BASF’s e3 Sustainable Cotton program celebrates record grower enrollment

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, June 13, 2022 – BASF’s e3 Sustainable Cotton program, the first transparent and traceable cotton supply chain, has announced unprecedented growth. More than 900 growers enrolled in the program by registering cotton bales from their 2021 growing season, a 25% increase in enrollment from the previous year.

“We are very encouraged by the growth we saw this year,” said Rachel Walters, BASF Regional Grower & Channel Marketing Manager Seeds. “The e3 Cotton program adds value for growers, the environment and the end user, and our enrollment numbers prove the future is bright for the sustainable cotton industry.”

Growers who are part of the e3 Sustainable Cotton program commit to tracking eight sustainability measures on all eligible cotton acres, ranging from water use and pesticide management to soil conservation and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Through a series of digital platforms, the cotton they grow can be traced from an individual cotton bale in their field, all the way to the end consumer.

“I’m excited to join the e3 cotton program to further the efforts of sustainable cotton, and I’m always looking for ways to be a better steward of the land,” said Chris King, Stoneville grower and first-time e3 cotton program member from Georgia.

Earlier this year, the e3 Cotton program announced a collaboration with the United Nations’(UN) hosted Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network for a series of convenings in New York City throughout 2022 and 2023. e3 will join industry stakeholders, United Nations representatives and news media to explore how the fashion and lifestyle industries are uniquely positioned to collaborate and engage on the Sustainable Development Goals.

To learn more about the e3 Sustainable Cotton program, visit www.e3cotton.us. 

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Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population while reducing environmental impacts. Working with partners and agricultural experts and by integrating sustainability criteria into all business decisions, we help farmers to create a positive impact on sustainable agriculture. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, connecting innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our portfolio comprises seeds and specifically selected plant traits, chemical and biological crop protection, solutions for soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we strive to find the right balance for success – for farmers, agriculture and future generations. In 2021, our division generated sales of €8.2 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,700 employees in North America and had sales of $25.9 billion in 2021. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €78.6 billion in 2021. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.