The collaboration will focus on biochar production, a substance similar to charcoal derived from agricultural waste and other waste products that can enhance soil health and store carbon for over a century.
Biochar is beneficial for improving soil structure and increasing its capacity to hold water and nutrients, while also reducing the need for chemical fertilisers, explained Better Cotton.
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Better Cotton, together with Planboo, will guide licensed farmers in creating biochar from farm waste and applying it to the soil, which will offer environmental advantages during both stages.
“Planboo has championed biochar for over half a decade, and it is easy to see why. This age-old practice creates value from waste and boosts the climate resilience of land. Add to that the scope for farmers to be financially rewarded for their sustainability efforts, and this is an incredibly exciting proposition,” said Lars van Doremalen, director of Better Cotton Impact.
The partnership will use Planboo’s digital Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRVin) system to collect data points ranging from biochar production through to the calculation of carbon reductions and removals.
The MRVin software ensures precise calculations of waste inputs, biochar quantities, carbon removals, and carbon credit allocations, stated Better Cotton.
This initiative opens up new revenue opportunities for communities focused on cutting carbon emissions and enhancing soil quality.
Retailers and brands also stand to gain by supporting these practices within their supply chains, which could reduce Scope 3 emissions—a significant source of greenhouse gases in the fashion and textile sectors.
The Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action has estimated that Scope 3 emissions make up about 99% of a company’s total emissions, overshadowing the 1% resulting from direct operations.
Planboo co-founder & CEO Freddie Catlow said: “From our very first days, Better Cotton stood out as the partner to deliver impact within fashion value chains. After seeing a 60% yield increase in cotton crops from our Solidaridad project in Zambia, it became clear this model was well-suited for cotton farming regions.
“With Better Cotton’s global reach and Planboo’s digital MRVin, we’re excited to embed carbon removal and soil health into the fabric of cotton farming, rooted in regeneration, and scaled by software.”
Better Cotton and Planboo are set to announce further details on their inaugural project aimed at India’s smallholder cotton farming communities.
Last month, Better Cotton’s first US Impact Report revealed a substantial growth in its network of licensed growers in the US—a 1500% increase. The report details the progress and impact of its programme from 2014 to 2024.
