BCI Platform

What is the purpose of the BCI Platform?

The BCI Platform is an online system used only by BCI and registered supply chain organisations that buy, sell or source BCI or cotton-containing products as BCI Cotton. The aim of the platform is to act as an online database where supply chain actors can enter and monitor transactions for Mass Balance and/or Physical BCI Cotton, and BCI can verify the volumes of BCI Cotton sourced in the supply chain. 

You can read more about BCI Chain of Custody here. 

How do BCI Cotton orders work?

BCI Cotton orders work differently for Mass Balance and physical Chain of Custody models. 

For Mass Balance, a BCI Cotton order does not equal a BCI Cotton product. The key principle for the Mass Balance Chain of Custody model is that the amount of BCI Cotton sold should never exceed the amount of BCI Cotton purchased. In the BCI Platform, this is tracked by using BCI Cotton Claim Units (BCCUs). Find out how the BCCUs work here. 

For Segregation or Controlled Blending, Physical BCI Cotton volumes get captured at each transaction along the supply chain, making it possible to track the cotton in the end product back to its country of origin.  

Who uses the BCI Platform?

All cotton supply chain actors – ginners, traders, spinners, fabric mills, garment and end product manufacturers, sourcing agents and retailers and brands – can have access to the BCI Platform. More than 13,000 organisations currently use the BCI Platform to enable the flow of BCCUs or Physical BCI Cotton volumes through the supply chain, including more than 200 well-known retailers and brands who are already sourcing large volumes of cotton as BCI Cotton. 

Can I communicate about my BCI Platform access?

Companies with BCI Platform access can use the following statements, separately or together, when they communicate about BCI Cotton.

‘We’re proud to work with members of BCI.’

‘We have passed the BCI Chain of Custody training and have access to the BCI Platform.’

Please note that non-member BCI Platform Suppliers cannot use the BCI logo, which is only available for Members.

BCI Members have more options available to them to communicate their membership and commitment to BCI.

Find out more from our Supplier and Manufacturer Member Toolkit.

Find out more about the difference between BCI membership and non-member BCI Platform access.

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible for BCI Platform access:

• You must be a registered legal entity.
• You must not be listed on any internationally recognised default list, nor be affiliated with a company on a default list. Examples of such lists are ICA, WCEA and CICCA.
• You must complete an online training course provided by BCI after submitting your application and making your payment.

Please review the BCI Platform Terms and Conditions. You can then register for an account here.

How much does access cost?

You may apply for up to 5 BCI Platform Accounts, as per the fee structure below. The BCI Platform Access is valid for 12 months. The fee is subject to review on an annual basis.

You will be asked automatically to renew your access to the BCI Platform at the end of each 12-month period. Timely payment will ensure uninterrupted access to the system. If the renewal fee is not paid on time, your BCI Platform access will be temporarily blocked until payment is made.

How do I pay?

You can pay for BCI Platform Access with a VISA or Master Card credit or debit card or international bank transfer.

If you use credit card payment, please ensure that your card is registered in the same country as your organisation.

Please note: When paying via international bank transfer, reconciliation can take more than 10 working days before the payment is properly reconciled in our BCI account. You are also responsible for covering all related bank charges, including local taxes. BCI Platform access will not be given until the payment has been properly reconciled. It is not possible to switch payment method after you submit the form, so please choose carefully the payment mode you want to use for the payment of your fee.

Please note that BCI will not refund payments should you neglect to read the Terms and Conditions before purchasing access to the BCI Platform.

Is our online payment safe?

We use the Stripe payment platform to securely process online payments. Your data is always transmitted via SSL encryption and BCI does not hold any credit card data relating to your payment. All other data submitted is managed according to the BCI Data Protection Policy.

Is there any training involved?

Yes. After you complete the BCI Platform registration process and purchase an account, you will receive an email from [email protected] with a link to an online training which explains how the BCI Platform works and how to use it. You must successfully complete this online training via the unique link in the email you receive before you will be given access to the BCI Platform for using the Mass Balance Chain of Custody. 

The training platform offers different courses for different types of supply chain actors. You will need to complete the course relevant to the type of business you conduct. For example, if you buy fabric and sell garments, you must complete the training tailored for this type of business activity. 

To unlock the benefits of Traceability, you must onboard your organisation to the Chain of Custody Standard v1.0, and this may include paying for and passing a third-party assessment.  Once onboarded, there is no additional cost to gain access to the traceability solution through the BCI Platform, but you will require on-going assessments to ensure compliance with the Standard. Our Supplier Training Programme is available on our website to learn more.  

Once on-boarded and with your permission, we will list you on our Supplier List for the Chain of Custody Standard 1.0, where your BCI Cotton customers can see that you are qualified to do traceability.  

What is the difference between BCI membership and BCI Platform access? Learn more. 

If you are interested in becoming a BCI Member, please visit our membership webpages or contact our Membership team via the contact form. 

For questions relating to the BCI Platform, please contact us via the BCI Platform Helpdesk.