FROM FARM TO FABRIC:
introducing
regenerative organic certified® cotton
regenerative organic certified® cotton
In 2023, we proudly became the second apparel brand to introduce clothing made from Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton. We had a conversation with our Sustainability & Innovations Manager, Ellen Johnson and CEO Christopher Gergen from the Regenerative Organic Alliance, to explore the profound effects of choosing Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton on you, the community, and the planet.
Q & A Session
To start, can you tell us a little bit about your role as prAna’s Sustainability & Innovations Manager?
Ellen: As the Sustainability & Innovations Manager I support prAna in many of our sustainability efforts which include our product sustainability programs. Being with the brand for over 10 years I’ve worked on many projects but one of my favorites has been launching our Regenerative Organic Certified® cotton program.
Can you share about your role as Regenerative Organic Alliance’s CEO?
Christopher: As the CEO of the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), I have the privilege of working with our diverse and talented team and broader ROC community to determine how we can best accelerate the transition from conventional agriculture to regenerative organic growing practices. I come from a background of scaling high-impact social enterprises and moving our food system from one of industrial extraction to a regenerative system that heals our planet and improves our health could not be a more exciting or impactful opportunity.
Can you define Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton for us?
Christopher: Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) cotton comes from farms that are first certified organic, meeting USDA Organic rigorous requirements that include eliminating toxic and persistent chemicals. Building on that, these farms meet additional third-party verified standards to further advance soil health, protect animal welfare, and ensure fair treatment of farm workers. By combining the principles of both organic and regenerative agriculture, ROC™ sets the highest global standard for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness.
Why did prAna decide to start incorporating Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton?
Ellen: Bringing on the program was a no brainer to us! prAna has been committed to using more sustainable cotton fibers for over 20 years, since our first use of organic cotton in 2004, and we were excited to continue that commitment.
Being the second brand to bring Regenerative Organic Certified® apparel to the market is a proud achievement for us. But sustainability is a group project that requires industry wide collaboration, which is why we are loving love seeing more and more brands launching their own programs!
Can you break down the difference between Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton and Regenerative Cotton?
Christopher: The term “regenerative” is increasingly being used in the marketplace, but too often it’s used inconsistently, without clear, transparent, third-party verified standards, which leads to a lot of confusion. Here’s a way to break it down:
Ellen: As the Sustainability & Innovations Manager I support prAna in many of our sustainability efforts which include our product sustainability programs. Being with the brand for over 10 years I’ve worked on many projects but one of my favorites has been launching our Regenerative Organic Certified® cotton program.
Can you share about your role as Regenerative Organic Alliance’s CEO?
Christopher: As the CEO of the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), I have the privilege of working with our diverse and talented team and broader ROC community to determine how we can best accelerate the transition from conventional agriculture to regenerative organic growing practices. I come from a background of scaling high-impact social enterprises and moving our food system from one of industrial extraction to a regenerative system that heals our planet and improves our health could not be a more exciting or impactful opportunity.
Can you define Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton for us?
Christopher: Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) cotton comes from farms that are first certified organic, meeting USDA Organic rigorous requirements that include eliminating toxic and persistent chemicals. Building on that, these farms meet additional third-party verified standards to further advance soil health, protect animal welfare, and ensure fair treatment of farm workers. By combining the principles of both organic and regenerative agriculture, ROC™ sets the highest global standard for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness.
Why did prAna decide to start incorporating Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton?
Ellen: Bringing on the program was a no brainer to us! prAna has been committed to using more sustainable cotton fibers for over 20 years, since our first use of organic cotton in 2004, and we were excited to continue that commitment.
Being the second brand to bring Regenerative Organic Certified® apparel to the market is a proud achievement for us. But sustainability is a group project that requires industry wide collaboration, which is why we are loving love seeing more and more brands launching their own programs!
Can you break down the difference between Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton and Regenerative Cotton?
Christopher: The term “regenerative” is increasingly being used in the marketplace, but too often it’s used inconsistently, without clear, transparent, third-party verified standards, which leads to a lot of confusion. Here’s a way to break it down:
Regenerative
• No legal definition
• Usually indicates practices aimed at increasing soil health
• Focuses on sequestering carbon in soil
• Does not prohibit pesticides, herbicides, or GMOs
• Does not include social fairness standards
• No legal definition
• Usually indicates practices aimed at increasing soil health
• Focuses on sequestering carbon in soil
• Does not prohibit pesticides, herbicides, or GMOs
• Does not include social fairness standards
USDA Organic
• Prohibits most synthetic chemicals
• Prohibits GMOs
• Prohibits antibiotics
• Little enforcement of best soil health practices
• Limited rules for animal welfare
• No conditions for farmworker fairness
• Prohibits most synthetic chemicals
• Prohibits GMOs
• Prohibits antibiotics
• Little enforcement of best soil health practices
• Limited rules for animal welfare
• No conditions for farmworker fairness
Regenerative Organic Certified®
• Baseline requirement of USDA Organic
• Strict requirements for soil health practices
• Pasture-based animal welfare benchmarks
• Social fairness criteria for farmers and workers
• Buyer criteria for long-term commitments
• Baseline requirement of USDA Organic
• Strict requirements for soil health practices
• Pasture-based animal welfare benchmarks
• Social fairness criteria for farmers and workers
• Buyer criteria for long-term commitments
To drive real, meaningful change, farming practices must ultimately be both regenerative and organic.
One more thing, what’s your favorite product made with Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton?
Ellen: I’m obsessed with the Everyday Crop Tee! Not only is it super comfy and cute, I’m so proud to be able to tell a heartwarming story when I get complimented on it! Instead of bragging about how cheap it is or that it has pockets, I get to say, “This shirt was made with Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton”.
One more thing, what’s your favorite product made with Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton?
Ellen: I’m obsessed with the Everyday Crop Tee! Not only is it super comfy and cute, I’m so proud to be able to tell a heartwarming story when I get complimented on it! Instead of bragging about how cheap it is or that it has pockets, I get to say, “This shirt was made with Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton”.
Q & A Session
To start, can you tell us a little bit about your role as prAna’s Sustainability & Innovations Manager?
Ellen: As the Sustainability & Innovations Manager I support prAna in many of our sustainability efforts which include our product sustainability programs. Being with the brand for over 10 years I’ve worked on many projects but one of my favorites has been launching our Regenerative Organic Certified® cotton program.
Can you share about your role as Regenerative Organic Alliance’s CEO?
Christopher: As the CEO of the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), I have the privilege of working with our diverse and talented team and broader ROC community to determine how we can best accelerate the transition from conventional agriculture to regenerative organic growing practices. I come from a background of scaling high-impact social enterprises and moving our food system from one of industrial extraction to a regenerative system that heals our planet and improves our health could not be a more exciting or impactful opportunity.
Can you define Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton for us?
Christopher: Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) cotton comes from farms that are first certified organic, meeting USDA Organic rigorous requirements that include eliminating toxic and persistent chemicals. Building on that, these farms meet additional third-party verified standards to further advance soil health, protect animal welfare, and ensure fair treatment of farm workers. By combining the principles of both organic and regenerative agriculture, ROC™ sets the highest global standard for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness.
Why did prAna decide to start incorporating Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton?
Ellen: Bringing on the program was a no brainer to us! prAna has been committed to using more sustainable cotton fibers for over 20 years, since our first use of organic cotton in 2004, and we were excited to continue that commitment.
Being the second brand to bring Regenerative Organic Certified® apparel to the market is a proud achievement for us. But sustainability is a group project that requires industry wide collaboration, which is why we are loving seeing more and more brands launching their own programs!
Can you break down the difference between Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton and Regenerative Cotton?
Christopher: The term “regenerative” is increasingly being used in the marketplace, but too often it’s used inconsistently, without clear, transparent, third-party verified standards, which leads to a lot of confusion. Here’s a way to break it down:
Regenerative
• No legal definition
• Usually indicates practices aimed at increasing soil health
• Focuses on sequestering carbon in soil
• Does not prohibit pesticides, herbicides, or GMOs
• Does not include social fairness standards
USDA Organic
• Prohibits most synthetic chemicals
• Prohibits GMOs
• Prohibits antibiotics
• Little enforcement of best soil health practices
• Limited rules for animal welfare
• No conditions for farmworker fairness
Regenerative Organic Certified®
• Baseline requirement of USDA Organic
• Strict requirements for soil health practices
• Pasture-based animal welfare benchmarks
• Social fairness criteria for farmers and workers
• Buyer criteria for long-term commitments
To drive real, meaningful change, farming practices must ultimately be both regenerative and organic.
One more thing, what’s your favorite product made with Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton?
Ellen: I’m obsessed with the Everyday Crop Tee! Not only is it super comfy and cute, I’m so proud to be able to tell a heartwarming story when I get complimented on it! Instead of bragging about how cheap it is or that it has pockets, I get to say, “This shirt was made with Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton”.
Ellen: As the Sustainability & Innovations Manager I support prAna in many of our sustainability efforts which include our product sustainability programs. Being with the brand for over 10 years I’ve worked on many projects but one of my favorites has been launching our Regenerative Organic Certified® cotton program.
Can you share about your role as Regenerative Organic Alliance’s CEO?
Christopher: As the CEO of the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), I have the privilege of working with our diverse and talented team and broader ROC community to determine how we can best accelerate the transition from conventional agriculture to regenerative organic growing practices. I come from a background of scaling high-impact social enterprises and moving our food system from one of industrial extraction to a regenerative system that heals our planet and improves our health could not be a more exciting or impactful opportunity.
Can you define Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton for us?
Christopher: Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) cotton comes from farms that are first certified organic, meeting USDA Organic rigorous requirements that include eliminating toxic and persistent chemicals. Building on that, these farms meet additional third-party verified standards to further advance soil health, protect animal welfare, and ensure fair treatment of farm workers. By combining the principles of both organic and regenerative agriculture, ROC™ sets the highest global standard for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness.
Why did prAna decide to start incorporating Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton?
Ellen: Bringing on the program was a no brainer to us! prAna has been committed to using more sustainable cotton fibers for over 20 years, since our first use of organic cotton in 2004, and we were excited to continue that commitment.
Being the second brand to bring Regenerative Organic Certified® apparel to the market is a proud achievement for us. But sustainability is a group project that requires industry wide collaboration, which is why we are loving seeing more and more brands launching their own programs!
Can you break down the difference between Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton and Regenerative Cotton?
Christopher: The term “regenerative” is increasingly being used in the marketplace, but too often it’s used inconsistently, without clear, transparent, third-party verified standards, which leads to a lot of confusion. Here’s a way to break it down:
Regenerative
• No legal definition
• Usually indicates practices aimed at increasing soil health
• Focuses on sequestering carbon in soil
• Does not prohibit pesticides, herbicides, or GMOs
• Does not include social fairness standards
USDA Organic
• Prohibits most synthetic chemicals
• Prohibits GMOs
• Prohibits antibiotics
• Little enforcement of best soil health practices
• Limited rules for animal welfare
• No conditions for farmworker fairness
Regenerative Organic Certified®
• Baseline requirement of USDA Organic
• Strict requirements for soil health practices
• Pasture-based animal welfare benchmarks
• Social fairness criteria for farmers and workers
• Buyer criteria for long-term commitments
To drive real, meaningful change, farming practices must ultimately be both regenerative and organic.
One more thing, what’s your favorite product made with Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton?
Ellen: I’m obsessed with the Everyday Crop Tee! Not only is it super comfy and cute, I’m so proud to be able to tell a heartwarming story when I get complimented on it! Instead of bragging about how cheap it is or that it has pockets, I get to say, “This shirt was made with Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton”.
Explore more Regenerative Organic Certified® Cotton here:
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