All supply chain actors sourcing Physical BCI Cotton have obtained certification, as of January 2026. At the farm level, more than 30% of farms and producer units that supply BCI Cotton have been assessed with a favourable audit result.
BCI said that it engaged over 50 certification bodies to conduct audits and issue certificates during this period.
A BCI certificate is issued when a farm or organisation meets all relevant standards, allowing them to produce and trade BCI Cotton.
Those who obtain certification from a fully certified supply chain may use the new BCI Cotton Label, which indicates that products contain more than 30% Physical BCI Cotton.
BCI certification head Tom Owen said: “The level of engagement we have seen across agricultural and textile supply chains in our first year as a certification scheme reflects a growing recognition of certification’s importance within these sectors. The continued rollout of this work is integral to improving supply chain sustainability and transparency on a global scale.”
BCI has received ISO17065 compliance recognition from organisations including the International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS).
The organisation has partnered with IOAS, which will now evaluate and accredit all certification bodies operating in the BCI system.
IOAS executive director Lauren Carlyle said: “We are pleased to launch BCI accreditation at IOAS, not just for sustainable agriculture, but for safeguarding the rights of cotton farmers and workers around the world.”
Several international organisations have achieved certification under the scheme, including Australian retailer Big W and US cotton marketing cooperative Staplcotn.
Staplcotn cotton services and warehousing vice president Shane Stephens said: “We believe BCI Certification will serve to satisfy many of the modern marketplace demands. It can meet those increasing requirements associated with obtaining assurance and comfort in purchasing decisions.”
Big W sustainability delivery lead Andrew Whale said: “When a customer purchases a product from our business, they are walking away with the confidence that we’re doing the right thing [and] that we are working towards better outcomes, not just for Australian communities, but for communities in our supply chain all over the world.”
In November last year, Better Cotton announced that more than 50% of cotton volumes supplied through the BCI are now traceable within global fashion and textile supply chains.
