Quality perception/ implications
No known quality implications.
Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)
Objective
To make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future.
Overview
BCI works with cotton farmers all around the world, providing training and capacity building on more sustainable agricultural practices. Producers must meet the core requirements of the Better Cotton Principles and Criteria in order to become licensed to grow and sell their cotton as Better Cotton.
Producing Countries (2016/17 unless otherwise stated)
In the 2017-18 cotton season, Better Cotton was produced in China, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique*, Pakistan, South Africa, Tajikistan, Turkey and the USA. An additional 10 countries produced Better Cotton under BCI recognised equivalent standards – CmiA (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia), myBMP (Australia) and ABRAPA (Brazil).
Manufacturing Process
N/A
Manufacturing Location
*Mozambique is counted once.
Fiber Production 2016/17 (MT)
1,754,000 mt BCI | 1,508,000 mt BCI Equivalent
Growth in production (2016/17 - 2017/18)
35% BCI | 25% BCI Equivalent
Market Share of Total Cotton Grown (2017/18)
8% BCI | 7% BCI Equivalent
Projected growth in production
Target to account for 30% total cotton by 2020
Yield (see accompanying “TE Position” notes)
BCI collects yield data at country-level. In the vast majority of cases, implementation of the Better Cotton Standard System leads to higher yields, but the measures of improvement vary. “For example, in the 2017-18 season, BCI Farmers in China had 14% higher yields and BCI Farmers in Pakistan had 15% higher yields than Comparison Farmers in the same geographic areas.” Find the full results at bettercotton.org/about-better-cotton/farmer-results.
Rainfed/ Irrigated
Combination
Water Management
Water Stewardship is one of the seven Better Cotton Principles and Criteria. Management practices address water resources identification and mapping, soil moisture management, efficient irrigation practices, water quality, and participation in collective action to promote the sustainable use of water. For example, in the 2017-18 season, BCI Farmers in India used 10% less water than Comparison Farmers in the same geographic areas. Find the full results at bettercotton.org/about-better-cotton/farmer-results.
Soil Fertility
Soil Health is one the seven Better Cotton Principles and Criteria. Management practices address soil analysis and type identification, enhancement of soil structure and fertility, and nutrient cycling improvement.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity and Land Use is one of the seven Better Cotton Principles and Criteria. Management practices address identifying and mapping biodiversity resources, identifying and restoring degraded areas, enhancing populations of beneficial insects, ensuring crop rotation and protecting riparian areas.
GMOs Permitted?
Yes. BCI is ‘technology neutral’ with respect to GM cotton, and will neither encourage farmers to grow it, nor seek to restrict their access to it.
Use of Hazardous Pesticides
Pesticides listed in Annex A and B of the Stockholm convention, Annexes of the Montreal Protocol, and Annex III of the Rotterdam convention are forbidden. Producers must phase-out active ingredients that are known or presumed to be highly or extremely hazardous, carcinogens, mutagens or reproductive toxicants.
Use of Synthetic Fertilizer
The use of fertilizers (organic and inorganic) is addressed in the Soil Health and Water Stewardship Principles and Criteria. Producers should develop a better understanding of, and have better control of, fertilizer use.
LCA available?
BCI understands the sector’s expectations for measurable indicators of improvement and impact, and is currently developing reliable indicators that offer value to members while ensuring the credibility and feasibility of the Better Cotton Standard System.
Water Consumption (m3/ 1000kg fiber*) or best practices used to conserve water
No LCA data.
Primary Energy Demand MJ /1000 kg fiber *
No LCA data
Global Warming (kg of CO2-eq/ 1000kg fiber*)
No LCA data
Eutrophication (kg of phosphate-eq/ 1000 kg fiber *)
No LCA data
Social considerations / regulations
The Better Cotton Standard is aligned with the International Labour Organization (ILO) Decent Work agenda requirements on gender. Guidance on topics such as child labour, sanitation facilities and equal payment are also included in the Standard.
Verification / Certification (farm level)
Self-assessment, Second-Party Credibility Checks by BCI and/or partners, Third-Party Verification by independent verifiers, and for large-farms in the US, a US Group Management model.
Chain of Custody (supply chain)
Physical segregation farm to gin; mass balance gin to retailer.
Product marketing/labeling
On-product and off-product communications. The BCI On-Product Mark can be used by BCI’s Retailer and Brand Members. Strict criteria for use are set out in the Better Cotton Claims Framework
Consumer recognition
The introduction of the Better Cotton Claims Framework enabled BCI’s Members to communicate their commitment to BCI and Better Cotton to their consumers.
Livelihoods
No price differentials for farmers but yields and income expected to improve. The volume-based fee paid by BCI’s Retailer and Brand Members is invested into farmer training and capacity building programmes. For example, in the 2017-18 season, BCI Farmers in India had 24% higher profits and BCI Farmers in China had 25% higher profits than Comparison Farmers in the same geographic areas. Find the full results at bettercotton.org/about-better-cotton/farmer-results.
Product marketing/labeling
On-product and off-product communications. The BCI On-Product Mark can be used by BCI’s Retailer and Brand Members. Strict criteria for use are set out in the Better Cotton Claims Framework