Better Cotton, formerly known as the Better Cotton Initiative, is transitioning its current verification model to a third-party certification scheme. The new framework is designed to strengthen the organisation’s commitment to promoting sustainable cotton farming while addressing evolving market expectations and regulatory requirements.
“The landscape for sustainability claims has been evolving quite rapidly in recent years.” says Caroline Sheraton, Senior Member Claims Officer for Better Cotton.
“New legislation is driving a shift towards certification.”
Sheraton is referring to the Empowering Consumers Directive, a regulatory push introduced in the EU that demands greater transparency and sustainability in consumer goods. This directive encourages brands to provide consumers with more detailed information on the environmental and social impact of the products they buy.
In response, Better Cotton has prioritised transparency and data accuracy, ensuring that supply chains in its network can offer credible and third-party verifiable information about their cotton sourcing. This development is aimed at building consumer trust and enabling more responsible sourcing decisions, reflecting the broader trend toward conscious consumerism. Better Cotton has been a strategic partner of Cotton Australia for over a decade, following a formal benchmarking process in 2014 to align Cotton Australia’s cotton sustainability standard, the ‘my Best Management Practice’ (myBMP) Standard, with the Better Cotton Verification.
Cotton Australia and Better Cotton continue to work together to ensure myBMP and the new Better Cotton certification remain aligned in their requirements. This collaboration not only reinforces the reputation of Australian cotton but also helps drive innovation and best practices in sustainable agriculture globally.
Better Cotton will be publishing the framework and launching the certification this month.