The Responsible Brazilian Cotton program
The Responsible Brazilian Cotton Program (ABR) is the national standard for social and environmental certification for cotton farming in Brazil and its main aim is to promote responsible practices throughout the production chain.
Set up in 2012 by the Brazilian Cotton Growers Association (Abrapa), ABR is based on the concept of continuous improvement. From one crop season to the next, the certified farms are encouraged to improve their sustainability management
Our purpose is to advance a sustainable future by promoting responsible cotton production, protecting workers’ well-being, preserving natural resources, strengthening climate resilience, and supporting the balanced growth of communities and ecosystems.
See our manifesto, which summarizes the theory of change applied to ABR!
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF ABR
Three fundamental pillars guide the actions of the Responsible Brazilian Cotton Program (ABR), establishing specific guidelines as well as the criteria and requirements necessary for certification.
The ABR pillars were established to take into account the importance of balancing production efficiency with environmental preservation and social well-being, incorporating areas of importance for Brazilian cotton farming:
Environmental Management
Social and Community Development
Good Governance Practices
To meet the certification requirements, it is necessary to fulfil the conditions of nine criteria that are aligned with Brazilian and international legislation in addition to demonstrating the best sustainability standards in cotton growing.
*Applies only to farms that opt into Better Cotton (BCI) licensing.
verification items are incorporated in the ABR Program which have to be verified by the farms wishing to be part of the protocol. In each crop season, they are re-assessed to ensure a constant improvement in accordance with market and legal demands.
State Associations
The Brazilian Cotton Growers Association (Abrapa) runs the Responsible Brazilian Cotton Program (ABR) nationally, but it is the 11 affiliated state associations who execute the program on the ground.
These associations support local growers, disseminate good agricultural practices, ensure certification quality and strengthen Brazilian cotton farming. They also run social projects and initiatives that impact communities located near to farms.
The quality and the credibility of Brazilian cotton growth is driven by traceability initiatives that have been developed and supported by the Brazilian Cotton Growers Association (Abrapa) within the scope of the Responsible Brazilian Cotton Program (ABR). These initiatives ensure a competitive advantage for the country's cotton farming.
They allow for monitoring of the production chain, ensuring transparency, security and compliance with socio-environmental standards. This means brands and consumers can trust that they are acquiring a responsibly-madee product which is committed to good agricultural practices.
As a result of partnering with major brands, the SouABR (“I´m ABR”) Program uses blockchain technology to enable the traceability of individual garments from the cotton planting stage up to the purchase by the end consumer.
By scanning the QR code on the garment labels, customers can get information on the ABR certified farm that grew the cotton. in addition, details of the other stages in the chain, such as spinning, weaving or knitting, manufacture and retail stages, can also be obtained.
ABR certified cotton that is licensed by Better Cotton (BCI) is kept physically segregated from cotton of other origins throughout all stages of the production chain – from the field to the customer.
Each bale, lot or shipment is clearly identified and tracked to meet the growing demand from brands and consumers for products of proven sustainable origin, that have a commitment to rational water usage, reduction of chemical inputs, respect for workers’ rights, preserving biodiversity, in addition to other aspect
This process is directly supported by the Abrapa Identification System (SAI), created by Abrapa to ensure that traceability information at each production stage – growing, ginning and fibre testing – is accessible, together with ABR certification and BCI licensing data.
Since 2012, the Responsible Brazilian Cotton Program (ABR) has been developed to further strengthen good sustainability practices in the cotton supply chain. Over the past few years, a series of milestones have reinforced this process of continuous improvement, reasserting the certification’s level of excellence.
Creation of the ABR Program
2012
Start of ABR/BCI benchmarking
Brazil becomes the world’s largest producer of BCI cotton.
2013
Creation of the Sou de Algodão (“I’m in Cotton”) movement
2015
The 6th World Cotton Research Conference is held with the support of ABRAPA.
2016
ABRAPA celebrates 20 years of existence.
2019
Creation of ABR-UBA
Creation of Cotton Brazil, with a focus on the international market.
2020
Launch of Sou ABR
2021
Creation of ABR-LOG
2022
Brazil becomes the largest cotton exporter in the world.
2024
The Responsible Brazilian Cotton Program (ABR) is managed by the ABR Institute, a private, non-profit, civil association whose objective is to provide traceability and transparency information on the Brazilian cotton production chain.
It is also responsible for the creation, implementation, development, coordination, and monitoring of programs, systems, and initiatives aimed at the adoption of good environmental, social and governance practices in the sector, in addition to promoting partnerships and educational activities.
The organizational structure of the ABR Institute consists of the following bodies:
