Thank you, Prakash Menakel Philip, PhD for representing CottonConnect at Textile Exchange 2025 in the panel discussion and summarising the most important takeaways from the session which looked at an extremely critical aspect of quantifying sustainability initiatives and their impact - data. It is a very useful deepdive as we look at fine-tuning the different aspects of impact data and LCAs to make them more relevant and insightful in our mission to reimagine the future for supply chains by helping brands source traceable, verified cotton. #TextileExchange2025 #PanelDiscussion
It was a pleasure to join the panel discussion - Impact Data Series: Cropping, along side Daniel Thylmann and Miguel Gomez-Escolar Viejo, moderated by Megan Doyle at the Textile Exchange Conference 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal on 14th October 2025. The conversation brought together diverse perspectives and one key theme that emerged was the need for context. With increasing due diligence requirements driven by emerging legislation, the demand for evidence-based and validated data is higher than ever. LCA comparisons must always be made on a like-for-like basis — between similar systems, geographies, timelines and methodologies. Without this discipline, comparisons risk becoming misleading rather than informative. LCAs are not just about numbers; they are about interpretation. The same data can tell very different stories depending on geography, farming systems, and social realities on the ground. Disaggregated supplier level data — drawn from farmerexperiences and regional practices — provides far more meaningful insights than global or national averages. Only by looking deeper into local contexts can we design credible improvement pathways. At CottonConnect, we are continuously working to make impact data more reflective of reality — connecting scientific assessments with practical field insights so that measurement truly supports transformation. Grateful to Textile Exchange for facilitating such thoughtful discussions that help move our industry towards greater accuracy, transparency, and accountability. (Photo Credits: Diana Tinoco, Hugo Macedo, Matilde Fieschi, Pedro Pina)
