The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is the most extensive cotton sustainability programme in the world. We are indeed a joint effort – encompassing organisations from farms to fashion and textile brands, and civil society organisations – driving the cotton sector towards sustainability. In the 2017-18 cotton season, our on-the-ground partners and we provided training on more sustainable agricultural practices to 2.2 million farmers in 21 countries – of those farmers, two million gained a license to sell their cotton as Better Cotton.

Supporting farmers is at the heart of our work and is the reason for BCI’s existence. Cotton is a renewable resource, but its production is vulnerable to poor environmental management and working conditions. As stewards of the Better Cotton Standard System, our focus is on providing training and learning opportunities for farmers to adopt more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable production practices.

BCI manages the farm-level implementation of the Better Cotton Standard, a holistic approach to more sustainable cotton production. Licensed BCI Farmers produce cotton in a way that cares for the environment, minimising the adverse effects of fertilisers and pesticides, and caring for water, soil health and natural habitats. This is what we refer to as ‘Better Cotton’. BCI Farmers also commit to decent work principles – conditions that support workers’ safety and wellbeing. The Better Cotton Standard does not apply to the cotton supply chain.

At the end of 2019, BCI had more than 1,800 members spanning the cotton supply chain – 168 retailers and brands, 1,585 suppliers and manufacturers, 30 producer organisations, 42 civil society members, and 17 associate members. 

Unfortunately, child labour remains a challenge in some countries, particularly when families are struggling to make ends meet. The welfare of children and workers is always of paramount importance – forced, and child labour on cotton farms is unacceptable to BCI. If either is discovered where Better Cotton is produced, it is considered an incidence of non-compliance with BCI’s standard and is dealt with immediately. We support farmers by helping them to understand and respect national legal requirements, as well as the fundamental, interrelated International Labour Organisation conventions on recognising the minimum age for young workers (C138) and avoiding the ‘worst forms of child labour’ (C182). BCI does not operate in countries where the government orchestrates forced labour.

BCI has adopted a position of being ‘technology neutral’ concerning GM cotton, and will neither encourage farmers to grow it nor seek to restrict their access to it. We aim to be a mainstream initiative and target improvements across a range of important issues associated with cotton farming on a large scale. Today, nearly three-quarters of the world’s cotton is grown with GM seeds. Therefore, if it is legally available in the country of use and there is an overall support package in place for farmers–which includes training and access to a range of farming options–BCI allows the use of GM cotton. It would be not easy to achieve our objective of making Better Cotton a mainstream sustainable commodity if millions of farmers were automatically excluded from our training and support.

Yes. BCI welcomes the use, adoption or adaptation of its standard system in cases where it can be used to drive the adoption of more sustainable cotton farming practices. BCI conducts a Public Standard Review Process at least every five years, which also enables third-parties to contribute towards its further development.

BCI is a member of ISEAL Alliance, the global membership association for sustainability standards. Only independently assessed, credible, and robust criteria are granted membership. BCI and its fellow ISEAL members embrace the ISEAL Credibility Principles and comply with ISEAL’s internationally recognised Codes of Good Practice.

Yes. BCI welcomes the use, adoption or adaptation of its standard system in cases where it can be used to drive the adoption of more sustainable cotton farming practices. BCI conducts a Public Standard Review Process at least every five years, which also enables third-parties to contribute towards its further development.