Better Cotton has rolled out a new certified label that enables retailers and brands to verify and communicate both the origin and the percentage of BCI Cotton in their products. The label, launched to mark World Cotton Day, embodies transparency and accountability amid increasing scrutiny over sustainability claims and shifting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) priorities.
- The label guarantees that products containing at least thirty per cent physical Better Cotton can display certification credentials.
- It applies only to members certified under the organisation’s Chain of Custody and field-level standards.
- The introduction coincides with a broader rebranding and publication of Better Cotton’s 2024–25 Annual Report highlighting field impacts.
- The organisation said its traceability solution tracks cotton back to its country of origin through third-party certification under its traceability programme.
THE ROLLOUT: The launch of Better Cotton’s new product label represents a major milestone in global cotton certification and traceability. Introduced on World Cotton Day yesterday, it reinforces transparency in sourcing and reflects the organisation’s updated identity and emphasis on accountability.
- The label may be used only by certified retailer and brand members adhering to Better Cotton’s standards.
- The rebranding reinforces the distinction between the organisation, now formally called the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), and its commodity, now officially termed BCI Cotton.
- The organisation expects certified products bearing the label to reach retail outlets gradually over the coming months.
- The label will be introduced gradually in retail outlets over the coming months, enabling clearer communication of sustainability claims to consumers.
FIELD RESULTS: The accompanying annual report underscores field-level achievements across Better Cotton’s global network. Covering the 2023–24 season, it documents measurable social, economic, and environmental improvements while reporting on the conclusion of the Cotton Made in Africa (CMiA) agreement and production increases in Brazil.
- BCI Cotton accounted for twenty-three per cent of global cotton output, rising from twenty-two per cent in the previous year. Around 4 million licensed farmers produced 5.6 million metric tonnes of cotton across fifteen countries during the season.
- Training reached more than 1.63 million cotton farmers, enhancing agronomic capacity and sustainability performance worldwide.
- Synthetic nitrogen use per kilogram of cotton was reduced across 2.15 million hectares of land, supporting about 700,000 farmers in adopting more efficient nutrient management practices.
- The organisation trained over 575,000 female farmers or workers through targeted capacity-strengthening activities aimed at promoting gender inclusion.
- Highly Hazardous Pesticide (HHP) use was eliminated among 81 per cent of licensed farmers, while the volume of synthetic pesticide applied per hectare was reduced for more than 788,000 farmers.
- Income improvement was recorded for 650,000 farmers as part of wider environmental and social outcomes.
USAGE & ACCESS: The label is optional for certified retailer and brand members that meet required certification standards. It can only be used on products containing a minimum of 30 per cent Physical BCI Cotton. The remaining 70 per cent of the product must not contain any other cotton source, only other materials. The label reflects certification of farms, suppliers, retailers, and brands under Better Cotton’s standards.
- Physical BCI Cotton refers to cotton traced back to its country of origin using the organisation’s traceability solution.
WHAT THEY SAID:
These results represent real change in cotton farming communities around the world. Both our new label and annual report are more than updates, they are evidence of our steadfast determination to catalyse and scale sustainable practices in cotton production. We are proud of our progress but also recognise there is much more to do. Time is of the essence, and with our multistakeholder membership and network of field-level partners, I’m confident we will rise to the challenge.
— Nick Weatherill
Chief Executive Officer
Better Cotton Initiative
