, etc. The transparency of the U.S. system allows for constant monitoring and improvement.
• U.S. cotton yields (productivity) are increasing and are significantly higher than the average of other countries. Therefore less land is required to supply a growing world demand for fiber.
• The U.S. agriculture extension service provides continuous education and best management practices to U.S. producers.
• There are more than 18,000 cotton farmers, plus support staff, in the U.S.
• Take a field tour to see how cotton is produced. View video