BCI Chain of Custody Standard v1.2 Core Guide: 4 Models+Conversion Rules+Compliance Points, One article to understand
On January 6, 2026, BCI (Better Cotton Initiative, the world's largest sustainable cotton development organization)'s "Chain of Custody Standard v1.2" officially came into effect! As the core framework connecting sustainable cotton supply and market demand, this standard directly affects the compliance of the entire supply chain from farms, ginning plants to brand owners.
Which products can be certified? How to choose the four major production and sales models? What are the taboos of model conversion? What situations can exempt certification? Today's informative article will help you sort it out all at once!
01. Which products are eligible for BCI standards
Not all cotton products can go through the BCI production and sales supervision chain. First, clarify the applicable boundaries:
✅ Seed cotton products produced in accordance with BCI principles and standards (P&Cs) and benchmark partners;
✅ Cotton containing products purchased through "quality balance orders";
❌ Only for virgin cotton, excluding pre/post consumer recycled cotton, manufacturing by-products (such as combed cotton), etc.
Simply put, only cotton and products that are native and meet BCI sustainability standards can be included in the regulatory chain system.
02. Four major production and sales supervision chain models
BCI provides four models, with the core difference being whether to allow the mixing of BCI cotton and non BCI cotton and whether to isolate them by origin. Enterprises can choose according to their own business scenarios:
In summary, if you want to flexibly mix and choose "quality balance", you need to indicate the proportion and choose "controlled blending". To distinguish between BCI and non BCI cotton, choose "isolation type" (depending on the needs of multiple countries/single countries).
When applying for BCI certification, it is important to choose an appropriate model, as shown in the figure:
Isolation (single country) applies to the farm and cotton mill levels of the supply chain.
Isolation (single country) and quality balance apply to the level of cotton traders in the supply chain. For the rest of the supply chain, all CoC supply chain models or combinations of CoC supply chain models are possible, including existing quality balance models.
03. Model Conversion Rules
Raw material mixing is inevitable in the supply chain, and model conversion must followthree iron rules. Misconversion may lead to compliance risks:
1. Single country quarantine → multi country quarantine: When "single country quarantine BCI cotton" from multiple countries is mixed, it automatically upgrades to a multi country quarantine model;
2. Isolation type → controlled blending: When "isolation type BCI cotton" (single/multiple countries) is mixed with non BCI cotton, or mixed with "controlled blended BCI cotton", it automatically switches to a controlled blending model;
3. Physical BCI Cotton → Mass Balance BCCUs: Conversion can be applied for through BCP (Better Cotton Platform, BCI Mandatory Digital Tracking System), but the conversion is irreversible! Once converted to BCCUs accounting, it cannot be reverted back to the physical isolation model.
It is recommended that companies predict the model conversion results before mixing raw materials to avoid compliance issues in the future.
04. Compliance boundary: Pay attention to strict restrictions on outsourcing
If it is necessary to outsource the embossing and spinning processes, three requirements must be met:
✅ Can only be outsourced to organizations that have passed BCI Chain of Custody certification;
✅ Sign formal agreements with subcontractors and keep a list of subcontractors (including name, address, outsourcing business, and cooperation frequency);
✅ Before conducting outsourcing activities for the first time, it is necessary to notify the certification body and provide detailed information.
The core of BCI Chain of Custody v1.2 is "traceability and verifiability", which not only guarantees the market trust of sustainable cotton, but also provides flexible compliance options for enterprises. As a BCI approved certification body, ASCP will provide customers with efficient and compliant certification support.
The latest BCI Chain of Custody Standard v1.2- Better Cotton Initiative can be downloaded from the official website:
https://bettercotton.org/documents/chain-of-custody-standard-v1-2/
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