sustainability

The fiber the world loves with
the sustainability the future needs

Over the past few decades, Brazilian cotton has been working towards growing synergy between innovation and sustainability. Thanks to technology and the dedication of hundreds of rural producers, we are proud to offer the world a natural raw material that fully respects the environment, people, and processes of constant evolution. 

sustainable strategies
for Brazilian cotton

Hover to open box with description of each item

verified/certified production clean energy Integrated Pest Management (IPM) land use efficiency smart farming transparency & traceability soil protection water conservation environmental conservation worker’s & farmer’s safety and wellbeing

verified/certified production

In addition to only 8% of the Brazilian fiber being cultivated using irrigation, there are projects for regional conservation of water resources - protection, preservation and recovery of riverheads, studies on silting up and contamination by chemicals – and specifics actions with the study’s results. Ex.: Project: recovery of river springs by rural producers.

clean energy

Brazil's electricity matrix is based in renewable sources. In 2020, renewable energy supplied 85% of the electricity sector demand and it is expected to reach 88% by 2030. This contributes to reduce the carbon footprint of the cotton supply chain in Brazil.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Encouraging the use of biological pest and diseases control. The objective is to replace part of the chemical pesticides used. Other promoted techniques include: free-host period, biotechnology, mandatory crop calendar, biopesticides, insect traps and scouting, etc.

land use efficiency

In Brazil, cotton is produced mostly as a second crop. This is called “double cropping system” and means that once the raining season starts (Sep-Oct) farmers plant soybeans and only after the soybean harvest (Jan-Feb), cotton is seeded. 63% of all cotton production in Brazil is grown as a second crop. In other words, more than 1 million hectares of land are being spared, reducing land use change pressure and maximizing food and fiber production per hectare.

smart farming

Brazilian farmers are known for the high level of technology adoption in their farms. Smart and digital farming tools have been largely used in order to increase operational efficiency and reduce input use.

transparency & traceability

Each cotton bale produced in the country has a bale identification number that can be used to trace the bale back to the farm, farmer and cotton gin, using an online database. Abrapa has invested to bring certification and traceability with large financial investments.

soil protection

Encouraging the use of soil conservationist practices. Cover cropping, no-tillage and reduced tillage are widespread practices among Brazilian cotton growers. In combination with cover crops and crop rotation, these practices improve soil health and contribute to reducing GHG emissions.

water conservation

In addition to only 8% of the Brazilian fiber being cultivated using irrigation, there are projects for regional conservation of water resources - protection, preservation and recovery of riverheads, studies on silting up and contamination by chemicals – and specifics actions with the study’s results. Ex.: Project: recovery of river springs by rural producers.

environmental conservation

Regularization of environmental conservation areas, in line with the Brazilian Forest code, in all farms; Depending on where a farm is located, between 20% and 80% of the native vegetation of each farm must be preserved by the farmer as well as riparian forests along rivers and streams. Farmers are also engaged in the prevention of farm and wildfires, through the implementation of on farm fire brigades.

worker’s & farmer’s safety and wellbeing

Effective reduction of workers accidents due to the training actions implemented by the certification; Improvement of well-being and health of farm workers; Farm workers are also trained on the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety measures when handling crop protection products and farm equipment.

the Commitment to Increasingly Responsible Cotton Production

Cotton production in Brazil relies on the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic. With the growing demand from consumers who value the responsible origin of the products they purchase, Brazilian cotton has gained strength. Here’s why:

More than 80% of the cotton has socio-environmental certification

Over 90% of the crops grow with rainwater only: without artificial irrigation

Brazil is the #1 responsible cotton supplier in the world
More than 35% of all Better Cotton is Brazilian

17% higher Human Development Index (HDI) in cotton-producing municipalities
compared to the Brazilian average

Brazil leads the world in adopting soil conservation practices in certified cotton production
60% less land than the global average

38,000 formal direct jobs are created on certified farms

2.4x less land than the global average to produce the same amount of cotton

BRAZIL

911 kg of lint per hectare

GLOBAL AVERAGE

787 kg of lint per hectare
Source: USDA, 2023/2024 crop season

Pillars of sustainable cotton
production in Brazil

environmental

preservation of native fauna and flora, protection of springs and rivers, rational use of pesticides, use of clean and renewable energy, good agricultural practices, and crop rotation.

social

respect for workers’ health and well-being, promoting fair relationships between employers and employees, and contributing to community development.

economic

prioritizes the economic health of businesses so that all parties, without distinction, can grow together and support the Brazilian macroeconomy.

The ABR Certification
(Responsible Brazilian Cotton)

The ABR (Algodão Brasileiro Responsável) protocol is the national standard for socio-environmental certification of cotton in Brazil, managed by Abrapa (Brazilian Cotton Growers Association). The ABR guarantees sustainable origins that align with good production practices, national labor legislation, environmental laws, and rational use of inputs.

The ABR certification is an evolution of a local initiative organized by producers in 2005 in Mato Grosso, Brazil’s largest cotton-producing state. The national protocol for farms has existed since 2012 and is equivalent to Better Cotton. Recently, it has expanded to include other critical stages of production: cotton gins and retro-port terminals.

Farm

  • Since 2012
  • 183 audit items

Better Cotton

  • Equivalent since 2013
  • 51 principles and criteria

Cotton Gin

  • Since 2020
  • 133 audit items

Terminal

  • Since 2022
  • 127 audit items

what is the primary objective of the ABR?

Under these pillars, eight evaluation criteria have been established:

Under these pillars, eight evaluation criteria have been established:

Under these pillars, eight evaluation criteria have been established:

we have
socio-environmental
certification

Discover how the ABR (Responsible Brazilian Cotton) program has innovated sustainability processes and transformed cotton production in Brazil. Download our Cotton Map – key data and figures of Brazilian cotton in a printable file.

Better Cotton x ABR:
synergy for good practices

The ABR certification protocol brings together the most relevant aspects of Brazil’s labor and environmental legislation combined with the world’s best responsible practices. For this reason, our protocol has been in synergy with Better Cotton from the beginning, in 2013. For a producer to obtain Better Cotton licensing, they must first be ABR certified.

we are the world's largest supplier of Better Cotton

Brazil stands out as number one in Better Cotton supply, setting a new
standard for sustainability in the cotton production chain. This reflects
our commitment to responsible agricultural practices and
strengthening an ethical and efficient supply chain, from cultivation to
the global industry.

certification
beyond the
farms

In recent years, the ABR has grown beyond the farms, extending to processing units (ABR-UBA) and retro-port terminals (ABR-LOG).

This marks a step forward in transparency at different stages of the Brazilian production chain and in the continuous improvement of our sustainability efforts.

  • 62% of processed volume
  • 203 million tons of processed cotton
  • 42% of gins certified
  • 99 certified gins
  • 11,407 direct formal jobs
  • 43 municipalities
  • 43% of exported volume
  • 6 certified retro-port terminals
  • 1.115 million tons – volume of cotton exported by certified terminals