Cotton is a major ingredient in many of Walmart’s apparel and home textile products. Walmart to support responsible production practices by cotton growers has joined the Cotton LEADS program, said Ken Lanshe, Walmart’s vice president, General Merchandise, Technical, Quality and Sustainability.

Through the Cotton LEADS program, Walmart hopes to learn from and collaborate on efforts that U.S. cotton farmers are taking to be responsible and sustainable producers. Their support for the Cotton LEADS program aligns with Walmart’s goal to sell products that sustain the environment.

Walmart joins more than 480 companies worldwide which recognize the environmental gains cotton growers in Australia and the United States continue to achieve, as well as their commitment to meeting the challenge of growing sustainable cotton.

The Cotton LEADS program is at the forefront of the world’s efforts for sustainably-sourced cotton, said Mark Messura, senior vice president Global Supply Chain Marketing at Cotton Incorporated.

Joining with Walmart in the program brings the scale and commitment of an industry leader together with the leaders in cotton sustainability and responsibly-sourced cotton.

Dr. Jesse Daystar, chief sustainability officer at Cotton Incorporated, said that their leading efforts in the U.S and Australia are rooted in science, measurement and best practices. Companies that join the Cotton LEADS program are aligning themselves with an objective and valid approach to the sustainability challenge.

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay states that whether it’s greenhouse gas emissions or soil health, cotton farmers are always looking to implement best practices and technologies so that they can continue to be careful stewards of the natural resources.

The Cotton LEADS program is a joint effort of the Australian and U.S. cotton industries. The program is designed to raise awareness of the responsible growing practices and commitment to continuous improvement among cotton producers in the member countries.

Founding members are Cotton Australia, the Australian Cotton Shippers Association, the Cotton Foundation, the National Cotton Council of America, Cotton Council International and Cotton Incorporated.