Better Cotton Raises Standards to Cover Fiber Management, Natural Resources, and Crop Protection

Better Cotton raises its standards. The organization has reviewed its principles and criteria that farmers have to meet in order to certify their cotton. The revised principles cover fiber management, natural resources, and crop protection.decent work and the livelihoods of small farmers.

“With a practice-oriented approach, our standard reinforces the requirements in both environmental and social issuesand even goes further to cover farmers’ livelihoods for the first time,” says Better Cotton CEO Alan McClay.

The organization completed its latest eighteen-month review in February to adjust its standards to the renewal of the principles of Iseal, an organization that certifies other associations such as Better Cotton, Fair Trade International, Forest Stewardship Council, Sustainable Fiber Alliance or Textile Exchange, among others. Iseal has published its new code of practice, which will come into force for licensing from the 2024-2025 season.

Better Cotton has adhered to the new Iseal codes, which will come into force in 2024

Better Cotton points out that the revision of its principles “guarantee the responsible use, conservation and improvement of natural resources by defending agricultural practices regenerative, more sustainable crop protection methods and efficient use of water.

From a social point of view, the revised regulations will put more emphasis on promoting well-being in farming communities, stronger requirements to ensure decent work and gender equality. Besides, adds a new principle: smallholder livelihoods.

The document also incorporates a new subsection on climate change to guide farmers on the best way to adapt to the challenges of the field and highlight the best available measures specific to each region.

The modification of the standards of Better Cotton comes after a greenwashing offensive last year. In June, the Norwegian Consumer Agency declared fashion company Norrøna’s use of the Higg Index seal for its marketing campaigns “false and misleading” and the program was suspended internationally. Concerns about the label had already been raised by the authorities months ago with companies such as H&M.

Brussels is also tightening the siege of these practices and last March presented the proposal for a common criterion against eco-laundering. The decree includes measures such as the prohibition of new sustainability labels or the obligation to carry out independent and scientific analyzes to prove environmental claims. The directive still has to be approved by the Parliament and the Council of the European Union (EU).