ABOUT US
Our Story: A New Dawn in Traceable Cotton Harvesting
In March 2022, the UN ILO declared the 2021 cotton harvest in Uzbekistan free from child and forced labor, sparking optimism for Uzbekistan’s reintegration into the global cotton and textile market. However, when tangible progress stalled, American entrepreneur Dan Patterson, who had significant experience in modern agriculture both in the U.S. and in Uzbekistan, stepped in. Patterson recognized the lingering doubts among European and American fashion brands about recurring human rights violations, particularly the exploitation of women and children during the cotton harvest.
Innovating Cotton Production Traceability
Determined to change the narrative, Patterson leveraged his expertise to pioneer the first digitally verifiable, machine-harvested cotton. Collaborating with engineering teams in the U.S., he developed a new technology that could be integrated into John Deere machinery to capture live harvest data, thereby providing geospatial proof of the cotton’s origins.
This groundbreaking technology was beta-tested across cotton fields in Uzbekistan, Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia (USA), and Australia throughout 2022 and 2023.
The Birth of Digital Track and Trace (DATT)
The success of these trials led to the creation of the Digital Track and Trace (DATT) Solution, an integrated cotton technology platform that combines sophisticated hardware and software to offer comprehensive traceability solutions.
DATT not only assures that the origins of cotton are ethically sourced and free from human rights violations but also allows brands to verify if their cotton has been blended with other sources post-harvest. Our commitment is to supply the textile industry with digitally verified, machine-harvested cotton, ensuring transparency from the field to fashion.
Securing the Cotton Supply Chain
Introducing Cotton Production Traceability: Ethically Sourced Cotton Harvesting digitally verifies that the cotton's supply chain history is free from human rights violations. Through patented technology, we confirm the specific origins of each cotton crop, tracked meticulously from the cotton pickers to the ginning and textile mills, and finally to the finished product.
This level of precision helps brands secure their supply chains and enables consumers to trust the ethical integrity of cotton products.
Our Vision for the Future of Traceable Cotton
At Conflict-Free Cotton, our mission extends beyond just transforming the industry; we aim to transform lives. By forging strong partnerships with governments, human rights organizations, cotton suppliers, ginners, textile mills, and brands, we are committed to creating a cotton supply chain that embodies the highest ethical standards from field to fashion.
We believe in a world where children are learning and growing, free from the burdens of forced labor. Through our commitment to transparency and accountability at every step—from ginning to spinning, from weaving to finishing—we are not just producing cotton; we are cultivating hope and opportunity.
Join us in weaving a future where cotton truly benefits everyone it touches. Every thread spun in our supply chain is a testament to dignity and fairness, contributing to a global textile industry that respects human rights and champions the well-being of every community it reaches. Together, we can ensure that the legacy of cotton is as pure as the fabric it creates, fostering environments where children can flourish in safety and freedom.
