Avon has become the first cosmetics brand to partner with industry standard Cotton Made In Africa (CMIA) to increase supply chain traceability.
The partnership forms part of Avon’s ambitious sustainability commitments as it has pledged to use more renewable materials in its supply chains and improve the impact of its products on people and the planet.
Avon global sustainability head Natalie Deacon: “In addition to using sustainably produced raw materials, we aim to achieve certification and traceability and to address both environmental and social aspects for our products containing cotton.
“For instance, we have set ourselves the target of using only cotton that is traceable by 2025, and certified by 2030. CMIA is the ideal partner to support us in pursuit of this goal, which also contributes to a better world for women, as women play a vital part in CMIA’s work in Africa.”
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As part of the partnership, Avon will use CMIA’s Hard Identity Preserved (HIP) system, which ensures full transparency and traceability for raw materials all throughout the textile value chain, from the field to the final product.
CMIA cotton has been proven to have a smaller environmental footprint than other cotton; it is produced without irrigation or genetically modified seeds.
Revenue generated by selling licences for sustainably produced CMIA cotton flows back to small-scale farmers, including women.
This involves reinvesting the revenue as funding for training in regenerative cultivation methods and in business fundamentals and for improving biodiversity.
In addition to reducing the environmental footprint of cotton production, CMIA promotes human rights and non-discrimination for women and fosters equal access and control over resources for men and women.
