ACE Cotton
The Affordable, Clean, Environment programme for fashion brands to go further with their climate, nature and social goals at the farm level of their cotton supply chains
Reduce emissions and enhance biodiversity at the source through farm-level investment
Fashion brands in the UK and Europe are facing increasing pressure to meet voluntary and regulatory compliance through action at the farm level.
Meanwhile, brands are sourcing cotton from smallholder farming communities in India that are on the frontlines of climate change and experiencing economic instability.
The ACE Cotton programme builds on existing cotton programmes, bringing value to brands and smallholder farmers to create tangible impact, fulfilling brand requirements and meeting farming community needs.
Holistic impact
ACE stands for Affordable, Clean, Environment. Our holistic approach recognises that “carbon tunnel vision” might meet basic brand sustainability commitments, but true resilience of the cotton supply chain calls for solutions that secure farmer livelihoods and protect nature.
Explore the A - C - E
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Brand investment subsidises renewable energy for farming and community use that would be otherwise inaccessible for farmers and their families.
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Solar energy on- and off-farm lowers the carbon footprint of your cotton while unlocking affordable energy access for farming communities.
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Habitat creation and enhancement in the cotton farming landscape creates space for nature, involving farmers in decision making and implementation.
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![A Pakistani woman involved in ACE Cotton looking at the camera]()
Affordable: improve farmer livelihoods
All of our solutions are designed to bring economic and social benefit to farming communities, particularly for women, who play a vital role in the cotton farming process alongside their household responsibilites.
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![Solar panel in front of a cotton farm for ACE Cotton]()
Clean: reduce your supply chain emissions
Our portfolio of clean energy solutions includes solar-powered irrigation. This directly reduces the carbon footprint of your cotton by replacing fossil-fuel powered irrigation systems.
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![A man planting a tree to enhance biodiversity in cotton]()
Environment: protect and enhance nature
We work with farming communities to increase biodiversity and restore degraded lands, incorporating local knowledge and selecting solutions that work for farmers and their families.
As part of their Plan A sustainability strategy, M&S has set an ambition to reach net zero across its value chain by 2040.
To deliver this ambition, M&S has identified priority areas that include investment in farm-level programmes.
Piloting ACE Cotton was selected because it brings together three priorities in one programme: renewable energy, biodiversity, and farmer community livelihoods.
Marks & Spencer has joined the ACE Cotton programme
“At M&S, sourcing cotton with care is fundamental to how we do business, and today 100% of the cotton in our clothing comes from more responsible sources. The ACE cotton programme builds on that progress by investing in clean energy and nature positive practices that support farming communities and reduce the environmental impact of cotton production. It reflects the ambition of our sustainability programme - Plan A - to ensure our clothes are made in a way that supports people, protects nature, and contributes to a lower-carbon future.”
— Katharine Beacham, Head of Materials & M&S
Our pioneer brand partner DAME is a mission-driven company that uses cotton in its sustainable period products.
DAME invested in a solar-powered community shop, clean cookstoves and a biodiverse plant orchard in a community in the South Punjab, Pakistan.
It was important to DAME that their ACE Cotton programme centre around women’s health and livelihoods.
We distributed DAME’s reusable period products in their sponsored community, contributing to period care access in a culturally respectful way.
Supporting women’s health in the ACE Cotton programme
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Brand aims & objectives
Our distinct approach
HOW IT WORKS
We work with you to understand your sustainability commitments and cotton sourcing geography.
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Farmer needs assessments
We work with your smallholder cotton farmers in India to understand their energy, nature and social needs.
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Intervention implementation
We select from our portfolio of interventions based on community need and brand sustainability priorities.
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Brand impact reporting
You’ll receive robust impact data across impact areas for your brand reporting and storytelling.
Our ACE Cotton packages for brands
BRAND PACKAGE OPTION 1
Cotton Activator
Invest in Indian smallholder farmers to create resilience.
This package is perfect for brands who aren’t yet ready for a traceable programme but want to invest at the farm-level.
You’ll receive impact data for reporting aligned to your sustainability strategy.
BRAND PACKAGE OPTION 2
Cotton Changemaker
Invest in the smallholder farmers in your cotton supply chain.
Deliver on your brand’s climate, biodiversity and social long-term strategy with a fully traceable programme.
We’ll develop a fully customised rollout for scale-up.
True impact comes from long-term commitment - ACE Cotton operates in each farming community for 3 years. Pricing is based on the number of communities or cotton covered by a brand programme.
The ACE Cotton story
The ACE Cotton programme was piloted in the South Punjab, Pakistan for 5 years with implementing partner SAMA^Verte.
This work was supported by Innovate UK Energy Catalyst funding for its contribution to a green energy transition.
The learnings from this pilot have been invaluable and are shaping today’s programme in India.
Are you ready to invest in your cotton farmers?
Contact our team to set up an introductory call and learn how the ACE Cotton programme can meet your sustainability commitments and priorities.