In June 2024, USB Certification was proud to serve as the Headline Sponsor for the Better Cotton Annual Conference, held in the vibrant city of Istanbul, Türkiye. This two-day event brought together over 400 participants, both online and in-person, to discuss impactful solutions aimed at accelerating sustainability and positive change in the cotton industry.
As a global leader in auditing and certification, USB Certification was honored to take a central role in supporting this important platform. As an approved third-party verifier for Better Cotton, USB Certification is also authorized to conduct assessments under the Better Cotton Chain of Custody Standard, a responsibility we take seriously.
During the event, Ali Ertuğrul, our Technical and Quality Manager for Textiles and Recycling, shared our experiences and insights from our journey within the cotton sector. Ali emphasized the significance of collaboration and open dialogue across the supply chain, particularly as it relates to sharing the challenges we’ve faced and the lessons we’ve learned. He spoke to the broader need for alignment between certification bodies, program owners, brands, retailers, and most importantly, farmers, in order to drive meaningful and lasting change.
In his talk, Ali also reminded attendees of the central role that farmers play in shaping the future of cotton. Highlighting the importance of storytelling, he stressed that the decisions made downstream in the supply chain have very real impacts on the lives of farmers and the environment. “People’s lives are at stake. The environment is at stake,” he said. “Whatever actions we take, we must focus on this reality in our daily work.”
Another key topic Ali touched upon was the role of policy in fostering progress within the sector. He expressed optimism about the recent growth of due diligence directives globally, noting that while private sector efforts are vital, the public sector’s policy changes can provide much-needed momentum in driving sustainable improvements in cotton production.
USB Certification is proud to be at the forefront of such discussions and to have contributed to the success of the Better Cotton Annual Conference 2024. We remain committed to supporting the cotton industry as we all work towards a more sustainable future.
