Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), one of the world’s leading sustainable cotton initiatives, continues to transform cotton production across sub-Saharan Africa by improving livelihoods, protecting the environment, and promoting responsible farming practices. Established in 2005 by Dr. Michael Otto under the Aid by Trade Foundation, the initiative has grown into a major force for sustainable cotton, benefiting more than one million smallholder farmers.
Supporting Farmers Through Sustainable Cotton Production
CmiA works with over one million cotton farmers across Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Around 17% of participating farmers are women, reflecting the initiative’s commitment to inclusive agricultural development.
Read more: Cotton made in Africa Receives Top “Excellent” Rating from Germany’s Siegelklarheit Platform
Most CmiA farmers cultivate small plots averaging 1.5 hectares, while more than 11,000 workers in African cotton ginning facilities also benefit from the program. Beyond improving cotton quality, CmiA provides extensive training in sustainable farming techniques, helping farmers increase productivity while reducing environmental impact.
Environmental Protection and Responsible Processing
The initiative promotes environmentally responsible cotton cultivation by encouraging efficient resource use and modern farming methods. In addition to field-level training, CmiA certifies cotton ginneries—the first processing stage after harvesting—to ensure sustainability standards are maintained throughout the supply chain.
In 2017, approximately 496,000 metric tons of ginned cotton were produced under CmiA sustainability standards across 1.62 million hectares, representing nearly half of all smallholder cotton production in sub-Saharan Africa.
Record Growth for CmiA Cotton
Growing consumer demand for sustainably produced textiles has driven significant expansion of the initiative. In 2017, nearly 90 million textile products carried the Cotton made in Africa label—a 79% increase compared with the previous year.
The rapid growth demonstrates that sustainable cotton has become an increasingly important part of mainstream textile production rather than a niche market.
Market-Driven Sustainability Model
Unlike donation-based programs, Cotton made in Africa operates through a market-driven licensing model. Every textile carrying the CmiA label generates licensing revenue that is reinvested directly into farming communities and project areas, creating long-term economic development.
Today, 36 international retailers and brands source CmiA-certified cotton, including major names such as OTTO Group, Bonprix, REWE Group, Tchibo, Aldi Süd, Jack & Jones, and ASOS, alongside several smaller sustainable fashion brands.
Building a Sustainable Future for African Cotton
Since its launch, Cotton made in Africa has demonstrated that sustainability and commercial success can go hand in hand. By connecting global textile brands with African cotton producers, the initiative strengthens rural economies, supports environmental protection, and creates long-term opportunities for farming communities while supplying responsibly sourced cotton to the international textile industry.
 empowers over one million African cotton farmers through sustainable farming, environmental){kind=link}