In 2021, the United Nations decided to include October 7 in its permanent calendar as World Cotton Day. In doing so, they followed a proposal by the West African cotton-growing countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ivory Coast and Mali.
World Cotton Day was celebrated even before this. It was first launched on October 7, 2019, at the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva, along with four other founding organizations. These include the International Cotton Secretariat (ICAC), the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Bremen Cotton Exchange is also participating in World Cotton Day.
Cotton is one of the most important Textile and Fashion Fibers
World Cotton Day is intended to focus attention on the economic importance of cotton and the millions of people who work in the global cotton and textile industry. They are to be celebrated with events, and at the same time support is called for in the fight against poverty in developing countries.
Cotton is one of the most important fibers in the textile and fashion industry and a significant economic factor for countless people, especially in developing countries:
- Cotton is grown in over 70 countries and provides income for millions of people each year
- A single ton of cotton provides year-round employment for an estimated five to six people, often in some of the world’s poorest areas
- Cotton is the only agricultural crop that provides both fiber and food
- Cotton has a negative carbon footprint and, unlike polyester, it is biodegradable: no microplastics are produced on land or in water
For more information about World Cotton Day and its activities, visit www.worldcottonday.com. Follow #WorldCottonDay on social media and join the global discussion.
If you have any questions about World Cotton Day, please contact Elke Hortmeyer:
Elke Hortmeyer, Director Communication and International Relations
Tel.: +49-421-3397016 | E-Mail: hortmeyer@baumwollboerse.de