Better Cotton Initiative

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is a global, membership-based standard and certification program that defines what it means to grow cotton more sustainably. Its Principles and Criteria set requirements across environmental, social, and economic dimensions — covering everything from water and soil management to decent work conditions for farming communities. Farmers who meet the standard receive hands-on capacity building and training, and their cotton is tracked through a chain of custody system from the farm to the gin.

BCI is designed to operate at mainstream scale. Rather than relying on niche certified volumes, it uses a mass balance model that allows brands, retailers, and manufacturers to source Better Cotton through existing supply chains — making it a practical option for companies with large sourcing footprints and public sustainability commitments. The program operates across more than 20 cotton-producing countries, making it one of the most geographically broad sustainable cotton standards available.

For businesses joining as members, BCI provides access to credibly sourced Better Cotton, the right to make sustainability claims under its Claims Framework, and use of the BCI Cotton Label. Members also gain access to BCI's impact data and reporting tools to support their own sustainability disclosures. For farmers and agricultural cooperatives, participation means access to training, improved practices, and connection to a global market that values more responsibly produced cotton. BCI is designed to complement, not replace, other standards such as Certified Organic and Fairtrade cotton.