2021
Cotton: A Case Study in Misinformation
A Report on Building Critical Data Consumption in Fashion
Fashion has a serious and growing misinformation problem. Inaccurate and outdated figures are widely shared, as is data without any context.
We believe that misinformation is a key reason why we aren’t moving towards positive change. It is crucial for industries and society to understand the best available data and context on the environmental, social and economic impact of different fibers and systems within fashion, so that best practices can be developed and implemented, industries can make informed choices, and farmers and other suppliers and makers can be rewarded for and incentivized to operate using more responsible practices that drive more positive impacts.
By using credible information, and learning to use information more responsibly, we can hopefully begin to move past mistrust towards actual improvements.
THE INTENT OF THE REPORT
Debunk and pre-bunk the most common myths about the cotton industry, showing how to vet claims and data and confront misinformation whenever you encounter it.
Gather and share publicly the best available sound data and context on cotton to use in place of misinformation.
Foster the cotton industry’s consensus around the data contained in the report, so that it’s trusted and usable for the industry and the wider public.
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Transparency and traceability prove authenticity. We envision a future where farmers tabulate the amount of pesticides they use, the amount of water they use, all of the different inputs to compare this with their yield and continue retrieving the stream of data to a product’s end of life. We have been eager to launch this report to provide readers with tools to enable data transparency that will ultimately inform best practice and viable solutions for the health of the planet, the people, and our industry.
– ANDREW OLAH, FOUNDER, TRANSFORMERS FOUNDATION
