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.
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 Retailer and Brand Members and organisations buying and selling BCI Cotton within the supply chain are set in the BCI CoC Standard v1.2.
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.
Useful Resources
Effective from 06 January 2026
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 1.2 of the procedures is effective as of 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.