InoCottonGrow (InoCottonGrow) 01.03.2017 – 29.02.2020

Partners from Pakistan and Germany are working together to identify technically, economically and institutionally feasible ways to increase the efficiency and productivity of water use along the entire cotton textile value chain in Pakistan. Our aim is to further develop the concept of water footprint as a management tool that supports Pakistani decision-makers in managing scarce water resources and helps German consumers make informed decisions when purchasing textiles.

Background and goals

• Further development of the water footprint into a meaningful regional management tool for national decision-makers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers
• Evaluation of strategies to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Analysing the current status of water efficiency, water quality and simultaneous water use in Pakistan and Turkey for the cotton production chain
• Supporting decision-makers with roadmaps, documentary videos and web-based footprint tools
• Creating a basis for a water footprint textile label to raise consumer awareness of sustainable consumption

Methodological approaches

We use an interdisciplinary combination of satellite remote sensing, field studies, hydrological and hydraulic modelling, company surveys and water quality monitoring. In addition, efficient technologies along the textile value chain are presented, including efficient cotton irrigation, dyes and process chemicals, textile machinery, appropriate wastewater treatment processes and analysers to monitor and reduce water pollution.

Expected results

• Evaluation of current practices in cotton production and processing
• Development of optimised techniques to reduce water consumption in cotton production
• Digital tool to visualise the water footprint for decision-makers and consumers