Organic Cotton Accelerator partnered with South Pole to run a life cycle assessment of organic cotton farming in India. The study offers region-specific insights that help fashion brands source eco-friendly clothing, support fair trade cotton and drive sustainable, green fashion.
farms analysed.
supply shed-specific environmental profiles created.
farming practices covered.
To support better decision-making and improve sourcing practices for sustainably sourced textiles, OCA set out to understand the environmental impact of cotton farming across different growing conditions in India.
South Pole conducted a cradle-to-ginning gate life cycle assessment in full compliance with ISO 14040/44 standards, using third-party verified data from nearly 18,000 farms participating in OCA's Farm Programme.
The study covered three irrigation zones, five farming practices and three crop periods—providing a nuanced view of regional impact.
To make the findings actionable, we built a visual dashboard featuring 15 environmental profiles and enabling side-by-side comparisons. Brands working with OCA gain exclusive access to region-specific LCA insights dashboards, tailormade to each brand. These tools allow them to track progress, inform sourcing strategies, and drive measurable impact. A detailed report outlined key insights and strategic recommendations to enhance data quality, improve data management and reduce environmental impact over time.
With this science-based foundation, OCA is now equipped to strengthen its Farm Programme and advance its mission of scaling organic cotton in a way that benefits farmers, the environment and the industry at large. Continued environmental data collection and analysis are central to this approach. By planning a series of regional LCAs, OCA aims to build an increasingly accurate picture of organic cotton's contribution to climate action and biodiversity protection
OCA's first regional Life cycle assessment has been a transformative step in understanding the true environmental benefits of organic cotton farming in India.
The comprehensive study, conducted by South Pole, revealed that organic practices significantly reduce carbon footprints and address key environmental challenges, offering compelling evidence of their advantages over conventional methods. These findings not only provide the industry with much-needed data but also help shape future sustainability efforts that can drive widespread change. This LCA is just the beginning, and we are committed to continuing this journey to drive positive change for farmers and the planet.
Estrella González Rodrigo Programme Manager Farm Impact, OCA
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