Better Cotton CoC and Cotton Consumption Independent Assessment
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), formerly known as Better Cotton, is the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme since its inception in 2009. It focuses on helping cotton communities thrive while protecting the environment. Aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, BCI promotes measurable improvements at the farm level through responsible cotton production practices.
Eurofins Assurance is an approved Certification Body for BCI audit and assessment. Suppliers and buyers can work with us to demonstrate their compliance to BCI Standard System requirements.
How does Better Cotton Initiative work?
BCI’s Standard System takes a holistic approach at the farm, addressing environmental, social, and economic aspects of sustainability. It supports farmers and supply chain stakeholders in adopting better practices and driving continuous improvement.
The BCI Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard ensures traceability by linking sustainably produced cotton with global demand. It defines auditable requirements for organisations processing textiles made from (physical) Better Cotton.
Cotton Consumption Independent Assessment for Brand and Retailer Member
Brand and Retailer Member (RB Member) of Better Cotton is required to calculate and report their total cotton fibre consumption regularly and submit relevant supporting documentation in compliance with the guidelines outlined in "Measuring Cotton Consumption: Requirements and Guidance."
Starting January 2024, RB Members, unless exempted, are also obligated to engage an Independent Assessment of their cotton fiber consumption measurement to ensure the consistency and reliability of their results. The requirement and frequency of the Independent Assessment are determined by their membership size category and total amount of cotton fiber consumption.
Benefits of BCI Certification
The BCI Standard System provides a robust framework to link sustainably produced cotton from farmers to finished products.
It ensures transparency and integrity through clearly defined requirements for sourcing, handling, and trading Better Cotton. Certification demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to responsible sourcing and internationally recognised sustainability practices.
At the origin, Better Cotton supports farmers in adopting sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact and improve soil health. Farmers benefit from enhanced productivity, reduced input costs, and improved livelihoods through ongoing capacity building. The integration of farm-level improvements with supply chain assurance delivers measurable sustainability outcomes.
On the brand and retailer side, fulfilling BCI’s Cotton Consumption verification offers the much-needed transparency and traceability in making product claims where regulations, especially when global regulations are tightening. The verification ensures claims are backed by auditable data and each transaction is compliant.
Why Choose Eurofins Assurance as your Better Cotton Initiative partner
Eurofins Assurance is approved by Better Cotton Initiative as a Certification Body to offer certification for Better Cotton CoC Standard to textile supply chain from ginners to brands and retailers. Eurofins Assurance can certify supply chain players for all models of segregation, viz, mass balance, single country, multi-country, and controlled blending. We are also qualified to offer Independent Assessment of Cotton Consumption to RB Members, demonstrating fulfilment and commitment to more responsible sourcing.
Our product and process certification is built on ISO/IEC 17065, coupled with well-trained auditors, we provide reliable, high quality and independent BCI services. Our global network allows us to support multi-regions and complex supple chains. From sales team to certification team, each person is high responsive and is dedicated in providing smooth and effective certification experience.
Contact us if you want to have a discussion or receive a quotation for your next BCI request.
Better Cotton Initiative CoC certification and Cotton Consumption Independent Assessment is managed globally by Eurofins Assurance India Pvt Ltd. You can view our qualification at BCI website here.
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