- Home
- News Stories
- Revamped sustainability data framework
Revamped sustainability data framework
The global sustainability reporting landscape is constantly evolving, with multiple competing standards and methods in play.
To improve the efficiency and accuracy of sustainability management, the Australian cotton industry is revamping its PLANET. PEOPLE. PADDOCK. sustainability data framework. The aim is to align more closely with the reporting standards most relevant to the customers of Australian food and fibre, both now and in the future.
The new sustainability data framework is organised into indicators for extent, condition, dependency, impact, and risk and opportunity. This aligns with the language used by many emerging reporting standards.
| Summary explanation | Summary example – soil | |
| Extent | The quantity of an asset. | Hectares used to grow cotton. |
| Condition | The quality of an asset. | Soil organic carbon, salinity, acidity. |
| Dependency | The functions provided by that asset that we rely on. | Growing cotton, water infiltration, nutrient cycling. |
| Impact | Farmer, social or environmental impacts on the asset. | Farm practices or natural events that impact food and shelter for soil. |
| Risk | Short (< two years), medium (two-five years), long (> five years). | Practices that result in increased impact from flood or drought. |
Benefits for the Industry
The revamped framework offers several key benefits for the Australian cotton industry, including:
- Improved decision-making: The new framework provides better insights into the natural, human, and economic capital the industry and individual farms rely on. This will help industry stakeholders make more informed decisions about how to manage these vital assets.
- Simplified access for customers: As global sustainability reporting standards become more complex, businesses are facing difficulties sourcing the data they need from extensive global supply chains. Cotton customers are currently trying to gather sustainability data from thousands of farms or relying on third parties, often at great expense and with questionable accuracy. The new framework will provide customers with a single source of data for the entire Australian cotton industry, making it easier and more cost-effective for them to fulfil their sustainability reporting requirements. Making it easier for customers to buy Australian cotton.
- Supporting sustainability claims: The same data can be used to demonstrate the value of natural and social capital that farms depend on, as well as to support claims of “regenerative” practices. This will help build a clearer and more consistent narrative around the sustainability of Australian cotton.
What does this mean for cotton growers?
No additional work is required from cotton growers. This project focuses on sustainability measurement and reporting for the entire industry, so individual growers won’t need to submit additional data or invest more time.
The initiative will begin by using existing data sources, such as grower surveys and government data, which are already part of the industry’s sustainability reporting. By 2028, the goal is to collect high-quality data from every cotton-growing field via the CRDC data platform. As the data progresses from "information grade" to "investment grade," stakeholders may offer payments for this valuable data.
This means growers can continue their focus on running sustainable operations. Their ongoing efforts will support the industry’s sustainability performance, strengthening farm resilience and contributing to the long-term sustainability of the sector.
How does this work fit in with all the other agricultural sustainability frameworks?
This project is being developed as a proof-of-concept for other agricultural sustainability frameworks. It has received funding from the Australian Government’s National Agriculture Traceability Grants Program to help with this.
Progress and outcomes from this project are regularly shared with other Australian agricultural sustainability frameworks and agribusinesses, so others can learn from and contribute to our work.
