Sustainability for better future

We as First Steps Baby Wear Private Limited are progressing towards sustainable future, to achieve this we have come up with an initiative called “CARE”. Through “CARE” we are implementing a strategy to achieve sustainability from both ends, be it manufacturing of products through our partners or while delivering sustainable products to our consumers. We have started to make changes in our process, product offering and service level to protect our mother earth for our future generation.

We understand that sustainability is not only offered through the end product but through processes which Brand initiates across different touch points to create the end product or the entire shopping journey for our end consumer.

We have introduced E billing and recyclable carry bags at all our outlets under “CARE” initiative, this helps in reducing paper waste and in turn saving trees which will leave a long lasting impact on the environment we live in. This is one of our mini step towards a larger goal of becoming fully sustainable brand.

To have larger and positive impact on environment we are moving towards responsibly grown cotton which is better for planet in various ways.

We at First Steps Baby Wear Private Limited are just not offering safety clothing for your babies but we have started moving towards using responsibly grown cotton to develop our range of garments that we offer to you. By opting for more sustainable cotton we ensure to keep our mother earth happy along with mini ones.

To achieve our goal, we will work with our own-brand suppliers to source more sustainable cotton, through programmes like the “Better Cotton”. Better Cotton’s mission is to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment.

Through its implementing partners, Better Cotton trains farmers to use water efficiently, care for soil health and natural habitats, reduce use of the most harmful chemicals and respect workers’ rights and wellbeing.

We First Steps Baby Wear Private Limited are committed to improving cotton farming practices globally with the Better Cotton. We First Steps Baby Wear Private Limited are committed to sourcing 50% of our cotton as Better Cotton by 2025.

Better Cotton is sourced via a chain of custody model called mass balance. This means that Better Cotton is not physically traceable to end products, however, Better Cotton Farmers benefit from the demand for Better Cotton in equivalent volumes to those we ‘source.’

We commit to offer international design, best quality and safe products for minis and to mother earth by sourcing right fabric responsibly.

Why are we planning to source cotton through Better Cotton?

The Better Cotton exists to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the cotton sector’s future. Better cotton aims to transform cotton production worldwide by developing Better Cotton as a sustainable mainstream commodity.

To achieve this mission, Better cotton owns and stewards the Better Cotton Standard System – the system which encompasses a diverse range of activities and stakeholders from cotton production, through the cotton supply chain to consumer-facing retailers and brands. The programme is aimed at achieving measurable change for the environment, farming communities and the economies of cotton-producing areas.

The four specific aims of Better cotton are:

• To reduce the environmental impact of cotton production;
• To improve livelihoods and economic development in cotton producing areas;
• To improve commitment to and flow of Better Cotton throughout the supply chain; and
• To ensure the credibility and organisational sustainability of the Better Cotton Initiative.

How Better Cotton Retailer and Brand (RB) Members Are Creating Change

Better Cotton Members believe that a systemic approach to change in cotton production is required. However, the approach must be compatible with business, being both pragmatic and cost effective.

The Better Cotton Standard System was created by multi-stakeholders and is supported by the Better Cotton Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF).

Better Cotton RBs contribute to the Better Cotton GIF through volume-based fees (VBF) generated by verified sourcing of cotton containing products “as Better Cotton.” Public and private partners of the Better Cotton GIF, match-fund the VBF of Better Cotton RBs to generate the total funds available for field level training and capacity building including annual farmer education programmes for production of Better Cotton.

Where is Better Cotton grown?

Better Cotton is grown across the globe. In the 2018-2019 cotton season, 2.1 million licensed Better Cotton Farmers across 23 countries produced 5.6 million tonnes of Better Cotton lint – that equates to 22% of global cotton production.

How Does Better Cotton Reach Millions of Farmers?

Better Cotton works with on-the-ground Implementing Partners with local knowledge and expertise, and a strong understanding of farmers’ challenges. Partners can be civil society organisations, NGOs, private sector entities, government agencies or foundations. They help cotton farmers to develop the skills and knowledge to meet and continuously improve their performance against the Better Cotton Principles and Criteria, improve the sustainability of their farms and gain a Better Cotton license. Once licensed, farmers are able to sell their cotton as Better Cotton, increasing the supply of more sustainable cotton available on the global market, and linking farmers with a growing demand for more sustainable raw materials.

Better Cotton invests in strengthening its partners’ ability to deliver effective training, in order to provide the best possible support to farmers and help maximise positive change in the field. Together, we are steadily raising the quality of farmer training, helping to ensure consistency and quality across programme countries. In the 2018-19 cotton season, Better Cotton worked with 76 on-the-ground partners. Source : https://bettercotton.org/