e3® Sustainable Cotton directly connects all members of the cotton fiber value chain, from cotton farmers to brands and retailers.

It’s the question everyone wants to know: Where is this cotton coming from?

At BASF, we’re passionate about providing an answer. So, where does our e3® Sustainable Cotton start? With high-quality, certified FiberMax® and authentic, storied Stoneville® cotton seed that can be traced from the farmer to the gin and right through to the merchant, mills and retailer. That way, the end customers know exactly what their clothes are made of, how they are made, and where the cotton comes from. Customers also know their clothes meet all three e’s — they’re socially equitable, economically viable and environmentally responsible.

A commitment to sustainable production

All e3® sustainable cotton farmers sign up and commit to grow cotton more efficiently and decreasing the impact to the environment. Their cotton is certified and verified through independent audits, allowing us to track specific environmental and social measures to an individual farmer.

The proven sustainable choice

As the only supplier providing this level of traceability, e3® sustainable cotton is driven by comprehensive verification and a valued reputation for growing socially equitable, economically viable, and environmentally responsible cotton.

 

This is how we got here:

 

Environmentally conscious
The only cotton supply that tracks environmental outcomes back to each cotton field.

 

Farm-to-retailer traceable
The only conventional cotton supply that can deliver item-level sustainability promises.

 

Third-party verified

A cotton supply vetted by independent auditors allows our farmers to focus on producing the highest yielding cotton with the most sustainable practices in the farming industry. Through our digital platform, MyFarms, e3® Sustainable Cotton information is converted using tools managed by independent scientists into multiple different sustainability measures including: Irrigation Water Use and Water Quality, Pesticide Management & Usage, Soil Conservation & Fertility Management, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Energy Use & Conservation, Worker Health & Safety, Identity Preservation, and Soil Carbon.

The e3® Sustainable Cotton mission

Establish an industry leadership position for cotton sustainability by capitalizing on current relationships through the entire farmer-to-retailer channel.

 

e3® Sustainable Cotton
Drive consumption of sustainable, traceable cotton from BASF.

 

Certified FiberMax®
Protect the high-quality FiberMax® trademark by having a traceable, certifiable program from the farm to the mill, allowing BASF to promote differentiated fiber quality to the spinning mill that provides added value to farmers and confidence in the mill’s purchase.

 

Authentic Stoneville®
Protect the storied and authentic Stoneville® trademark by having a traceable, certifiable program from the farm to the apparel and home furnishings brand, enabling BASF to promote added value to farmers.

Creating a traceable supply chain

Seed

  • Farmer receives seed invoice from seed retailer

 

Field

  • Farmer completes digital e3® sustainable cotton field and operation enrollment for Certified FiberMax and/or Authentic Stoneville
 

Bale

  • USDA permanent bale ID (PBI) created at gin
  • PBI entered into e3 and/or Certified FiberMax® or Authentic Stoneville bale database
 

Yarn

  • Merchant sells cotton to mill
  • Merchant sends BASF list of bales to be validated
  • Proof of purchase sent to BASF
  • BASF sends customer Certificate of Sustainability/Verification
 

Material

  • e3® Sustainable Cotton Certificate of Sustainability/Verification" is provided to customers that follow the fabric through chain of custody

 

Garment or Home Furnishing

  • Once licensed, a retailer will have the opportunity to brand e3® Sustainable Cotton garments or home furnishings

 

Simply put, e3® Sustainable Cotton is a differentiator:

  • Third-party verified/certified sustainably grown cotton supply
  • High-quality cotton supply from the U.S.
  • Marketing story with sub-brand potential
  • Shareable metrics and successes
  • Full tracebility, transparency and authenticity
 

 

Knowing where cotton comes from and how it’s grown is important. It’s a story we value, and it’s one we’d like to help share.

For more information on the BASF e3 sustainable cotton program, please contact your local seed advisor or email us at e3cotton@basf.com