Standards

Cotton's farm-level production standard has been strengthened with a sharper regenerative agriculture focus, following BCI's release of Principles and Criteria v.3.2. The updated standard introduces targeted improvements to selected indicators, enhances auditability across diverse growing contexts, and advances BCI's broader ambition to operate as a fully regenerative standards system.

The Global Organic Textile Standard has released Version 8.0, expanding environmental, governance and product safety requirements across certified organic textile supply chains. The revision strengthens rules on chemicals, emissions and waste while introducing circularity provisions, microfibre monitoring and enhanced due diligence obligations designed to align certification practices with evolving regulatory and sustainability expectations.

The Better Cotton Initiative has introduced a traceable product label, launched on World Cotton Day, aimed at helping retailers and brands communicate verified sustainability claims. The label coincides with a refreshed identity and annual report that underscores measurable progress in farmer incomes, pesticide reduction, and women’s empowerment across global cotton-producing communities.

The Global Reporting Initiative has opened a global consultation period for a new sustainability reporting standard targeting the textiles and apparel sector. The proposed framework aims to address transparency gaps in complex supply chains whilst providing consistent metrics for environmental, social, and economic impacts affecting millions of workers worldwide.

The Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme has introduced a comprehensive partner programme designed to strengthen supply chain engagement across Australia's certified wool industry. The initiative offers exclusive certification access, promotional recognition, and business benefits to stakeholders committed to responsible wool production standards.

India has extended the implementation timeline for its Cotton Bales Quality Control Order after facing sustained opposition from the ginning industry. The decision comes as industry bodies argued that meeting Bureau of Indian Standards requirements would necessitate substantial investments in modern equipment that many mills currently lack.

Better Cotton has announced a bold pivot: it is embedding regenerative agriculture as a core part of its standard from 2025. The move is aimed at driving tangible improvements in soil health, biodiversity, and farmer livelihoods across cotton-producing regions.

A new study from the University of Leeds highlights the regulatory gaps undermining eco-credential standards in the UK textile and fashion industry. It calls for stronger alignment with circular economy principles, enhanced consumer-focused policies, and better reporting systems to improve sustainability across the entire product lifecycle in the post-Brexit era.

To make the next textile revolution happen, we need a major shift of mindset – to value a product, appreciate the stages and participants it has taken to manufacture each item, and going back to having less but of better long-lasting quality. While quality is hard to quantify, we can measure and test durability and many other aspects of textiles to ensure they last longer.

The Oeko-Tex Association has updated its various applicable test criteria, limit values and requirements for its range of certifications and labels for the textile and leather industry.