History

2008
  • kurkku and Itochu together launched the Pre Organic Cotton program.
  • In partnership with Raj Ecofarm, we started POC in Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh.
2011
  • In partnership with textile company Deesan, POC expanded to the Dhule district of Maharashtra.
  • Awarded “Good Design Sustainable Award (Minister's Prize, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)” a recognition given by the Japanese government to initiatives that contribute to promoting a sustainable society through good business conducts.
2012
  • Joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA). BCtA is a global initiative hosted at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which promotes businesses aimed at achieving both commercial success and sustainable development. ITOCHU and kurkku have pledged the BCtA to scale up the POC program.
2014
  • Selected as finalist in Nikkei Social Initiative Award 2014. Nikkei Social Initiative Award is run by the largest business newspaper company Nikkei, which awards businesses in Japan that address social challenges and contribute to creating a sustainable society.
  • Total number of brands and retailers engaged in the POC initiative reached 47, and growing.
2015〜
  • We continue to strive to promote cotton-in-transition (Pre Organic Cotton) in the apparel sector and help improve the livelihoods of small scale farmers in India and at the same time support successful organic cotton businesses for retailers and brands.
  • In order to further scale our initiative, we are expanding our business beyond Asia to Europe and the US.