H&M regains its title of world’s largest buyer of organic cotton on the planet

H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB, the Swedish retail giant has used around 10.8 percent of certified organic cotton in 2013 which was enough to make the fashion giant the leading and largest buyer on the planet according to Textile Exchange’s Organic Cotton Market Report 2013.

H&M has regained its title as world’s top most organic cotton purchaser before slipping into second place in 2012. In the past, H&M led the ranking in 2010 and 2011.

Aiming to set a positive example, H&M is constantly looking for ways to make fast fashion more sustainable. And while the use of organic cotton in certain collections may seem to be smaller steps but leading in the right direction.

Henrik Lampa, H&M’s environmental sustainability manager said that they were very proud of this achievement and have set a clear goal to further increase their usage of certified organic cotton. This is part of their strategic target to use only more sustainable cotton by 2020.

The company is also initiating the use of recycled cotton and "Better Cotton," which is grown in conditions that respect the local environment and improve the livelihood of growers and their communities. By the end of 2013, Better Cotton represented 5 percent of H&M’s total cotton use.

According to Textile Exchange’s managing director LaRhea Pepper, H&M is a wonderful example of a company making meaningful change in the textile industry.

In the second position among the top buyers by volume in the latest Organic Cotton Market Report were C&A. Target also claimed second place in the ranking by growth on the previous year, behind the T-shirt brand Stanley and Stella, Puma, Nike, Target and Williams-Sonoma are among other brands that make use of organic cotton.