Under the framework of UNIDO’s ‘The Egyptian Cotton Project’, in collaboration with Filmar and Cotton Egypt Association, held a 3-day “Cotton Harvest Event” celebrating the second cycle of conventional and organic long staple and extra-long staple Egyptian cotton cultivation adapting Better Cotton Initiative standard systems, resulting in high quality cotton that supports economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

 

On a sunny field day the harvest celebration brought together proud and joyful farmers and small owners showing their hard work growing Egyptian cotton to consumers, local and international textile manufacturers including Alkan, Filmar, Dunelm, ACL, Albini, Indocount; major fashion brands and retailers including Christian Dior Couture, Stella McCartney, Hugo Boss, Marks & Spencer’s, John Lewis, and Macy’s among others, and a number of key government representatives including the Governor of Kafr ElSheikh, representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Public Business Sector, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

 

“We’re extremely proud to have joined this collaboration and become a member of the Egyptian Cotton Private Sector Working Group alongside our trusted Egyptian Cotton suppliers. We’re committed to working together to achieve a sustainable Egyptian Cotton industry” said Sarah Earing, Partner & Sustainability Manager and Tracy Saunders, Partner & Category Technical Manager of John Lewis & Partners.

 

“The UNIDO’s Egyptian Cotton Project by enhancing the availability of high quality and sustainable cotton is an important initiative for Hugo Boss to achieve its sourcing strategy for more responsible materials,” said Mr. Heinz Zeller, Head of Sustainability and Logistics at HUGO BOSS Ticino.

 

Aiming to promote global strategic partnerships and enhance the awareness of on-ground impact of cotton cultivation on sustainability claims of renown brands and retailers on their used cotton, the harvest celebration included a tour for international brands and retailers at textile factories in Borg Al Arab and Fayoum, followed by a harvest day celebration in Kafr ElSheikh governorate showcasing the season’s Egyptian cotton harvest adapting Better Cotton Initiative standard systems, and closed with a high level round table meeting where key stakeholders discussed the promotion of global partnerships towards advancement and innovation in the textile industry.

 

The Egyptian Cotton project, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, is implemented by UNIDO in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and local and international textile private sector stakeholders, leveraging on “Cottonforlife” CSR initiative by Filmar Group.

 

Aiming to advance competitiveness and demand by international markets, the Egyptian Cotton project prioritizes aspects of sustainability, inclusiveness and value addition of the Egyptian long staple and extra-long staple cotton value chain.

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