The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) today announced that it is now officially operating as a regenerative standard system – marking a major milestone for the world’s largest cotton sustainability scheme, which has over 20% of the world’s cotton production aligned to its standard.
Building on more than 15 years of supporting locally relevant regenerative practices across cotton-growing communities, the move marks the next stage in BCI’s effort to drive healthier soils, more resilient ecosystems and stronger farmer livelihoods at scale. As the industry increasingly looks to regeneratively farmed cotton as a foundation for sustainable sourcing, BCI is helping to bridge the gap between regenerative ambitions and farming realities, ensuring that progress is driven through genuine partnership with farmers and backed by measurable outcomes.
The move to a regenerative standard system reinforces farmer support through stronger requirements, targeted capacity strengthening and improved impact measurement. For retailers, brands and suppliers, it provides a reliable means of setting and meeting corporate regenerative sourcing targets, while BCI’s traceable offering opens the door to product-level claims.
Nick Weatherill, Chief Executive Officer of BCI, said: “Our transition to a regenerative standard system is about unlocking a triple win for nature, farmers and industry. When nature thrives, farmers thrive. And when retailers and brands support those conditions through their sourcing and investment, they help build more resilient supply chains and future-proof the supply of cotton.
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