Primark, CottonConnect, and RUDI, part of the female farmers union Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), have won Partnership of the Year for their coalition to deliver the Primark Cotton Project (formerly the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme) at the Reuters Responsible Business Awards 2023, at a ceremony in London on 1 November.

The awards celebrate progress in sustainable excellence in business, including partnerships and projects that are challenging the status quo and showing the way to a responsible future. The Partnership of the Year category had eleven finalists. The judges commented “This application stood out to the judges as this isn’t merely a partnership, but rather it is integrated fully into the partners’ businesses now, which judges identified as a way of guaranteeing long term sustainability and scalability. All three organisations have done a remarkable job hitting every triple bottom line for all stakeholders in this group. If you work in sustainability agriculture, this is something to be replicated.”

The Primark Cotton Project (formerly the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme) was set up in India in 2013 to address the challenges of more sustainable cotton sourcing, and is now operating in four countries with 252,800 farmers trained or training by August 2022. The impact results have shown improvements in all key areas, equipping farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to grow cotton more sustainably, including reducing the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and water. In India, the Primark Cotton Project (formerly the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme) works particularly with female farmers to improve their ability to increase income.

Katharine Stewart, Group Corporate Responsibility Director, Associated British Foods, said: “It is an honour to receive this award, amongst extremely strong competition, and especially as we celebrate ten years of the Primark Cotton Project (formerly the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme) this year. The award is a recognition of Primark’scommitment towards a strong collaborative partnership to achieve long-term change, reducing the impact on the environment and supporting women farmer livelihoods. Cotton is the primary natural fibre in over half of Primark's products, so improving how it is farmed is instrumental to our business success and sustainability goals.”

Alison Ward, CEO, CottonConnect, said: “This award is a wonderful recognition of the success we have achieved over the past 10 years and a testimony to the hard work, expertise and commitment of the partners. Creating sustainable, long-lasting change in cotton-growing communities is challenging and something that no single organisation can achieve alone – partnership is absolutely key. We started with shared goals and what we have achieved is truly transformational.”

Heena Dave, Executive Director, RUDI Multitrading Co. Ltd., said, “I am delighted to be celebrating this award recognising the important partnership. I would like to congratulate all partners involved. I’m proud of how the Primark Cotton Project (formerly the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme) supports women through sustainable cotton production and has positively influenced the productivity and profitability of our women farmers in India.”

This success story echoes the broader transformative journey we have embarked upon in Pakistan's cotton industry. By embracing organic cotton cultivation methods, we are championing a lower carbon footprint, steering away from synthetic pesticides and fertilisers. Our aim is to cater to the growing consumer demand for sustainable and eco-friendly products while reducing GHG emissions and contributing superior quality fiber to the industry.

About the Primark Cotton Project (formerly the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme)

Launched in 2013 in India, the Primark Cotton Project (formerly the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme) is a unique partnership to give transparency down the supply chain, understand and reduce the environmental impact of cotton used by Primark while improving the livelihoods of cotton farmers.

252,800 farmers have been, or are still receiving training through the programme, which aim to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertiliser and use with less water, while at the same time improving farmer incomes.

The programme is helping achieve Primark’s goal that all cotton in its clothes will be organic, recycled, or from the Primark Cotton Project (formerly the Primark
Sustainable Cotton Programme) by 2027.

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