WAKEFIELD – MCL News & Media will launch the updated, second edition of the authoritative Inside Guide to Cotton & Sustainability in January 2020. This essential 136-page independent guidebook, first published in 2012, was considered a seminal reference source for brands, retailers and the whole textile supply chain.

The new updated version of the guide is currently being researched and written by cotton expert Simon Ferrigno and will be edited by Ecotextile News editor John Mowbray, to provide in-depth, expert analysis and guidance on how to tackle the issue of sustainability in global cotton supply chains.

Completely updated to include the latest, accurate data on cotton, it will help retailers and brands to navigate their way through the complex challenges and potential pitfalls of current and future global cotton sector strategies. It will also address how cotton fits into the circular economy and whether new technologies such as blockchain can ever replace existing ways to improve supply chain transparency.

The Guide will also look at cotton’s perceived ‘bad reputation’ in terms of pesticide use, water conservation and other challenges including the misuse of statistics and data as well as the latest regulatory responses that impact on the sector.

Research and development responses to improve the environmental impact will also be detailed (including biotech) and there will be an update on GMOs and additional discussion of new techniques like gene editing.

Crucially, a chapter will be dedicated the measuring and defining what ‘sustainable cotton’ actually means – and it will give independent progress reports on organisations and standards in this space such as Cotton made in Africa, the Better Cotton Initiative, organic cotton, etc.

Other topics covered will include a brief history of cotton, cotton and modernisation, global production, the new regulatory and monitoring environment, due diligence, science-based targets and natural capital accounting.

The Inside Guide to Cotton & Sustainability will also ask what ‘sustainable cotton’ might look like in the future, give sourcing recommendations for textile and fashion professionals, detail new, upcoming challenges related to climate change and cotton the suggest best way ahead for the industry into the next decade.

Limited printed copies of this new book are available, but you can order your copy in advance HERE. Early bird discount of 30% expires on 31st October. Bulk order discounts for corporations are also available.