Celebrating 10 Years of the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme

Look out for the Primark Cares logo online or instore signposting product through the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme.

2023 marks a decade since we started the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme the largest of its kind by any single fashion retailer. Such a milestone means we’re taking time celebrate the women behind it, in addition to the impact of our programme on their livelihoods.

The Primark Sustainable Cotton programme supports our Primark Cares commitments to make more sustainable fashion affordable for all. We’ve committed that all our clothes will be made of recycled or more sustainable materials by 2030.

Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme: 2013- 2023

Together with our partners, we’ve trained over 252,800 farmers in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Throughout the three-year programme the farmers use their new skills to reduce the costs of growing cotton, boost their cotton output (yield) and therefore their profits, and many have used the extra money to invest in farm equipment, educate their children, or improve their housing or lifestyle. More than 80% of the farmers in the programme are women so we’re marking this moment by celebrating some of the remarkable women behind it.

Kanchanben

A Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme farmer, India

Kanchanben grows cotton and moong (mung bean) on her two-acre village plot. Hotter temperatures have increased the number of insects threatening her crops. Through new techniques she’s learnt through the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme, she keeps the insects at bay with natural methods like sticky traps.

 “When insects that fly around come, they land on the paper, and there’s no need to spray insecticides.”

She uses the money she saves to buy school supplies for her children and cover other home expenses. Kanchan’s knowledge-sharing spirit benefits her entire family, as she passes on the techniques she has learnt to others.

Zala

A Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme farmer, India

Zala has learnt new agricultural skills relating to land preparation and sowing, crop management and harvesting through the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme. She’s now able to grow vegetables and grains on the same land as cotton.

"I have grown one acre of cotton. In addition, I have also practiced inter cropping, cultivating crops like moong, guar, and various vegetables including tomatoes.”

She uses the homegrown produce to cook meals for her family and sells anything leftover at the local market. The money she earns is used to support her children’s education and cover general household costs.

Lalita

Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme Trainer, India

Lalita joined the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme to learn how to farm cotton more sustainably and then become a trainer herself. Her mission is to uplift the women farmers and to give them greater independence.

Being a trainer on the Programme has helped to fund the education of her children and today, her youngest daughter is a physiotherapist. She has also noticed her own confidence increase as she has trained more women.

 “I now hold a position of respect both at home and in society, because we train the women in a way that brings changes to their lives.”

What’s Next For The Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme

Cotton is the main natural fibre in over half of our clothes and we’ve committed that by 2027, 100% of the cotton in our clothes will be sourced organic, recycled, or sourced from our Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme. Why is this so important for Primark? Our programme is helping us build a stronger cotton supply chain which helps reduce the environmental impact of the cotton we source. It also increases our visibility on where the materials come from that we use within our products.

Looking ahead, our ambition is to support farmers in the face of a changing climate and encourage more farmers within the programme to use regenerative farming practices. If we can help improve, biodiversity in the farms of the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme, this will increase soil health, use water more efficiently, whilst still continuing to support improved livelihoods for farmers.