The Cotton Research and Promotion Program welcomes USDA’s announcement of the Great American Cotton Plan and its support for the Plant Not Plastic initiative. This effort is essential not only to strengthening the U.S. cotton industry, but also to advancing meaningful progress in human and environmental health.
USDA’s announcement states, “Nearly 70 percent of the world’s textile fibers are now synthetic, most of them plastic-based materials such as polyester. Cotton is a natural fiber harvested from the cotton plant’s seedpods and has been used in clothing and household products for thousands of years due to its breathability, softness, durability, and comfort. Unlike synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic, which are petroleum-based and chemically manufactured, cotton is biodegradable and naturally breathable.”
These benefits underscore the importance of continued research and education efforts that highlight the advantages of natural fibers. For more than a decade, Cotton Incorporated has conducted and published research examining the negative effects of microplastics in waterways and ecosystems. The Great American Cotton Plan and the Plant Not Plastic initiative represent an important opportunity to increase consumer awareness of cotton’s benefits, strengthen demand for U.S. cotton, and expand cotton consumption both domestically and globally.
“The Great American Cotton Plan highlights the unique value of cotton as a natural, renewable fiber and reinforces the important role cotton producers play in supporting the U.S. economy,” said Cotton Board Chairman Matt Farmer. “We look forward to supporting efforts that increase awareness of cotton’s benefits among consumers, brands, and retailers.”
– CottonBoard.org –
Contact: Emily Wyonzek, Vice President Operations, 901-207-5094, ewyonzek@cottonboard.org
About the Cotton Board: The Cotton Research & Promotion Act established The Cotton Board as a quasi-governmental, non-profit entity to serve as the administrator of the Cotton Research & Promotion Program. Funded by America’s cotton producers and importers through the cotton check-off, the Program’s research and promotion activities are conducted worldwide by Cotton Incorporated, The Cotton Board’s sole-source contracting organization, to increase the demand for and improve the market position of cotton. The Cotton Research & Promotion Program continues to work in all areas of cotton’s pipeline – from the field to the consumer – to keep cotton the number one fiber choice in the U.S. For more information about The Cotton Board and the innovative activities stemming from the Program, visit www.cottonboard.org.