Rip Curl commits to sustainable cotton

RIP CURL is making a long-term commitment to sustainability as the organisation announces its new partnership with the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI).

As members of the BCI, Rip Curl is joining the largest cotton sustainability program in the world, which is committed to improving cotton farming practises globally.

Rip Curl general manager of product Nichol Wylie said the partnership aligns with the company’s values prioritising “community and environment”.

“The Better Cotton Initiative thinks globally and acts locally, working with farmers and communities to help make global cotton production more sustainable,” he said.

“Becoming a member of BCI means that we can work within grassroots and local communities to support farmers in more sustainable farming practices.

“It’s a great fit for Rip Curl on our journey to offering a wider range of environmentally conscious materials within each product range.”

BCI is a non-profit governance group that provides farmers with an education regarding water use, soil health and natural habitats, as well as reducing the use of harmful chemicals and respecting workers’ rights and wellbeing.

Under the partnership, Rip Curl has committed to sourcing 65 per cent of its cotton as “more sustainable cotton” by 2025.

“Rip Curl is in the infancy of a long journey towards a more sustainable future,” Wylie said.

“As such, we wanted to set a realistic target that we are confident we will be able to achieve.

“Once we get there, we’re excited to then move forward and expand.”

Rip Curl manager for environmental social governance Shasta O’Loughlin said customers would see the visual impact of the partnership by the end of the year.

“This new partnership with BCI supports our enhanced focus on creating a long-term sustainable supply chain, supporting our increased targets to use more sustainable materials in our products,” she said.

“While our suppliers have begun sourcing BCI cotton for our products already, customers will see them start appearing in store by the end of the year with an increase through 2022.”