WWF and IKEA Co-Operation – Cotton Projects

WWF and IKEA co-operation Bell della WWF-Switzerland/A. / WWF-Canon © – cotton projects

Cotton is a thirsty crop the cultivation of which often requires large quantities of water and chemicals. This results in negative effects on the environment and WWFon people’s and health. IKEA Cotton is also co-operation sometimes grown in areas where fresh water WWF, the resourcesglobal conservation are scarce organization, and under enormous and IKEA, pressure. the home During furnishings the last company, four years, are workingWWF together and IKEA in a partnershiphave run joint to projectspromote to responsible support more forestry sustainable and better cotton cotton production. production,Shared and to address values climate change. © Inter IKEA Systems B.V. WWF and IKEA work together to promote more sustainable cotton production in accordance with the Better Cotton SHAREDInitiative. VALUES Since 2005, we have implemented projects in both India and Pakistan. The aim of these projects is to work WWF and IKEA are both committed to promoting the responsible © Inter IKEA Systems B.V. with farmers to produce cotton using less chemicals and and sustainablewater, use of to natural improve resources the livelihood for present of farmers and futureby helping needs. them The Co-operationto produce is founded more on sustainable each organization’s cotton in accordance unique compe with- tencies which theythe Better bring Cotton to their Initiative joint projects. (BCI), and These to influence projects the are bulk important stepsproduction in implementing of cotton. IKEA´s We have Social discovered and Environmental a number of far- Strategy and inming achieving practices WWF´s that reduceglobal conservationthe use of pesticides, targets. water Wor- and king together, morechemical can fertilizers,be achieved. while increasing farmers’ profit margins, and we promote these through farmer training, support and © WWF-Canon Michel GUNTHER outreach activities.

ACHIEVING RESULTS The WWF and IKEA co-operation first began in 2002 to jointly promote responsible forestry. The first years of co-operation showed that by working together, WWF and IKEA can achieve more in helping to conserve the world’s forests. In 2005, WWF The projects and IKEA identified additional areas of common interest, such as reducing the environmental and social impacts of conventional cotton production and addressing India climate change issues. A summary of achievements from the first three years of the co-operation on forest projects is available on www.panda.org/ikea. In India, about 60 million people work with cotton production use of Better Management Practices (BMPs), farmers have in some way, amounting to 30 per cent of India’s total export managed to reduce their water and chemical use. In 2009, of cotton and textile – about 22 per cent of the global pro the project worked with 796 farmers − by using BMPs, these duction. The overall objective of this projectThe isprojects to improve have resultedthe infarmers concrete, managed positive tooutcomes, reduce theirparticularly water inapplications responsible by 53 © Inter IKEA Systems B.V. ecosystem through sustainable use of soil, forestry water management and external and educationper cent, about pesticide sustainable applications cotton production. by 48 per For cent example: and chemical resources by farmers in the region of Maharashtra, and there fertilizer use by 50 per cent, on average, as compared to far Demonstration forests have been established to show forest by improving health and livelihood of communitiesowners throughand managers themers benefits who ofdid responsible not use BMPs forestry. that year. In 2010, the number production of more sustainable cotton. By promotingThree global the tool kits haveof been farmers produced involved and intested the project in various will be around 4 000. countries to help identify and manage particularly important forest areas – High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) – and to encourage certification and improved forest management. In Russia many companies have committed to responsible forest management by joining the WWF’s Global Forest & Trade Network – an initiative to improve forest management and combat illegal logging and trade. In both India and Pakistan several hundred farmers have taken part in Farmer Field Schools to learn about sustainable cotton production.

Pakistan

Pakistan is the fourth largest producer of cotton in the world, ted in 2009 and changed their farming methods to be more after China, India and the US − with about 8 per cent of the sustainable and less water and chemical dependent. Organic total global cotton production. manures and composts are used, pest risks and nutrient and The overall objective of the cotton project is to improve water needs of the cotton plant are better assessed. The farmers´ livelihoods through the introduction of BMPs in three BMP cotton farmers made crop management decisions which districts of Pakistan. This will ensure a sustainable improve resulted in 40 per cent reduction in synthetic fertilizers, 39 per ment in the natural, financial, social and human capital cent in irrigation water and 47 per cent in pesticides. This has available to the cotton farmers, and promote its adoption not only led to more sustainable farming and production, but throughout Pakistan as well as internationally. WWF also aims also to better economic benefits for the farming communities to build the capacity of farmers to meet the BCI criteria, which where the incomes of BMP farmers have increased by 11 per would have environmental and livelihood benefits. By using cent. In 2010, the number of farmers involved in the project the BMPs, around 25 000 farmers in Pakistan were targe will increase to around 40 000.

Better Cotton Initiative

WWF and IKEA are two of the founding members of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), and also members of its Steering Committee. WWF and IKEA promote the objectives of BCI, and support farmers to achieve the BCI criteria, and thereby produce more sustainable cotton. Read more on www.bettercotton.org More information about the projects can also be found on www.panda.org/ikea.

Summary of results:

The projects in Pakistan and India have shown significant

© Inter IKEA Systems B.V. results, proving that it is possible to produce cotton at a lower cost, which improves the gross margins for the farmer, while reducing the use of agrochemicals and water inputs. Below are some of the results from the projects over a three year period (2006–2008) by farmers using BMPs, as compared to conventional farmers, which give an indication of what can be achieved:

In Pakistan, when compared with conventional farmers: ■■the average reduction in chemical fertilizer use by BMP farmers was 38 per cent, ■■the average reduction in pesticide and water use by BMP farmers was 32 per cent, ■■we have shown that by using BMPs, farmers can increase their profit by an average of 20 per cent.

In India, when compared with conventional farmers: ■■the average reduction in pesticide use by BMP farmers was 81 per cent, ■■the average reduction in water use by BMP farmers was 49 per cent, ■■the average reduction in chemical fertilizer use by BMP farmers was 18 per cent, ■■we have shown that by using BMPs, farmers can DVALA is made of increase their profit by an average of 15 per cent. more sustainable cotton.