Better Cotton Initiative — detailed criteria
Also known as: BCI standard, Better Cotton principles
Seven core principles of the BCI for more sustainable cotton farming — including crop protection, water, soil, fibre quality and decent work.
Description
The Better Cotton standard is built on seven principles: (1) management system, (2) natural resources and biodiversity, (3) water stewardship, (4) soil health, (5) crop protection, (6) fibre quality and (7) decent work. The criteria are assessed annually via a Farmer Result Indicator and gradually tightened.
BCI is a mass-balance system: retailers such as H&M, Ikea, Adidas, Nike and Levi's buy "Better Cotton Credits" produced in the same volume in any BCI cotton lot worldwide — the physical fibre is not traceable to a specific garment. In 2022/23 approx. 22 % of global cotton production came from BCI-licensed farms. Critics call for physical segregation and greater transparency on farmer remuneration.
- Seven principles for environmental and social standards
- Mass-balance system (no physical traceability from field)
- Approx. 22 % of world cotton BCI-licensed in 2022/23
- Adopters: H&M, Ikea, Adidas, Levi's, Nike and others
Properties
| Criteria | 7 principles (management, environment, water, soil, crop protection, quality, work) |
|---|---|
| Traceability | Mass-balance (credit system, no physical segregation) |
| Market share | approx. 22 % world cotton 2022/23 |
| Known adopters | H&M, Ikea, Adidas, Nike, Levi's, Marks & Spencer |
Sources & references
1- Wikipedia: Better Cotton Initiative Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Cotton_Initiative
