Cotton

Improve cotton, Improve lives

Improve cotton, improve lives is ECOM Cotton’s vision to build a virtuous cycle that connects the team’s initiatives, innovations and improvements from the farm to the shelf.

Cotton is nature’s fiber and ECOM seeks to promote its survival. ECOM will do this by empowering and enabling everyone who grows, sources and uses cotton to make sure both it and the planet have the best chance for the future. We recognise the unique needs of everyone in the chain and meet them through initiatives that include certifications and traceability systems, thereby ensuring long-term sustainability.

Our Business

Following our establishment in 1849, we have a global presence around the world, sourcing cotton from all the major producing countries and distributing to the major importing markets, while managing risk and logistics elements associated with the cotton supply chain. We believe in meeting our suppliers and customers needs in the best way we can, sourcing all the different styles and cotton qualities available, and delivering the right quality of cotton to the right customers on time.

We have many strong and loyal clients that we deal with, and we expect to further expand our client base and market participation in the coming years. ECOM's mission connects the team’s initiatives, innovations and improvements from the farm to the shelf. We build solid relationships with reliable suppliers, agents and textile mills around the world, based on mutual reliability and trust, that result in doing healthy, repeat business and with whom we can leverage to build sustainable and traceable supply chains, end to end, from the producer to the final consumer.

With our experience, expertise and innovative mindset, ECOM is far more than just a merchant. We are a trusted partner. We’re here to make connections, find solutions and create prosperity for the people who work in, live with and love cotton.

Our History

Cotton at our roots

Starting in 1849 with Jose Esteve Thomas, Cotton is an integral part of the history of ECOM. Jose's son took over the business and travelled extensively to the cotton producing areas of the world, eventually incorporating Roosevelt & Esteve with offices in New York and Savannah in 1889.

As the supply of cotton on the Atlantic coast was more and more consumed by the local industry, part of the family would move to New Orleans and, in 1935, to Brazil. From New Orleans, the family would move again to Dallas and, in 1948, to Mexico. In 1959, the Brazilian operation ventured into coffee and would expand into a global business during the 1980s.

ECOM Cotton in figures

Years history

170+

Countries where we source cotton

13

Volume we handle, bales

2.5m+

Employees

178

Countries we sell to

36

Cotton trade offices

11

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List

Where we operate

Our cotton world

ECOM Cotton handles 2.7 million bales of raw cotton worldwide and has a local presence in almost all major cotton-producing markets, including the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, West Africa, China and India. We work in 13 origin countries and 36 sales destinations worldwide.

+61 2 9223 3631

Map

List

Where we operate

Our cotton world

+61 2 9223 3631

Our Products & Services

To meet the diverse needs of our farmers, mills and brands, ECOM Cotton sources and supplies all major categories of cotton

ECOM Cotton is able to provide most kinds of cotton due to our vast sourcing capabilities and regions in which we have a presence.

We also focus on specific certifications such as Better Cotton (BC), regenagri®, Responsible Brazilian Cotton program (ABR), US Cotton Trust Protocol (USCTP), my Best Management Practices (myBMP), Regenerative Organic (ROC), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Organic Content Standard (OCS) and Cotton made in Africa (CMiA), amongst others.

Our high quality is backed up by cotton’s international Classification Standards. We use the High Volume Instrument (HVI) classification system, which consists of measurements for fibre length, micronaire, strength, colour, trash, and length uniformity. Besides quality standards and classifications, our portfolio includes several certifications and programmes on sustainable cotton in diverse origins.

Upland

90% of the world’s cotton production is Gossypium hirsutum, or upland cotton. It’s native to Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Upland cotton is classified through measurements for fiber length, length uniformity, fiber strength, micronaire, colour grade, trash, and leaf grade performed by precise High Volume Instruments.

Long and extra long staple (LS and ELS)

Gossypium barbadense, long or extra long staple cotton, is soft yet strong and resists pilling, wrinkling or fading. Varieties include principally US Pima Egyptian Giza.

Sustainable cotton

Creating a sustainable future for cotton is not about finding a single, one-size-fits-all solution. Our sourcing includes certifications such as organic and regenerative farming that contemplates differentiated agricultural practices and environmental, social and governance practices including water management, traceability and educational projects. We carry cotton with diverse certifications such as Better Cotton (BC), Cotton made in Africa (CMiA), regenagri, Best Management Practices (myBMP), US Trust Protocol (USTP), Brazilian Responsible Cotton (ABR), Regenerative Organic (ROC), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Organic Content Standard (OCS) amongst others.

What’s New

USDA Grant Announcement

We could not be more proud to announce that the USDA has selected and signed the ECOM USA, LLC’s grant proposal, Climate-Smart Cotton through a Sustainable and Innovative Supply Chain Approach, as part of the USDA’s Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities.

As said by Darren Long, Deputy CEO of ECOM USA, "We are excited to lead a Climate-Smart Commodities Grant program along with our partners, and look forward to connecting U.S. farmers and ginners, textile mills and brands to deliver certified sustainable, traceable cotton with data that the market needs.

This is a tremendous opportunity for farmers to be rewarded for the work they're doing to create more climate friendly cotton, and for mills and brands to help drive and showcase the improvements being made to cotton production practices and the supply chain".

Our project partners include Quarterway Cotton Growers, Earthworm Foundation, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, Control Union USA, 5Loc Cotton, and more to be announced soon.

Read USDA Grant Award Announcement here

What’s New

regenagri® Certified Cotton

We’re very excited to be the first cotton trader to be certified regenagri®, an international regenerative agriculture programme. It is an initiative aimed at ensuring the health of land where cotton is grown, and providing wealth to those who inhabit it. In order to achieve this, we have worked with partners to be able to provide regenagri-certified bales.

regenagri® defines itself as a programme that “supports farms and organisations transitioning to holistic farming, increasing soil health, encouraging biodiversity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering CO2”. By supporting the programme, we are actively involved in securing the future of agriculture, its products, and their supply chains.

Read the full article

What’s New

Partnerships restoring the environment

At ECOM, we’re working with farmers, gins, brands, and other stakeholders to restore biodiversity in the soil, the crops and surrounding land.

We operate in Mexican cotton growing regions, such as Chihuahua, where we will focus our efforts for the short/medium term. Our activities focus on solutions to reduce pesticide use, water management, and soil health.

Find out more