Better Cotton, a sustainability-driven cotton initiative, has joined the Brussels-based Policy Hub as an advisory group member to advance sustainable textile standards in EU policy discussions.
Formed in 2019, the coalition unites the efforts of over 700 influential organizations, including brands, retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and key stakeholders, to champion circularity within the apparel and footwear industries.
As a collaborative platform, the coalition drives technical discussions on forthcoming regulations and leverages its vast network to build unified industry positions. These shared stances aim to impact critical EU policies, including the Empowering Consumers and Green Claims Directives, the Omnibus proposal, and the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation.
Policy Hub co-directors Marina Prados Espínola and Antoine Demarche stated: “We are delighted to start a new chapter of collaboration with Better Cotton, whose broad expertise in agricultural practices and on-the-ground farm realities will strengthen our policy efforts at the European level.”
By joining the coalition, Better Cotton brings its expertise in agricultural practices at the farm level, enhancing the recognition of cotton’s role and the importance of standards in driving the textile industry toward sustainability and circularity.
With a membership of over 40 coalition participants, this initiative highlights its dedication to incorporating diverse perspectives across the textile supply chain. It aims to inject real-world, context-specific considerations into EU policy discussions while emphasizing cotton’s environmental and social sustainability benefits as a natural fiber.
In March 2025, Better Cotton raised concerns regarding proposed reforms by the European Commission designed to reduce bureaucratic complexity and simplify EU regulations under the Omnibus packages.
Key concerns center on recent amendments to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which have introduced significant changes to corporate due diligence requirements.
The revisions narrow the focus to direct suppliers, moving away from the previous comprehensive risk-based approach that aimed to uncover and address risks across the entire supply chain. This shift could limit the ability to mitigate harms beyond first-tier suppliers.
Moreover, the scope of stakeholder engagement has been restricted to so-called ‘relevant’ stakeholders directly tied to specific due diligence phases. This change risks sidelining broader groups, such as civil society organizations, whose expertise could be critical in preventing and managing adverse impacts.
As these directives are soon to be incorporated into national legislation by EU Member States, there will be a greater push for harmonization across the bloc. However, this standardization could limit individual Member States’ flexibility to adapt the directives to align with their specific legal systems and circumstances.
