From September 1, 2015 onwards, all of the cotton we use for IKEA products comes from more sustainable sources. This means that the cotton is grown with less water, chemical fertilizer and pesticide, while increasing profit margins for farmers.

When grown conventionally, cotton farming uses large amounts of chemicals and water. This practice often leads to significant health risks to famers, soil erosion and water scarcity. And since most cotton is grown on small farms in developing countries, many farmers struggle to make a profit.

So, IKEA decided to find a way to tackle these challenges and made a commitment to improve the cotton industry. Over a decade ago, IKEA began taking steps to transform the way cotton is produced. Along with WWF and others, IKEA helped set up the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), which aims to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future by developing Better Cotton as a sustainable mainstream commodity. Through hands-on training and field schools, together with partners, IKEA helped around 110,000 farmers learn more sustainable farming methods. This initiative has allowed farmers to cut costs, increase their profits, and improve their working conditions. As a result, they can afford a better quality of life for their families, including schooling for their children.

Through the Better Cotton Initiative, cotton farming has become better for the environment and the farmers who grow it.