• New Co-Chairs: Bill Ballenden (Louis Dreyfus) and Tamar Hoek (Solidaridad) bring diverse expertise to Better Cotton’s leadership.
• Strategic Additions: New members from Marks & Spencer, J.Crew, Nishat Chunian, and FONPA reinforce the Council’s global sustainability efforts.
• Vision for the Future: The Council’s focus remains on advancing cotton sustainability, traceability, and impact from farm to fabric.

The Better Cotton Council has appointed new leadership, with Bill Ballenden, Head of Sustainability and Innovation at Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) Cotton, and Tamar Hoek, Senior Policy Director for Sustainable Fashion at Solidaridad, stepping in as co-chairs. Their combined experience in sustainability and policy will be pivotal in steering the Council towards its mission of enhancing cotton sustainability worldwide.

In a joint statement, Ballenden and Hoek emphasized, “We are delighted to be working together as a team in order to support Better Cotton and work with the Better Cotton Council, as sustainability and traceability in the cotton value chain become increasingly important.“

Joining the Council alongside Ballenden are new members from industry giants like Marks & Spencer and J.Crew, as well as key players like Nishat Chunian and Mozambique’s FONPA. These additions reflect a broadening of expertise, ensuring that the Council’s strategic decisions are informed by diverse perspectives across the cotton value chain.

Doug Forster, Chief Sourcing Officer at J.Crew Group, highlighted the importance of this initiative: “At J.Crew Group, our sourcing of Better Cotton is key to our goal to have 100% of our cotton sourced sustainably by 2025. Cotton is our largest volume material, representing nearly 70% of our fiber footprint.“

Similarly, Elodie Gilart, Senior Sustainability Manager at Marks & Spencer, pointed out the long-standing partnership with Better Cotton, stating, “Cotton is the main material in our portfolio. Better Cotton has therefore been a key partner for us since we joined as a pioneer member back in 2009.“

Nadia Bilal, Managing Director of Spinning at Nishat Chunian, shared her vision: “In my new role as a council member, I look forward to engaging with all stakeholders for capacity building in upstream supply chains to make them more robust and transparent.“

Vicente Sando, Executive Coordinator at FONPA, underscored the importance of inclusive practices: “FONPA, as an organization representing mainly small farmers, will contribute towards an inclusive, transparent, collaborative, and sustainable value chain that supports decent work for cotton farmers.“

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The Council also announced the re-election of Rajan Bhopal from PAN UK and Shahid Zia from the Lok Sanjh Foundation, ensuring continuity in its efforts to support cotton communities and the environment.

As Better Cotton continues to grow, these appointments underscore the Council’s commitment to shaping a sustainable future for the cotton industry. “Their experience, insights, and perspectives will be invaluable as the Council continues to evolve to best serve Better Cotton, its affiliated farmers, and its diverse network of members and partners,” said Alan McClay, CEO at Better Cotton.