Evaluating and comparing the environmental impact of Fairtrade cotton in India 2026
Building on a previous study, this study focuses on environmental indicators, including GHG emissions, water productivity, water footprint, and residue management practices, as well as key economic indicators, such as yield, price, costs, and profitability. Findings include that GHG emissions are lowest in Fairtrade organic certified farms. Fairtrade organic certified farmers show the lowest emission intensity, with emissions of about 0.76 kg CO₂e per kilogram of seed cotton, compared with 0.97 kg CO₂e/kg among non-Fairtrade organic certified farmers and 1.1 kg CO₂e/kg among conventional farmers. Water productivity values remain broadly similar across all groups, although Fairtrade organic certified farmers show slightly better performance, driven by stable yields and more efficient irrigation practices. A geospatial assessment of all 516 farms indicates that none had forest cover in the year 2000, and no deforestation was detected within the mapped farm boundaries during 2001–2023, within the limits of the dataset and resolution.