STANDARDSMAP.

ORG

Better Cotton Initiative - BCI

Head Office:
Better Cotton Initiative
Rue des Asters 22
1202 Geneva
Switzerland
+(41) 229391254
office@bettercotton.org
www.bettercotton.org

FACTS & FIGURES

Local Offices in:

Burkina Faso, Brazil,
India, Pakistan, China,
Mozambique

FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES

490,000 Metric Tons of Better Cotton was

produced on 435,000 hectares by 90,000
farmers in 2011-12.
BCI members represents over 5% of the worlds
total consumption.
246 members by the end of 2012.
Disclaimer: the graph was generated using the proportion of the
sustainability initiatives requirements matching the criteria used in
Standards Map Database in consultation with standard organizations.

WHAT IS THE BETTER COTTON INITIATIVE

- BCI?

WHO CAN JOIN?

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is primarily focussing on the

following :
1. To demonstrate the inherent benefits of Better Cotton
production, particularly the financial profitability for farmers.
2. To reduce the impact of water and pesticide use on human
and environmental health.
3. To improve soil health and biodiversity.
4. To promote Decent Work for farming communities and
cotton farm workers.
5. To facilitate global knowledge exchange on more
sustainable cotton production.
6. To increase the traceability along the cotton supply chain.

Membership is open to all organizations. BCI is an inclusive

initiative which aims to work with members and partners to
achieve its goal of transforming cotton production worldwide
by developing Better Cotton as a sustainable mainstream
commodity.

WHAT PRODUCTS ARE COVERED?

Cotton.

For detailed information about this and other standards check out: Standardsmap.org

WHAT ARE THE KEY FEATURES?

Producers need to meet the Minimum Production Criteria

which are the initial core requirements, to receive a license to
produce Better Cotton.
Minimum Production Criteria (MPC) are the starting point in
a cycle of continuous improvement required by BCI. Once MPC
are met, producers have to address Progress Requirements.
BCI aims to transform cotton production worldwide
by developing Better Cotton as a sustainable mainstream
commodity. There is not Better Cotton label on final products.
A major partner speeding up the production of Better Cotton
is the Better Cotton Fast Track Program. Leading BCI brands
as well as a number of public sector funders contribute to the
Better Cotton Fast Track program, which channels funds directly
to farmer training and improvement programs, all designed
around the Better Cotton standard. This allows BCI and its
partners to reach more regions, train more farmers and produce
more cotton.

ARE THE PRODUCTS TRACEABLE ALONG

THE SUPPLY CHAIN?

One of the key elements of the supply chain for Better Cotton is
the creation of 100% Better Cotton bales, meaning that Better
Cotton is segregated from farm to gin.
Chain of Custody standard
BCI will create a 100% Better Cotton bale, and connect the
supply of Better Cotton to demand, putting in place a supply
chain system that facilitates the procurement of Better Cotton.

DOES THE INITIATIVE HARMONISE WITH

OTHER STANDARDS?
BCI and Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) work together to
promote greater sustainability to African smallholder farmers.
C
 apacity building and outreach:
BCI has its own capacity building programme.
Auditing methodologies:
The Better Cotton third party verification system was
developed by the Fair Labour Association based on the
Better Cotton system and their experience in conducting
verifications.

BCI membership focuses on enabling positive change in

the field, supporting supply creation, building public support
and demonstrating market place demand for Better Cotton as a
mainstream commodity.
BCI does not set a premium and pricing is a function of the
market.

AUDIT INFORMATION

1
 st, 2nd, 3rd party certification:
The Better Cotton assurance system is a combination of
self-assessment, second party credibility checks and third
party verification.
F
 requency of audits:
Yearly
R
 eview process:
BCI is currently undergoing a strategy review. The strategy
will be released in July 2013.
V
 alidity of audit certificate:
One year.

WHAT KIND OF CRITERIA ARE USED FOR

THE ASSESSMENT?

P
 ass and fail:
Producer need to respect Better Cotton Minimum
Production Criteria in order to get a license to produce
Better Cotton. The Better Cotton system aims at continuous
improvement. It is not organised as a simple pass or
fail system but goes beyond by integrating elements of
capacity building, data management, and progress.
What happens if non-conformity is found?
At least 80% of the farmers in a Learning Group must
comply with all relevant Better Cotton criteria in order for
the group to get a license to produce Better Cotton. Where
a systematic breach of a Minimum Production Criteria is
observed, the whole Producer Unit may be disqualified.
Does the initiative offer incentives for continuous
improvement?
After meeting the Minimum Production Criteria, Better
Cotton farmers have to meet Progress Requirements.
These progress requirements are presented in the
Standards Map database as Medium-term requirements.

USE OF LOGO ON THE FINAL PRODUCT?

No

WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT IS PROVIDED?

To help farmers adopt practices consistent with the BCI

Production Principles, BCI coordinates a programme of
farmer support activities (http://www.bettercotton.org/files/
BCSInfoPack/2B_Farmer_Support_final_eng_ext.pdf) delivered
through experienced Implementing Partners.
Farmers support covers knowledge sharing and skills
development and effective producer organisation
For Implementing Partners, three of the Better Cotton System
components focus on support. BCI provides a Step by Step
Guide to Implementation for both smallholders and large
farms and annual workshops that help companies understand
and implement the BCI program. BCI also provides access to
responsible financial services via the Better Cotton Fast Track
Fund. Applications for financial grants can be submitted twice a
year through an online form. The funding contribution matches
up to a maximum of 50% of the total project cost.
Members receive supply chain support from dedicated supply
chain coordinators as well as from Secretariat and Council
through Caucus calls, BCI hosted events and webinars.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

 embership fee:
M
The membership fee is based on member category,
size and either annual lint cotton consumption, annual
turnover/income, or whether the organisation is based
in an OECD Country or a non-OECD country


Certification
costs:
Third party verification costs are born by large farms or
by BCI in the case of smallholders.

GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE
Africa: Mali, Mozambique Asia: China, India, Pakistan, Turkey
South America: Brazil

The BCI standard system is applicable to producers in the following countries and regions Brazil, China, India, Pakistan, Mali, Mozambique and Turkey.
Source: http://bettercotton.org/in-the-field/region-status/

STEPS TO JOIN THE INITIATIVE:

The application process for membership is as follows:

1. BCI receives and acknowledges the arrival of applications

and checks that they are complete.

2. BCI contacts the applicant if information is missing.

3. Once the application is complete, BCI carries out due
diligence research, including an internal consultation with
existing members.

4. BCI collates and analyses results and provides the BCI

Management Team with a recommendation on approval/
rejection.

5. The BCI Management Team reviews the application and

delivers the final decision.
The entire process can take up to six weeks from receipt of a
complete application.

OVERVIEW OF REQUIREMENTS*:

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

EXPLANATION:

C
 ritical:
The BCI Minimum Production Criteria form the initial core
requirements for farmers to grow Better Cotton. These
criteria are presented in the Standards Map database as
critical requirements.
M
 edium term:
After meeting the Minimum Production Criteria, Better
Cotton farmers have to meet Progress Requirements.
These progress requirements are presented in the
Standards Map database as Medium-term requirements.

SOCIAL REQUIREMENTS

ECONOMIC REQUIREMENTS

* based on criteria used in Standards Map. Access Standards

Maps Analysis Module to review specific details on up to 250
sustainability requirement for each of the standards.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Standards Map is a web-based interactive tool that centralises, organises and disseminates information on over 100 voluntary
sustainability standards. Standards Map is part of the International Trade Centres web-based Market Analysis Tools.
More detailed information on the specific requirements of the sustainability initiative can be reviewed: standardsmap.org.