Textiles & Fibers

From sourcing certified cotton to promoting agricultural best practice within and beyond our value chain, we work proactively toward increasingly sustainable operations and supply chains, both as LDC and in collaboration with partner organizations such as the Better Cotton Initiative.

LDC has also begun using  a ‘diagnostic’ system that applies DNA to determine the purity and quality of some of its cotton.

Developed by Applied DNA Sciences, the technology uses tiny genetic markers that are sprayed on the cotton at the gin just before packaging. The DNA markers bind to the plant’s fibers and act as a microscopic barcode that can be tracked throughout the supply chain.

The labels PimaCott and Homegrown, which are used to brand the cotton that is traced through DNA, are useful for manufacturers, traders and retailers. And if consumers see these labels on a product, they have an absolute guarantee that the cotton used in its manufacture was responsibly sourced and produced.