As of January 2026, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has successfully certified over 3,000 actors within the supply chain. This accomplishment follows the organization’s transition to a certification scheme in February 2025.
Every participant sourcing Physical BCI Cotton has now attained this certification. At the farm level, more than 30% of farms and producer units supplying BCI Cotton have undergone assessments with favorable audit outcomes.
BCI engaged with more than 50 certification bodies to conduct audits and provide the necessary certifications during this time. A BCI certificate is awarded when a farm or organization meets all relevant standards, enabling them to produce and trade BCI Cotton effectively.
Organizations that receive certification from a fully compliant supply chain may utilize the new BCI Cotton Label, which signifies that their products contain over 30% Physical BCI Cotton.
Tom Owen, head of BCI certification, commented: “The level of engagement we have seen across agricultural and textile supply chains in our first year as a certification scheme reflects a growing recognition of certification’s importance within these sectors. The continued rollout of this work is integral to improving supply chain sustainability and transparency on a global scale.”
BCI has also been recognized for ISO 17065 compliance by several organizations, including the International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS). This partnership allows IOAS to evaluate and accredit all certification bodies that operate within the BCI framework.
Lauren Carlyle, executive director of IOAS, stated: “We are pleased to launch BCI accreditation at IOAS, not just for sustainable agriculture, but for safeguarding the rights of cotton farmers and workers around the world.”
Several international organizations have successfully acquired certification under the Better Cotton Initiative, including Australian retailer Big W and the U.S. cotton marketing cooperative Staplcotn.
Shane Stephens, vice president of cotton services and warehousing at Staplcotn, remarked: “We believe BCI Certification will serve to satisfy many of the modern marketplace demands. It can meet those increasing requirements associated with obtaining assurance and comfort in purchasing decisions.”
Big W’s sustainability delivery lead, Andrew Whale, added: “When a customer purchases a product from our business, they are walking away with the confidence that we’re doing the right thing and that we are working towards better outcomes, not just for Australian communities, but for communities in our supply chain all over the world.”
