African Organic Cotton

The CTCB (Coalition pour la Transformation du Coton Bio - Coalition for Organic Cotton Processing) brings together organisations that process African organic cotton in Africa. The coalition's main mission is to create the optimum conditions for developing the local processing of organic cotton (exclusively, we do not accept any other cotton). The initiative was launched at the first "RDV du Coton Bio" organised by the Xoomba association in Burkina Faso, in the heart of West Africa, where the infrastructure for processing this environmentally-friendly raw material is the most highly developed in the region. The members of this Economic Interest Group transform organic cotton into fabric, clothing and fashion and decorative accessories for the local and international markets. Organic and rainfed cotton from West Africa should become a source of fulfilment for designers and craftsmen based in Africa, and create jobs in the many textile production trades. The organic cotton market is growing all the time, thanks to increasing demand from brands seeking to comply with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, consumer expectations are changing, including in Africa where local clothing culture is worn with pride. Initially price-sensitive, these customers are increasingly keen to buy endogenous and ethical products that consciously contribute to the healthy economic development of their societies. Organic cotton, which does without imported inputs, meets this requirement. According to the "Fortune Business Insights" report, demand for organic cotton is currently growing by 40% a year, and organic cotton can be an attractive option for consumers of 'Made in Africa' textiles, without being much more expensive than 'conventional' cotton (which consumes huge quantities of imported inputs that considerably harm the health of producers and the bio-diversity of their environment).