Choosing BCI certification means choosing a 'more responsible future'
1 out of every 4 cotton plants worldwide is BCI certified! How can it make cotton cultivation both protect the earth and enrich cotton farmers? When you pick up a cotton T-shirt, have you ever thought about whether the cultivation of this cotton plant wastes water resources? Have cotton farmers received reasonable income? Will pesticide residues harm the land?
Nowadays, more and more brands and consumers are paying attention to these issues -and BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) certification is becoming the key to answering these questions. According to BCI's 2024-25 Annual Report, during the 2023-24 cotton season, BCI certified cotton production reached 5.64 million tons, accounting for 23% of the global cotton production; 1.39 million cotton farmers worldwide have obtained BCI certification to grow 'better cotton' in a more sustainable way.
How does this certification system, which covers 15 countries and connects the entire chain from fields to shelves, reshape the future of the cotton industry?
First, let's understand: What exactly is BCI certification?
BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) is not simply a "cotton quality certification", but a comprehensive standard system centered around "sustainability" - it aims to make cotton farmers live better and minimize land damage.
At its root, the core of BCI certification is the Better Cotton Standards System (BCSS), which is based on the principles and standards (P&C) of field practice and specifies the requirements that cotton farmers need to comply with, such as the rational use of pesticides, protection of soil health, and protection of labor rights. In 2023, BCI also upgraded P&C to version 3.0, which is more in line with the concept of regenerative agriculture; In 2025, BCI will further transform into a third-party certification system, where all farm level certification decisions will be audited by independent institutions and their credibility will be further upgraded.
More importantly, BCI has passed the compliance assessment of the international authoritative organization ISEAL (International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance), which means that its standards, governance, and transparency fully comply with global sustainability guidelines - this is also one of the core reasons why many international brands choose BCI certification.
The 3 core values of BCI certification: friendly to the earth, cotton farmers, and supply chain
The significance of BCI certification is never limited to just "one certificate". The real data and cases in the report have transformed 'sustainability' from a concept to a visible change.
1. For the Earth: Reduce the burden on land and add points to the ecology
Cotton cultivation was once controversial due to high water consumption and pesticide use, but BCI certification is reversing this situation:
Reduce pesticides: Over 788000 BCI cotton farmers worldwide have reduced the use of synthetic pesticides per hectare, and 81% of BCI cotton farmers no longer use highly toxic pesticides (HHPs); Indian cotton farmer Tushar learned to apply pesticides on demand through BCI training, which not only saved 20-25% of costs but also reduced soil pollution.
Water saving: BCI farms in Uzbekistan install drip irrigation systems on 22% of their land, saving up to 60% of water; The water-saving technology mastered by Chinese cotton farmers through video training has beenimplemented in 70% of the fields.
Protecting the ecology: Pakistan has designated an "ecological restoration window" in the Punjab region through a community biodiversity plan, planting trees to restore degraded land; Mali's BCI project also promotes agroforestry, making cotton fields a "carbonsink" at the same time.
2. For cotton farmers: make cotton planting "profitable and dignified"
The core of 'sustainability' can never be separated from human well-being. BCI certification, through training, financial support, and rights protection, enables cotton farmers to transform from "hard work planting cotton" to "decent income growth":
• Guaranteed income growth: Over 650000 BCI cotton farmers worldwide have achieved seasonal profit growth, and some regions have increased their yields by 40% through high-density planting techniques (such as Tushar, a cotton farmer in India).
• Strong training capabilities: In the 2023-24 season, BCI, in collaboration with 56 partners, provided training on soil and water management, responsible pesticide use, and other related topics to 1.63 million cotton farmers; China's' video training 'has been recognized by 90% of cotton farmers, and 70% of them can directly apply the learned techniques.
Women have power: In the BCI project in India, the proportion of female field workers has increased from 9% in 2019 to 15% in 2024, and 10% of BCI cotton farmers are women; The women's group in Cote d'Ivoire is also supported by the BCI fund to produce organic fertilizers, which improve soil quality and increase income.
3. For the supply chain: full traceability throughout the entire chain, making "better cotton" visible
Consumers want to know 'where does the cotton for this garment come from'? Does the brand want to prove that 'sustainable procurement is not a gimmick'? The "traceability" system of BCI certification provides the answer:
The BCI traceability system, launched in November 2023, has achieved cotton tracking from the cotton mill to the store; Starting from 2025, traceability will be extended to the "farm level", where brands can directly connect with cotton farming communities and consumers can scan the code to learn about the story of cotton cultivation.
The newly launched "BCI Cotton Label" in 2025 is only granted to products that have passed full chain certification - this means that when you see this label, you know that the cotton comes from compliant BCI farms, not "greenwashing".
Global practice: BCI certification adapts to different planting scenarios from Brazil to Spain
BCI certification is not a one size fits all standard, but can be flexibly implemented according to the agricultural characteristics of different countries. The cases of several countries in the report demonstrate its global adaptability:
Brazil: As the world's largest cotton exporting country, 81% of Brazil's cotton in the 2023-24 season is BCI certified, with a production of over 3 million tons; BCI also collaborates with local institutions to launch risk management tools for large-scale farms, enabling them to efficiently practice sustainability.
Spain: In 2024, a new member of BCI, 1300 BCI cotton farmers in Andalusia were able to grow 7800 tons of cotton even in the face of severe drought. Their "Integrated Production System (IPS)" was also recognized as the BCI equivalent standard, proving that sustainable cotton can be grown in arid areas.
Egypt: BCI is promoting the "Physical BCI Cotton" project in Egypt, training supply chain partners to achieve full process tracking of cotton. In the future, Egyptian long staple cotton will also be labeled with BCI and enter the global market.
Backed by a € 18.54 million fund and multi-party collaboration, BCI certification goes far
The sustainability of BCI certification also relies on long-term funding and partner support. In the 2024-25 season, BCI's Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF) will invest 18.54 million euros to focus on supporting small farm projects, knowledge sharing, and innovation in large farms
Small farms receive funding for the construction of irrigation facilities and the production of biopesticides;
West African countries such as Cote d'Ivoire and Benin have quickly established BCI projects through GIF support, helping local cotton farmers connect to the global supply chain;
Collaborate with brands such as H&M, GAP, IKEA, as well as institutions such as GIZ andthe World Bank to ensure that funds and technology can accurately reach the fields.
Choosing BCI certification means choosing a 'more responsible future'
Nowadays, BCI certification covers 23% of global cotton production, with over 2600 brands (including Uniqlo, ZARA, H&M, etc.) using it as a core standard for sustainable procurement. But that's not enough - BCI's goal is to achieve "50% carbon reduction, 100% soil health improvement, and 1 million women's empowerment" in cotton cultivation by 2030.
For brands, BCI certification is a compliance "passport" and a "bridge" connecting consumer trust; For consumers, choosing products with BCI labels is voting with purchasing power to support the cotton industry that "does not harm the earth and does not mistreat cotton farmers".
As BCI CEO Nick Weatherill said, "The future of sustainable cotton requires participationin every aspect." BCI certification is the most solid "link" in this transformation.
As a third-party certification body approved by BCI, ASCP has issued better cotton certificates to numerous clients. In the future, we look forward to working together with more customers to contribute to the prosperity of the global ecological environment and cotton industry.
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