By sourcing BCI Cotton and cotton-containing products as BCI Cotton, organisations create the demand for more sustainably grown cotton, creating further incentives for cotton farmers to adopt more sustainable farming practices and secure a better future for cotton.

Photo Credit: Better Cotton/Eugénie Bacher. Harran, Turkey, 2022. Cotton going through a ginning machine, Mehmet Kızılkaya Tekstil.

What is the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)’s Chain of Custody?

In its Chain of Custody Models and Definitions guide, ISEAL defines a chain of custody as: ‘The custodial sequence that occurs as ownership or control of the material supply is transferred from one custodian to another in the supply chain’.

From the farmers who grow BCI Cotton to the companies that source it, the BCI Chain of Custody (CoC) is the documentation and evidence of BCI Cotton as it moves through the supply chain, connecting BCI Cotton supply with demand.

The auditable CoC requirements for organisations buying and selling BCI Cotton within the supply chain are set in the BCI CoC Standard v1.0.

The auditable requirements for Retailer and Brand Members are set in the BCI CoC Standard v1.1, effective now. This version introduces requirements for Retailer and Brand Members for the first time, offering them the opportunity to become certified in order to use the BCI Cotton label on eligible products.

Supply chain organisations (not including Retailer and Brand Members) will be audited against v1.1 from January 2026.

The CoC Standard allows organisations to implement one or a combination of four different CoC Models, enabling the sourcing of two types of BCI Cotton – Mass Balance and Physical BCI Cotton.

To find a Certification Body approved to carry out a Chain of Custody audit, please click here

Useful Resources

The Chain of Custody Standard v1.1 is only relevant for Retailer and Brand Members who intend to get certified currently. It will be applicable to all supply chain organisation from 2026.

BCI Chain of Custody Standard v1.1

The BCI Cotton Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard v1.0 is a revised version of its CoC Guidelines, published in May 2023. All BCI organisations have until May 2025 to adhere to the CoC Standard, no matter which CoC models they are implementing.

More information and guidance on how to transition to the CoC Standard can be found from this page. 

The CoC Standard is currently available in English, Uzbek and Mandarin below.

If you are a BCI Supplier looking for further guidance on how to complete the transitioning process and implement the CoC Standard, please use the following documents:

The Chain of Custody Monitoring and Certification Procedures cover the audit process for the BCI Chain of Custody Standard, outlining the expectations for both certification bodies and organisations undergoing audit. Version 1.1 has been active since 31 January 2025. BCI has launched a new version (v1.2), which will come into effect on 1 November 2025.

The following document defines key terms used within the BCI Cotton Chain of Custody and applies to all related documents, including CoC Standard v1.0, v1.1, and the Monitoring and Certification Procedures.