More people are using the cotton that helps support African smallholder farmers this year than last. According to the report, CmiA—which works with 67 spinning mills—ginned 700,000 tons of cotton for use textile production, up a sizable 71 percent over last year’s 408, 415 tons. Roughly 30.5 million textile went to market with the CmiA seal.
As of 2015, the company has trained over 750,000 smallholders, a 57 percent increase over last year’s 476,450. The training ensures both an increase in yield and income, establishing a solid foundation for the future of the individual smallholders’ and their careers.
Despite its sustainable label, CmiA said because of the demand alliance it has built, textile companies can buy Cotton Made in Africa at going global market prices.
And, according to the report, “Despite challenging conditions in the European markets, characterized by high price sensitivity among companies and even lower awareness of sustainable textiles among consumers, CmiA held its ground well on the international stage.”
This year, CmiA added ASOS and Danish Bestseller group, to the list of those using the cotton, and both are using the cotton and processing it in Africa.
The U.K.’s Bonprix, which has already been using Cotton Made in Africa, set itself a goal of producing textiles with only sustainable raw materials by 2020, a large portion of which will be CmiA.
“With CmiA’s help, we are significantly reducing our harmful ecological impact, in particular with regard to emissions and water consumption in cotton cultivation,” head of corporate responsibility and quality services for Bonprix, Stefanie Sumfleth, said.
CmiA also expanded on its cotton tracking system, where now partner companies, spinning mills, and other stakeholders in the sector can enter their order information and other relevant data directly into the system. By doing this, it simplifies the workload and increased the level of transparency. Making the system even more user-friendly, customers can also receive information directly from the system about the movements of their CmiA products.