Yagi & Co., Ltd announces that they have made and started operating a proprietary system for consistent traceability management, from field to yarn, via a proprietary management system that links the international certifications for the organic cotton produced in India that we handle.
Complexity of organic cotton certification
There are several international certifications and standards for organic cotton. This begins with Ginning, the process of separating the seed and cotton from the harvested cotton ball and cotton to ensure traceability for yarn, fabrics, and the final product. However, for processes prior to that stage, the certification standard for organic agricultural products is applied to cotton balls and the field.
Existence of these two different certifications makes it difficult to achieve consistent traceability management for organic cotton (products). In the past, there were cases of large-scale fraud that came to light related to organic cotton in India, the world’s largest producer country of organic cotton.
Traceability aimed for by Cotton iD
Yagi & Co. Ltd made and started operating a proprietary management system that links the two international certifications for the organic cotton produced in India that we handle. This system enables consistent traceability management from the cotton field to thread. Through this system, the company can achieve incredibly transparent traceability for 85% or more of the organic cotton that we handle, from cotton field to thread. It started distribution of products with the brand “Unito Organic” which covers yarn, textile & garment. It can provide certifications of this management to customers purchasing applicable organic cotton from Yagi.
Organic Cotton and Us
Yagi & Co. Ltd has been a GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) member since 2006 and one of Japan’s top companies in terms of the volume of internationally certified organic cotton handled. In particular, in regard to organic cotton from India, as board members of the PBP Cotton Foundation, it participates in activities to support the conversion to organic farming for cotton farmers in India, continue to provide school support for the children of farmers, and have worked to established sustainable frameworks for the production and sales of organic cotton.
